Indoor Adventures

Indoor Adventures: Entertaining kids during the Winter Break and School Holidays

This time of year, it’s easy to get lost in the chaos and excitement of present buying, Christmas parties, and shopping for a colossal amount of food. But crucially, December is the month many of us commit to spending more quality time with our loved ones, commemorating the ups and downs of the past year, and forging new memories together. Conveniently, it’s also the time of year of hostile British weather. But at Hatton Country World, we are your ultimate destination for the best insights into great days out and great days in. So here are some of our recommendations on indoor adventures to share with your loved ones over the holidays.

Soft Play Sanctorium

Soft play centres are a go-to destination for families as soon as the weather turns sour, and that’s no surprise. Whilst the fun-filled frenzy of soft play areas is certainly not for the light-hearted, these spaces are great for kids to learn important social skills interacting with their peers outside of school. They quickly form friendships and learn how to play together, share toys, and take turns on equipment.

Soft play is also a rare exercise opportunity for little ones to burn off all that pent-up energy when they’re otherwise stuck in the house over the winter. A colourful, gigantic expanse dedicated to the art play will ignite great excitement in kids of all ages- and we include mum and dad in this too! At Hatton’s Superslide Mania, we encourage parents to get involved in swinging, sliding, and climbing about our nirvana of fun. Chasing your youngsters through our play dens is a great way to bond, laugh, and let off some steam together this Christmas.

Indoor Iceskating

Indoor ice skating is another festive activity that gets the blood pumping, the body moving, and just maybe gain a new skill in the meantime. Lucky enough for our West Midlands residents, Birmingham’s spectacular, all-inclusive indoor ice rink. Operating until the 7th of January, this whimsical arena sits in Centenary Square in the city centre every winter and is regularly voted amongst the best indoor ice rinks in the country. Glide across the ice to some festive tunes and unwind in the upstairs Ice Lounge and Bar after ward for a classic Christmas mix of both feverish excitement and quiet relaxation.

Arts and Crafts Events

Indulge in some creativity and imagination this winter by setting up a crafts station in the house or venturing out to an organised arts and crafts event tailored to kids and families. Day Out With The Kids curates a helpful guide rounding up all the best arts and crafts events in the West Midlands to browse at your leisure. Quick Tip: cotton balls, paper, and even toilet paper make great snowy features for crafting a winter-themed scene.

Making and Baking

If you’re committed to staying comfortably at home this winter break but still in search of something entertaining for the household’s young people, letting go and getting messy is a quick way to eliminate boredom. BBC Good Foods lists charming but simple recipes that kids can get stuck in with, featuring festive fairycakes, gingerbread houses, and more.

Family Friendly Theatre

Introducing your little ones to the arts is an exciting pastime that celebrates creativity and performance. There is the Midland’s Art Centre showcasing festive film screenings (watch Buddy the Elf jaunt around New York) and original theatre productions bespoke to kids and families. The dance-circus company Motionhouse is performing their brand new play, Starchitects Save Santa, this Christmas at the MAC where space-traveling friends journey through the galaxy to rescue a missing Santa Clause.

At Hatton Country World, we have our own Zoobee Family Theatre stuffed with revolving acts of hilarious magicians, ventriloquists, and fantastical optic illusions to keep you and the family in a state of whimsy and wonder this Christmas.

Yule-time Birthday Bash

Perhaps this time of year is extra special for your clan with a December birthday within the family. At Hatton Country World, we excel in birthday bonanzas with a range of party packages available so you can tailor your day to your desires. These include all-day access to our Adventure World and Superslide Mania for your entire party of guests, a £5 gift voucher for the birthday star, and a pot of Animal Feed for each of the little ones to get up close and personal with their farmyard favourites.

Hatton Country World

We are your local experts in family entertainment, with over 30 shows and activities to present, 100 acres of our own adventure land, and over 450 fluffy, slimy, and scaly creatures excited to meet you. We’re here for you to enjoy every weekday, weekend, and over the holidays so you and yours are never short of fun, safe, and exuberant experiences.