Summer and holiday learning articles
Taking your child on a learning adventure
Ever been tempted to take your child out of school and go travelling with them? We take a look at how to make it work.
Museums reviewed by parents: Science Museum London
Contemplate the awe-inspiring complexity of life and human scientific achievement at London's Science Museum, one of the world's leading attractions. There's something for the whole family to enjoy, from toddlers to teens, and the addition of the new Wonderlab permanent gallery for kids makes it a must-visit destination. On your marks, get set... wonder!
16 of the best new books for children for Christmas 2016
Guarantee that plenty of reading will be done over the Christmas break by investing in a pile of books for your child to find under the tree. Whatever their interests or reading ability, our pick of the best new reads on offer this Christmas includes best-sellers, classic stories reimagined for the twenty-first century, non-fiction treasures to pore over and laugh-out-loud funny reads. Enjoy!
Museums reviewed by parents: Howletts Wild Animal Park
Watch lemurs leaping over your head, come face-to-face with a family of gorillas or even have a quick clamber through the treetops – there's a world full of animal magic to discover at Howletts Wildlife Park in Kent for parents and primary-school children alike.
14 of the best books for children for summer 2016
This summer help your child survive a giant-slug attack, explore the streets under London, travel to outer space (by pressing a button hidden in the kitchen), be a bridesmaid and learn to take care of a pet dragon... all without leaving the sofa! From picture books to tween thrillers, we've got 14 brilliant books for kids to fall in love with over the 2016 summer holiday.
Best art books for children
Help your child discover the world's great works of art with our pick of the best introductions to painting, sculpture, art installations and more. Will they step into a painting in an art story book, create their own 3D art masterpiece or fall in love with an artistic style or artist?
Museums reviewed by parents: National Space Centre
The National Space Centre is a day out that the whole family will enjoy; it’s a fun, interactive and accessible way to learn about the universe we live in. Just don’t be surprised if you leave with a budding astronaut or two!
The UK’s best museum sleepovers for kids
What could be better than spending a day with your child at one of the UK’s best family museums? Well, how about spending the night there...
The best science days out for families
Looking for a great day out that's educational, too? Inspire your budding scientist with a trip to one of these brilliant, hands-on UK science centres.
Museums reviewed by parents: Cambridge Museum of Technology
The Cambridge Museum of Technology is a fascinating, hands-on look at how things work for all ages, within easy distance of the historic centre of Cambridge. Our review for parents explains what the museum has to offer for families.
Best science sets for children
Looking for ways to encourage your child's interest in the world around them? These learning-through-play sets are perfect for budding scientists, allowing them to get hands-on and experiment with simple physics, meteorology, geology, anatomy, mechanics and more.
Best tablet toys for children
Every child we know loves playing with a tablet computer – and now connected toys take learning to a new level by combining hands-on play with digital animations to teach the basics of story-telling, maths, spelling, reading and physics. Tablet toys are definitely not just for kids!
Best children's books about coding
How confident do you feel about supporting your child's interest in coding at home? Whatever your child's (or your!) level of knowledge, these books will take you through the basics with screenshots, step-by-step illustrations and plain English explanations about Scratch, Python and the basics of computational thinking and programming. You're just a few pages away from coding your first game...
Creativity in primary science: to infinity and beyond
Is your child fascinated by the world around them, from the earth to the stars? Do they blast off from the kitchen table and explore Mars in a den made from sofa cushions? Bryony Turford, primary teacher and director of STEAM Education for the Astro Science Challenge, shares her tips for making science come alive and encouraging children to explore science-based subjects away from the classroom.
Museums reviewed by parents: Down House
Down House, the family home of Victorian scientist Charles Darwin, offers a unique insight into one of the world's greatest thinkers. Visit to stand in the study where Darwin wrote 'On the Origin of Species', stroll through beautiful gardens and find out more about the theory of evolution. Our family testers share their tips for a great day out in rural Kent.
Museums reviewed by parents: Old Operating Theatre, London
Found – the perfect London museum for older kids looking for something beyond the much-loved but well-worn round of Science and Natural History Museums. A dip into the history of all things surgical, the Old Operating Theatre Museum is a hidden scientific gem in a historic corner of the capital which will keep inquisitive minds entertained for hours.
Museums reviewed by parents: Dover Castle
Travel back in time to meet medieval monarchs, wander through winding, eerie 13th century underground defences and explore the Secret Wartime Tunnels deep within Dover’s White Cliffs. A trip to Dover Castle offers an action-packed day out for the whole family and our parents-and-children testers loved every minute.
Museums reviewed by parents: Arundel Castle
Pretend to be a knight for the day at one of Britain’s most historic castles. Arundel Castle boasts fairytale towers and rooms full of suits of armour, all set in acres of beautiful grounds and gardens with sweeping views over the stunning South Downs. Perfect for keeping curious kids busy exploring all day!
Museums reviewed by parents: National Maritime Museum
The world's largest maritime museum is packed to the gunwales with intriguing objects, fascinating galleries and hands-on exploration opportunities for children and families. Head to Royal Greenwich to find out more about seas, ships and sailing.
Museums reviewed by parents: Thackray Medical Museum
Explore past (and future!) medical treatments and procedures, get a glimpse of life in Victorian England, get hands-on with oversized body parts and find out how humans work, all at the Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds. Our family testers share the highlights for parents and children.
Museums reviewed by parents: Warwick Castle
Take a trip back through the last eleven centuries to Warwick Castle, the site of a Saxon fortification, a wooden motte and bailey constructed in 1068 and a medieval stone castle. Restored and managed by the Merlin Entertainments group, the Castle uses multimedia experiences and costumed guides to bring history to life for visitors of all ages.
Museums reviewed by parents: Titanic Belfast
Titanic Belfast uses special effects, rides, reconstructions and interactive features to explore the Titanic story. We find out what the world's largest Titanic visitor attraction has to offer children and families.
Museums reviewed by parents: W5, Belfast
Planning a family day out? Our favourite museums make learning effortless and fun (for adults as well as children). For hands-on science for all ages head to the action-packed W5 in Belfast, one of the top family attractions in Northern Ireland where you are invited to touch, feel, smell and press everything in sight!
Museums reviewed by parents: SEA LIFE Brighton
Watch sharks and turtles swim over your head, touch a starfish, come face-to-face with a ray and count terrapins as they walk through a rainforest... there's an under-sea world to discover at SEA LIFE Brighton, and the new Jurassic Seas exhibition takes you back to the age of the dinosaurs, too. We offer a review of what's on offer for parents and primary-school children.
Museums reviewed by parents: Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre
Make the most of family outings by choosing one of our parent-recommended museums. For fun, story-telling, literary inspiration and creative opportunities visit the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.
UK museum highlights for children
A visit to a museum or gallery can really help a subject come to life for a child. Who doesn’t remember the first time they saw a dinosaur? Or an ancient Egyptian mummy? To help you navigate the wonderful world of museums the experts at Show Me have put together a guide to some of the UK's best family-friendly places to visit in person and online.
Museums reviewed by parents: The Foundling Museum
At the Foundling Museum the whole family can get a glimpse into a heartwarming piece of London history – the story of abandoned children taken in and given a home by an extraordinary group of philanthropists. And you can take a historical selfie, too!
Museums reviewed by parents: Mary Rose, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Travel back in time to Henry VIII's navy and its flagship, the Mary Rose. Recovered from the sea after nearly five hundred years, the ship is presented to visitors in a new, state-of-the-art museum that's highly recommended for families.
Museums reviewed by parents: Eureka!
One of the best children's museums in the world, Eureka! is packed with hundreds of hands-on exhibits designed to inspire children to learn through play. Our family testers were amazed at what's on offer and determined to be regular visitors in the future.
Museums reviewed by parents: Manchester Museum
Travel back in time to Ancient Egypt, see reptiles and amphibians from Costa Rica, walk beneath a giant whale skeleton, come face-to-face with a tiger and meet a life-size Tyrannosaurus rex... just a few of the highlights of a visit to Manchester Museum. Our family testers report back.
Museums reviewed by parents: Museum of Liverpool
Dress up as a dock master, play in a pint-sized port, explore first- and third-class travel in Victorian times and fall in love with the sounds of the 1960s... it's all waiting for you (and it's free!) at the Museum of Liverpool. Our parent review highlights the child-friendly activities on offer.
5 learning activities for summer weather
Summer is finally here! Make that wonderful, warm globe of loveliness in the sky into a fantastic learning aid with our hands-on activities, perfect for whiling away the hours on a hot afternoon.
Museums reviewed by parents: Look Out Discovery Centre
Build a dam, tile a roof, shake your own hand (in an optical illusion) and build a 3D puzzle of the human body − there's all this (and more) to discover at the Look Out Discovery Centre in Bracknell. Read our parent review to find out more.
Museums reviewed by parents: DIG
Dig, delve and discover objects and stories from the past at York's wonderfully interactive DIG, a real archeological adventure for children (and adults). We give it our parent-tested seal of approval!
Museums reviewed by parents: York Castle Museum
The UK's museums offer world-class learning experiences for children and families and our parent reviews highlight some of the best. At York Castle Museum your family can travel back in time to the sights, sounds and smells of Victorian England (remember to buy a pink sugar mouse to munch on as you explore!).
Museums reviewed by parents: York's Chocolate Story
Bring learning to life with a visit to one of our parent-recommended museums and experiences. For a delicious, immersive visit into the world of chocolate, take a guided tour at York's Chocolate Story.
Museums reviewed by parents: Discover Children's Story Centre
Bring learning to life with a visit to one of our parent-recommended museums. We love Children's Story Centre Discover, a haven for bookworms, story-tellers and adventurers in Stratford, north east London.
Museums reviewed by parents: World Museum Liverpool
Our parent-recommended museums make bringing learning to life easy and fun. For the chance to explore creatures and people from our past and our present, head to World Museum Liverpool (just watch out for the giant spider!).
Museums reviewed by parents: The Geffrye Museum of the Home
Bring classroom learning to life with a visit to one of our parent-recommended museums, or explore the website to explore from afar. For hands-on fun and a fascinating trip through our Tudor and Victorian past we love the Geffrye Museum of the Home in London.
Why games-based learning is great for your child
If you despair of the amount of time your child spends attached to their tablet, think again: games and apps are an important part of their learning journey, from pre-school to secondary school, and can help to improve problem-solving skills and communication, as well as boost motivation. Lucy Dimbylow finds out why gaming means learning in the twenty-first century.