Archive for December, 2011

by Jeanette Verster, mom, photographer, blogger, Digital strategist in financial services, and shopaholic. The photos below are all my own. Visit my website to find out more.

We spent the day in Newtown, Johannesburg, today… at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre. It’s like a science museum only cooler… way cooler.  It’s 3 floors of stuff… packed with coolness and loads to keep the kids occupied.

It was easily the most fun we’ve ever had for R30!! Seriously, that’s all it cost to get in, because Connor was “free” ‘cos he’s under 6.   We got there at 11:30am… and I managed to drag them out of there at 3:30pm!! And they were complaining that they didn’t want to go home yet.

I was in two minds about going to Sci-Bono.  The only people I knew that have been there, have got little kids.  I was worried that Bradley would get bored.  Well, I’m not actually sure who was more engaged by the centre actually.  They definitely got different things out of the day.   Connor was just interested in getting things to work.  Bradley would intently read instructions to get them to work right… but he’s not yet interested in why it works like it does… and I’m sure older kids/teens would be… so it caters for all ages.  And it’s under cover!! Perfect for a rainy day! And for those worried about going to “scary” Joburg  the parking lot is right outside with a guard

The highlight of the place was definitely the Murray and Roberts construction site.  The boys kept coming back here.  There was a “site office” where they had to get kitted out with hard hats and bibs.  There were piles of foam bricks and cement to build walls between steel structures…

I managed to tear them away to get them to a science show at 12:30pm.  And on the way we got sidetracked by this machine that showed pressure in a chamber when you used a lever to spin a soccer ball

The science show was fabulous.  They used chemicals to produce fires and all sorts of cool things for the kids to see… in this experiment she blew cake flour out of a funnel and lit it… I did not know that flour could burn like that! Then she made bubbles with liquid nitrogen and I can’t remember what else .

Then it was time to see the dinosaurs.  They were awesome, and roared and moved when you pressed a button.  Really cool for the kids!

Both boys loved the Eskom section where they played with circuits and currents… this one used batteries to get a train to move around a track.

This was them running to get back to the construction area after being through all 3 floors of magnetic, electric and musical fun….

We’ll definitely be back.  Connor wants to go there again tomorrow… LOL! And I’ve definitely decided that this is a definite party venue for one of them this year!

by Joy Dembo, married, with an 18 year old son and a 25 year old daughter.  Addicted to the www, particularly Twitter. Recruitment Response Handling Consultant and Freelance Copywriter, vegetarian and animal lover. Visit her blog.

We all remember the Adventures of the lovable and fearless Tintin and his cute dog, Snowy, but the movie elevates Tintin to a whole new level of excitement and adventure!  Tintin has been all over the world, but he has never been to the big screen, so prepare yourself for the thrill of thrills.

The animation is absolutely amazing and at times I had to remind myself that the characters were NOT real people J And the 3D action brings the screen to life like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

When Tintin (voiced by Jamie Bell) buys a mysterious model ship from a flea market stall, he and Snowy discover there is more to the ship than meets the eye, as they find themselves being drawn into the middle of a centuries old mystery.

Enter Ivanovitch Sakharine, the bad guy, who wants the ship more than anything else on the planet and doesn’t care who he has to annihilate to get it.  Sakharine (voiced by Daniel Craig) believes that Tintin has stolen the ship, a priceless treasure, from a pirate named Red Rackham, and Tintin is on the evil villain’s hit list.

Tintin and Snowy team up with the constantly inebriated, entertaining Captain Haddock (voiced by Andy Serkis) and Scotland Yard’s finest two detectives (NOT!!!), to solve the mystery and outwit Sakharine.  This results in a rip roaring adventure on land, sea and in the air, travelling across continents to find the remains of the Unicorn, a shipwreck that they believe holds the key to a fortune in gold, and an ancient curse.

Thrills and danger galore will keep you wondering until the very end, when all is revealed.  Or is it?

This movie is a real classic from the Master of epic movies, Steven Spielberg, and in Spielberg’s own words “As soon as I read my first of the books, Tintin never strayed far from my thoughts and heart.  I knew Tintin and I were destined for some kind of collaboration …a journey of discovery”.  He was right!

The movie was released at cinemas countrywide just before Christmas.  Put it on your “to do” list for 2012.  Kids and adults alike will be enthral

by Merle Dieterich, passionate mom and businesswoman whose 2 beautiful children, Lerato and Marvin never cease to amaze and teach her about what counts. You’ll find her at  jozikids.co.za

My daughter, husband and I had the incredible priviledge of experiencing what Montecasino calls their  Show and Stay Package including dinner, bed, breakfast, show tickets and a programme. Wow, what a treat, one I would recommend to anyone needing a holiday around the corner.

In as long as it took for us to reach the palatial splendour of Montecasino we felt the strains  and stresses of every day life melt away and were transported into another world.

First booking into a room that elicited oohs and aahs from my daughter who examined everything, the mirrors, square basin, a little stint trying out the bath and of course watching TV. Then down to the dining room  for a delicious meal.

Then onto the show performed by the award winning Imperial Ice Stars. From the word go the colourful costumes, grand sets and most of all unbelievable ice skating sequences had us captivated.

Yes, it lives up to the blurb on the Montecasino website. It is ” choreography that further raises the bar, with ever more breathaking high-speed leaps and throws and awe-inspiring, acrobatics, coupled with the most graceful and sublime ice dancing”

After all the excitement, what a pleasure to simply catch the lift to our soft comfortable beds upstairs and then awaken to the most divine breakfast before returning to the humdrum of daily life

Thank you Montecasino for  a a great Show and Stay.

If you haven’t discovered it yet, Jozikids.co.za is the most up to date and detailed resource for parents in the Gauteng region to find what you need including events, activities, venues, parties and lessons. You’ll also find us on your cell phone.

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

The Nutcracker On Ice Montecasino, Fourways
Starts on Thursday Dec 8th and runs right through until Jan 15th daily, excluding Mondays.

Hannah Montana Tribute Show at Gold Reef City, Dec 10-Jan 15

Holiday Fun @ Cedar Junxion Zwavelpoort, Dec 18,24; Jan 1.
Mini steam trains, paddle boats, skateboarding, picnic area – great for family outing.

HOLIDAY PROGRAMS

Sundowner Adventures Intro to fly fishing, Magaliesburg, until Jan 15.
Abseiling and Caving holiday adventure, Muldersdrift, until Jan 11
Joburg Zoo holiday program, Parktown, Dec 19-23.
Montecasino holiday program, Fourways, Dec 19-23; Jan 3-6.
Pretoria Zoo Dec 19, 21, 22,23, Jan 3-5
Kids Cooking Holiday Program, Little Cooks Centurion, Dec 14-16, Jan 10-12

SLEEPOVER CAMPS

Mazz Kids (5 dys) Pony Camps, Centurion, Dec 19-23.
Stone Meadows (3 dys) Holiday Camp, Magaliesberg, Jan 8-11.

HOLIDAY CARE

Purple Cow Holiday Care, Centurion, until Jan 17
Kinderland Holiday Fun Club, Pretoria, Dec 9-Jan 19th.
Pretoria Montessori Garsfontein, Dec 19-22
Kids Village Day Camp, Honeydew, until Jan 13

If you haven’t discovered it yet, Jozikids.co.za is the most up to date and detailed resource for parents in the Gauteng region to find what you need including events, activities, venues, parties and lessons. You’ll also find us on your cell phone.

SHOPPING MALLS WITH KIDS FUN

The following shopping malls will be open, offering activities for kids right through until the day before Xmas. 2 exceptions are Menlyn Park and Irene Village Malls who will be running kids holiday programs right through until school starts pretty much.

EAST RAND:
Crafts, Carols & Holiday Fun at East Rand Mall, Boksburg North, Dec 1-24
Festive Fun Lakeside mall, Benoni, Dec 9-23.

JOBURG
Fourways Mall Xmas Carnival, Fourways, Dec 12-24.
Children’s Treasure Island Irene Village Mall, Pretoria, Dec 1 -Jan 9
Santa at the Centre Brightwater Commons, Randburg, Dec 9-24
Season for Giving Northgate Mall, Randburg, Nov 29-Dec 24.

PRETORIA
Menlyn Park holiday program, Menlo Park, Dec 2 -Jan 15.

WEST RAND
Clearwater Mall holiday program, Roodepoort, Dec 10-24.

DECEMBER 16th FAMILY TRIPS

We have an incredibly long list of venues we found that are open on this public holiday  including child friendly restaurants, museums and places to see animals and action activities. Here are a few:

MUSEUMS
Apartheid Museum Ormonde: 10am-5pm: adults  R55,  kids  R40, under 7yrs free
Hector Pieterson Orlando East, Soweto: Adults R25, free  under 13yrs, students R5

James Hall Museum La Rochelle: Free 9am-4.30pm,  adults 25, kids R15
James Hall Museum of Transport (JHMT) is a thematic land transport museum covering various modes of transport dating back some 400 years and is the largest museum of its kind in South Africa. We have steam driven vehicles, trains, trams and trolley busses, fire fighting vehicles, early bicycles, animal drawn vehicles and cars.

Museum of Military History, Saxonwold 9am-4.30pm, adults R25, kids R16
The Museum’s collection of more than 44 000 items are divided into 37 separate categories and include the official South African war art and photograph collections. The Museum library has a unique collection of books, journals and archival material. Interviews are regularly conducted in the library as part of an ongoing oral history collection project. In this way, it ensures that previously unrecorded experiences of ordinary servicemen and women are preserved for posterity.

Origins Centre Braamfontein, adults R75, under 12yrs, R35, 9am-5pm
The Origins Centre tells a story of how all humans began in Africa, developed tools, language, art and spirituality. The Centre contains the latest interactive multi-media equipment. (Hologram and virtual rain animal).Workshops for bushman art and shadow dancing, story telling, shadow puppets, music, dance and more

Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Newtown – Adults R20, kids R10,  9am -4.30pm
From LEGO pits and mini-construction sites to understanding the principles of electromagnetism, the exhibits cater for curious minds of all ages
.
Transvaal Museum CBD Central. Adults R20, kids R10
This is a small Natural History Museum which even if a little outdated provides a memorable interactive experience for the whole family. The museum currently houses a vast taxidermy collection as well as a number of fossils. There are four exhibition halls; Genesis of Life, The Austin Roberts Bird Hall: collection of SA birds, arranged according to their number in the Roberts Bird Guide. The Geoscience Museum: collection of different minerals, crystals, and gemstones in SA and the Discovery Centre: hands-on experience about nature and science

RESTAURANTS AND PLACES WITH ANIMALS
Croc City Crocodile Farm, Fourways.
Joburg Zoo Family Day, Parktown.

Restaurants in Joburg, Pretoria and the East Rand that have playgrounds and activities for kids.

If you haven’t discovered it yet, Jozikids.co.za is the most up to date and detailed resource for parents in the Gauteng region to find what you need including events, activities, venues, parties and lessons. You’ll also find us on your cell phone.

MORE XMAS CAROLS AND MARKETS

Jacaranda FM Carols by Candlelight, Supersport Park, Centurion, Dec 6;
Montecasino Piazza, Fourways, Dec 8

In Pretoria
Carols by Candlelight Concert, Pretoria Botanical Gardens Brumeria, Dec  10
Visitors will be treated to the sounds of Irish Pipes and Drums, followed by an inspiring performance by the Mzansi Youth Choir. Kids are in for an extra-special treat, as Santa Claus will be there to greet them. From 6pm, tickets R50, kids under 13yrs free

Midrand
Carols by Candlelight Lipizzaner, Kyalami, Dec 7-8, 14-15, 17-18, 20-23.
The magnificent white stallions will be dancing and the Welsh Male Voice Choir of South Africa will be singing! Nativity Scene and of course, Father Christmas will be there.  Light snacks and cash bar available from 6pm

East Rand
East Rand Mall Carols by Candlelight, Boksburg North, Dec 7
Carols by Candle light. Magical evening by Nadine. Bring something special for Balela Charity orphanage, Dec 7
Nando’s & Crafters Market will host Play Station games, fooze ball tables, jumping castle and a toy horse riding ring and competitions, Dec 10-22.Photos with Santa & Gift Wrapping Kiosk, Dec 1-24. Extended Shopping Hours, Dec 9-24

Johannesburg
Xmas with Richard Cocks Choir & Orchestra, Linder Auditorium, Parktown, Dec 10-11
A classical Christmas Concert of well known carols performed by the Symphony Choir of Johannesburg
and the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra conducted by Richard Cock. Audience participation in singing some of the most popular Christmas Carols, from 7.30pm.

ACOSA Soweto Youth Orchestra Carols & African pieces, Parkmore, Dec 4-18.
ACOSA Soweto Youth Orchestra will be playing Christmas Carols and joyful African pieces;
Holy Cross Church, Orlando: Christmas Carols, Dec 10
Meadowlands Methodist Church: Christmas Carols, Dec 11
Benmore Shopping Mall, Dec 17

Every week we visit the party pages on Jozikids and find great party ideas, this week we want to tell you about scuba diving and swimming pool parties

SCUBA DIVING  & SWIMMING PARTIES

Urban Dive Centre in Cresta, Jhb
specialises in Scuba Diving Birthday Parties. Their Scuba Instructors and Facilitators introduce your kids and their friends to the under water world of Scuba Diving.  They can dive & explore a shipwreck & discover a treasure chest

Swim Atlantis Aqua Centre
In Midrand has a heated pool for swimming lessons & party venue for pool parties.

Pines Resort
In Krugersdorp is a Family Resort w/ water slides, pools, jungle gym, picnic & braai areas. They don’t call themselves a party venue but you are welcome to come with a party and enjoy the day.

You’ll find these and a whole lot more fantastic party ideas on Jozikids on your computer or your cell phone.