Halloween half term

Does the prospect of October half term make you shake in terror and send shivers up your spine? Fear not! Vivacity has plenty to keep the kids entertained and active in mind and body. From events at Vivacity’s local libraries and Peterborough Museum, to days of fun, your little ones’ needs are completely catered for. The Moment talks to Vivacity Sports Development Officer Lee Barsby about Vivacity’s Holiday Club (previously known as Club Viva) and how it goes way beyond just sport...

What will Holiday Club be offering this half term?
We’ll be running again from all four Vivacity sites – Hampton, Jack Hunt, Werrington and the Regional Pool – and it will be a Halloween themed week alongside our other day-to-day activities – things that we know the kids really enjoy. We’ve got a Halloween Party Day at every site, where the kids can enjoy trick or treating, crafts , swimming, archery, and roller skating or bouncy castles (depending on which site). Then we’ve got a Football Day, an Army Day, a Games Day (where we play some video games and ball games), and Multi-Sports Day, (where we play dodgeball, cricket, golf, handball, gymnastics and futsal). Parents can sign children up for single days or the whole week and there are two different time slots that we do, too: 8.30am-5.30pm or 10am-4pm, whichever suits parents best.

How does a typical day unfold?
Most people will arrive around 8.20am and at 8.30amwe register everyone. We then head through to the sports area to play a variety of sports or do some arts and crafts with some of our assistant coaches – and there’s some free play in there as well as the organised activities. At 10am we have a second wave of arrivals, and between 10am and 4pm we get stuck into the main events of the day. The specific activities depend on the theme, so, if it’s a Football Day we’d have some craft activities where they get to design their own kit and team badges, then it’s football training to learn some new skills – practising shooting, dribbling and so on. Over lunch they watch a film and we try to make that film fit the theme of the day. For Lego Days we may have The Lego Movie or the Lego Batman Movie. The activities continue after lunch; if it’s a Football Day they’ll have a tournament in the afternoon where they play in teams and get the chance to win medals and prizes.

Do different age groups get to mix?
The age groups are from 4-7yrs and then 8-11yrs at all sites except Regional (which is all older children). Then they do group activities, and may be split into groups where they have older and younger kids working together. We do try to promote the older kids supporting the younger ones.

What does this mean for parents?
I think for a lot of parents, as much as anything, this is a childcare service they know they can trust. But it’s more than normal childcare. There’s a very structured programme of events ranging from science to physical activity. We try to give the kids as many different things as possible to try so maybe they’ll be inspired to take an activity up outside of school and at weekends – with sports that help promote their physical health as well. Vivacity has access to so many resources which we can use, so we’re really trying to make the most of what we’ve got. There’s storytelling provided by the libraries. We’ve had people come over from the Museum for talks. We’ve had an Italian themed day where they performed a play in Venetian masks. They do get a lot of physical activity, but there is also a really big social element and we try to teach them things as well. It’s still lots of fun – we don’t want it to feel like school – but we do try to teach them new skills, including reading and arts and craft skills. Ultimately we want the kids to simply enjoy lots of different things and show them that they don’t have to sit in front of a computer screen to have fun!

HOLIDAY CLUB AND MORE – HALF TERM TREATS AT A GLANCE

Holiday Club
23-27 Oct, 8.30am-5.30pm or 10am-4pm
Various venues
Vivacity’s holiday club is back with a bang for the October half term, once again at all four venues (Hampton, Werrington, Jack Hunt and Regional Pool) with a jam-packed programme to keep the kids busy. From Army Days to Football Days, every day will be a fun and exhilarating experience for your children. From £18 for a day, £70 for a week.

Archaeology Adventurers Club
23-27 Oct, 10am- 4pm
Flag Fen
Drop the kids off and let them get hands on with history at Flag Fen this October. Travel back in time in the Bronze Age roundhouse, meet our Soay sheep and try ancient crafts. Plus there’ll be Halloween themed activities and crafts throughout the week! £22 for a day, £90 for a week.

‘Do you have a clue?’
23-27 Oct, 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm)
Peterborough Museum
The Museum has become a board game! Move around the spaces, including the new ‘Toy Stories’ exhibition and collect clues to solve Dr White’s grand mystery. £3 children, £4 adults, £12 families (2 adults and 3 children)

The Wonderful Witchy Workshop
27 October Werrington Library – 10am-11.15am Central Library – 12 noon-1.15pm Hampton Library – 2.30-3.45pm
Join James Nicol, author of The Apprentice Witch, for a fun creative writing session, conjuring up magical creatures. There will also be a chance to chat with James and buy signed copies of his book. Tickets: £4 per child. Book at any library.

● Story Times and Rhyme Times will also run as normal in local libraries during the half term.
● For more info head to vivacity-peterborough.com/octhalfterm