holidays

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• Dog Walk, Barnyard Theatre and Holiday Calendar
• Holiday and Easter weekend activities
• Holiday camps and day trips in Gauteng
• Midterm holiday break and cooking workshops
• Holiday entertainment, programs and camps
• Survivor and action parties plus sleepover holiday camps
• School holiday camps and day programs
• Kids holiday activities – daily programs
• Father’s day and holiday camps
• Working mom’s plea for all day holiday care
• Planning Christmas holidays

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.

ANIMAL WELFARE FAMILY DAY

Dog Walk and Market Day Amakoekoe Guest Lodge, Apple street Honeydew.on April 21st in support of 2 animals welfare organisations- FORA, is a  haven for cats & dogs based in Krugersdorp and CLAW  helps animals in poor communities.

It’ll be a fun day  which starts at 9am with a crafters market, raffles, competitions and a dog walk which begins at 10.30am. Adults: R20, Kids and dogs: Free

Bring tin of food, bag of food or a bag of treats to add to our tower and stand a chance to win great prizes from this. CLAW is always in need of food, collars, leashes, bedding and newspapers for the clinic and other township dogs.

FAMILY SHOWS

There are loads of great family productions on at the Barnyard theatre which now has a branch in Rivonia with others in Pretoria ( Menlyn), Boksburg and Cresta. It’s a great family outing where you can take your own food, book a table and enjoy a meal or your own food while watching the production.

Here’s whats on:
Lets start with kids theatre performed by On Cue theatre company at Barnyard. The productions cost R50 pp and start at 11am

Alice in Wonderland - Barnyard Boksburg,Wednesday, Apr 21, based on ‘Alice in wonderland’ and ‘Alice through the looking glass’, by Lewis Carroll.

The Princess and the Pea, Barnyard Rivonia,  Apr 30- only next Monday. The Princess and The Pea is based on the fairy tale “The Princess on the Pea” by Hans Christian Anderson.

Then some musical theatre which Barnyard is famous for. Please check prices and times. Most of these are only running for another week.

The Final Countdown, Barnyard Boksburg, until Apr 29. Experience 6 decades of music from the Beach Boys to the Beegees, Lionel Ritchie to the Spice Girls.

Moonshadows Barnyard Menlyn, until Apr 29. A tribute to folk, country & acoustic rock legends Johnny Cash, Cat Stevens, Eagles, Adele, Simon & Garfunkel & more,

Big Top Rock Barnyard Cresta, until Apr 29. Featuring the music of Adele, Lenny Kravitz, U2, Shakira, Journey & many more!

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

For those of you whose kids are still on holiday- if they attend schools with 3 terms they will be until May 2nd. Jozikids has a very detailed Holiday Calendar to help you.

Dance Cafe Theatre Camp, Sunninghill, 16-19, 23-26 Daily 10am-3pm, Professional Arts practitioners take kids through modules of drama, theatre craft, music, and dance and stage production. Kids are taught improvisation techniques, voice projection, characterisation, movement and dialogue development, all of which culminates in a production to be enjoyed by parents on the final evening

The Hide Out holiday program, Kyalami, Apr 16-20, 23-26. Daily 8am-4.30pm for 5-12yr olds, Our program is exciting yet relaxed, and run in a homely environment where your crafter can truly enjoy a holiday adventure: crafts, baking, swimming and cycling are a few of the fun activities offered daily. Booking essential.

That’s it for this week. Next week we’ll be back with loads of ideas of what to do over the upcoming Freedom day long weekend.

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.

Do you have something for your kids to do these holidays? We’re here to help if you need it. For a long list of programs and camps visit our Holiday Calendar page on Jozikids. Today we’ve selected a few to tell you about.

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

Artjamming ,School Holiday Program Blubird, Lonehill & Irene, Apr 2-27, 9am-12pm. Each day has a fun theme to encourage creativity while jamming art. From colour workshops to learning how to paint landscapes and portraits.

Fire Engine Buildathon with Lego, Fourways Mall, Apr 2-29 ( excl Apr 6th)
Help us build a l 2metre Lego fire engine and fireman, consisting of over 190 000 pieces of Legobat the Junction Court. Join us and watch the fire engine come to life between Apr 2-29, open 10am-3pm. Its free for adults and children. Building sessions of an hour.

Solar Science Holiday Program –Sci- Bono, Newtown Mar 31-Apr 9
A daily program of science shows and interactive workshops investigating Solar Science.
Hands on Science Workshops (max 30 children per workshop)
•Test the power of the sun: (Free)
Learn how to generate electricity from renewable sources, build and test a solar powered model.
•Go Green, cook solar! (R10)
Construct a solar oven using recyclable materials.
•Super fast solar racing: (R30)
Harness the power of the sun to fuel your mini electric car.
Entrance fee R10 kids, R20 adults, Time 9am-3.30pm

EASTER ACTIVITIES

Pretoria Zoo Easter Fun, Pretoria, Apr 6-9
Apr 7: Egg hunt for over 15000 eggs with Easter Bunny
Apr 7-8: Meet the Easter bunny and play games

Zwartskops Quad Centre Easter Egg hunt, Centurion, Apr 7-8

DAY TRIP

Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve and Wondercave
Weekends & public holidays 8am-6pm.Tours to Wonder Cave: 8pm-4pm.Muldersdrift West Rand.  Find a variety of animals & 4 of the big five to see!! Feeding of lions, african wild dogs and cheetahs at 1pm on Wed, Sat and Sun. Snake demo and Cheetah Run daily at 2.30 and 3pm except Mon and Fri. Opening times weekdays 8am-5pm

If you haven’t discovered it yet, www.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.

HOLIDAY CAMPS

With school holidays just weeks away, its time to enrol your kids in a sleepover camp to avoid dissapointment.

Action/Adventure
FlipFlop Gymnastics Hartebeespoort
Kambi Kids Camp Muldersdrift
Sugar Bay Camp Zinkwazi
Happy Acres Magaliesburg

Horse riding
Shepherd’s Fold Honeydew
Immaculate Pony Camp Vaal
Jod’s Riding School Eikenhof

Fishing
Kidz Fishing Camp Vaal

ACTION

The Ski Deck Ferndale North Randburg- Venue where you can take your family bumboarding or skiing. They are  offering a 10% discount for 3 or more skiing or bumboarding lessons booked in the months of March and April.

Cedar Junction Zwavelpoort Pretoria East- Open 8am-5pm Wednesday to Sunday, no cover fee at the moment. Train rides, pedal boats, mountain bike track, jumping castle, jungle gyms, push bikes etc.. tea garden overlooking the lake – big 8 hectare park . Great family outing.

SHOWS

Ballet of Korea Performances, Joburg Theatre, Braamfontein, Mar 16-18

The acclaimed 60-member ballet company will perform the most beloved of all classical ballets, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake,

If you haven’t discovered it yet, www.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.

MID TERM BREAK ACTIVITIES

In the Forest Campover, Eikenhof, Feb 25-26. 2 day 1 night sleepover during the last weekend of each month! These camps will start on Saturday; with the campers camping over and ending on the Sunday afternoon, R395 – all inclusive 6-13yrs

Kidz Fishing Camp, Vaal River, Feb 24-26. We will teach your child how to fish as well as play games, have camp fires and more. 3 days and 2 nights, R800 incl meals for 7-15yr olds

Shepherd’s Fold Pony Camp, Muldersdrift Feb 24. Fabulous fun for all children who love horses. Learn how to care for horses, ride, and enjoy horsey games in a safe and controlled environment. 6-16yrs

Kinderland Holiday Fun Club, Pretoria, Feb 23-28. Every day we do craft and baking activities and let the kids play outdoors in our wonderful play area. 9am-5pm

Mungolistix Holiday Fun Centurion, Feb 23-28. Indoor adventure playground from birth to 7 years – drop your kids with them from 9am-5pm

Gobbledigook Holiday art workshops, Parktown North, Feb 23-28, All ages- learn to look workshops.

COOKING WORKSHOPS

Icing lessons Gill’s Cakes, Roodepoort, Feb 24.

Cake Pops Lindas Bake & Pack Courses, Westdene, Feb 25.

Tasty Thai Glass Kitchen, Krugersdorp, Feb 28

Muesli Slices Little Cooks Centurion, Feb 20-25.

Sushi Sandwiches Little Cooks Fourways, Feb 27-Mar 3.

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.

Its hard to believe that school holidays are less than a month away. Help!! I hear you say..  Well Jozikids has a fabulous, growing list of holiday sleepover camps and daily holiday programs on our special holiday page.

This week we want to give you a sampling of the range of sleepover camps on offer. If any of them interest you – they’re filling up fast – you need to get moving.

There are pony camps galore starting in the first and 2nd week of December ranging in length from
3 days Chartwell Stables (3 dys) pony camp in Fourways.
5 days Shepherd’s Fold (3 dys & 5 dys) pony camp in Elandsdrift, 15 minutes from Honeydew in Joburg
7 days BBK Trails (7 dys) pony camps in  Mpumalanga,

Then  a camps that focus more on nature and the environment  is Bushtrail Holiday Camps (7 dys) in the Magaliesberg

A beach holiday can be had with  Sugar Bay (7 dys) Zinkwazi Beach in KZN

You can also send your child to catch fish at a 3 day Kidz Fishing (3 dys) camp on the Vaal River

And a camp that seems to have been around forever which many of you  who grew up in this part of the world may remember is Happy Acres Holiday Camp (7 dys) in the Magaliesberg

Survivor and Action Parties

Every week we visit the party pages on Jozikids and find great party ideas for you. This week we found 2 action parties great for kids from about

Andy’s Action Parties
They’ll come to you anywhere in Gauteng and have a range of action parties on offer including -  Survivor , Army , Paintball , Space Explorers, The Amazing Race.

Survive or Race The Adventure
1. The Survive Party with survivor challenges, immunity and tribal counsel, 2.5hours . Challenges include life-size obstacle course, create war-cries, tribal face paint, mind games and more.
2. The Race Party, 2.5hours.  You and your partner race against other teams where you are confronted by detours, roadblocks, fast forwards, yields, intersections and u-turns- who will be the ultimate winner?

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

Schools holidays start for most schools on Friday. If you want to send your child to a sleepover camp or a day program, nows the time to book. For We have a list of at least 10 different  sleepover camps on offer – many start on October 2, 3, or 4th. Here’s a sampling of what you will find.

CAMPS
Camps- Sleepover
Mazz Riding Club pony sleepover camp, Centurion- 5 days.
Jod’s Riding school- 6 days
In the forest  in Eikenhof- 5 days
Kids Fishing sleepover camp, Vaal- 3 days
Flip Flop Basecamp SA, Harbeespoort- 4 days
Sugar Bay, Zinkwazi beach, KZN- 7 days
Esperanza, horse riding Mooiplaats Pta- 5 days
Immaculate Equestrian, Vaal- 4 days
Adventure n Beyond, Krugersdorp- 5 days
Kambi Kids Bush Camp, Muldersdrift- 7 days
Shepherds Fold, Elandsdrift – 3days

Then there are holiday programs which take place during the day that focus on certain disciplines like:

DAY PROGRAMS
Drama
musical theatre workshops – one in Heidelberg and another where the venue is still to be confirmed.

Science/Tech
Technolab holiday club :Learn about some of the inventions and inventors that changed the world for grade 3-6, robotics for grade 7-12 in Auckland Park.

Sports
You’ll find tennis, horse riding, soccer programs in Joburg and the East rand.

Tuition services
Finally this is a crucial time for anyone writing matric and we have loads of tuition services on our site that are offering holiday matric revision :
Master Maths in Randpark Ridge and Pretoria,
Study Doctor Tutoring has a day workshop on October 1 in Randburg,
KipMcGrath in Rosebank offers a 4 day course.

You’ll find a long list on Jozikids – just visit the tuition section on our holiday activities page.

Remember you can find more ideas of what to do with your family in the Gauteng region on www.Jozikids.co.za on your computer or your cell phone.

Catch Merle from Jozikids.co.za on Jacaranda, every Sunday morning, to find out what to do with your kids and families today and in the week ahead.

Lets start with Something unusual: Knot the Juggler is offering kids juggling holiday workshops at a very reasonable price. If you tell him you saw it on Jozikids you only pay R320 for 4  workshops. He will come to your home if you get a minimum group of 5 children together. Sounds fabulous.

Arts and Crafts
If its arts and crafts your child is into – the offer is incredible.
In Joburg there’s scrapbooking at Kids Sensations in Sydenham, and
drawing, painting, beading, fabric painting and  glass painting with Mandy’s Arts and Crafts in Malanshof.  In Edenvale, there’s ceramic, painting and mosaics at  the Pottery Junxion and in Brooklyn  Pretoria you’ll find My Art Space offering decoupage, clay and painting on canvas, fabric and enamel painting

Cooking
Then Little Cooks is a franchise that offers kids cooking classes across Gauteng. They have holiday activities on offer until Jul 16.

Sports coaching
You’ll also find tennis coaching in Parkhurst with Ace Tennis
An introduction to golf at  Life as Golf in Krugersdorp
Pony clinics at Namirembe in Muldersdrift or Chartwell Stables in Randburg,

Mixed programs
Other mixed holiday programs offering a range of activities including sports, arts and crafts and games are
My Upper Room Kind Kids Club program, Fourways
Serendipity holiday program, Rosebank
The Child Care Group holiday program, Jhb, Sandton.
Yeesh fun for kids, indoor playground in  Bryanston & Woodmead

Throughout the holidays we’ll keep you posted on activities for your kids. Don’t forget we’ve only mentioned a few, you’ll find lots more if you go to  Kids Holiday Activities page.

Jozikids.co.za helps you find out what to do with your kids and families

Catch Merle from Jozikids.co.za on Jacaranda on Sunday morning, to find out what to do with your kids and families today and in the week ahead.

Happy Father’s day to all those wonderful dads out there.  here are a few restaurants that have Father’s Day specials – all have playgrounds and facilities for kids as well.

Restaurants
Tres Jolie Fathers Day Special, Muldersdrift
The Secret Garden Fathers Day Special, Fourways.
Stonehaven on the Vaal Fathers Day Specials on a boat cruise.

School holiday camps
School holidays start on Friday. If your child is interested in attending one of the sleepover camps on offer you need to book soon, spaces are limited and there’s not much time left.

Pony Camps
BBK Trails adventure pony camps, Mpumalanga
Chartwell Stables pony holiday program, Randburg
Esperanza holiday program, Mooiplaats, Pretoria.
Immaculate Equestrian Academy pony camp, Vaal
Mazz Kids pony camps, Centurion

Fishing camp
Kidz Fishing Camp,btw Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom,Vaal

Adventure holiday camps with mixed programs
Camp Nelu holiday camp, Hekpoort, West Rand
FlipFlop Basecamp SA camp, Hartbeespoort
Happy Acres camp, Magaliesburg
In the Forest camp, Drakensburg
Stone Meadow Country Estate Holiday Program, Rustenburg
Sugar Bay camps, Kwazulu Natal

Throughout the holidays we’ll keep you posted on activities for your kids. Today we talked about sleepover camps but don’t forget there are loads of day holiday programs as well.

Here’s wishing everyone a wonderful day and we’ll be back with Amor next Sunday with ideas of what you can do with your kids and families.

By Zoë Harper, PA to Marketing Exec and loving mom to only child, 11 year old and Type 1 Diabetic, Catherine

As a working mom with limited leave and a child who seems to be on a constant spate of school holidays (especially after the 5 weeks school closure for the World Cup last year) I am always looking out for holiday programs or child care facilities during these periods.

I have gone through most of the suggested holiday activities listed on the site (as I do when any holiday / term break is on the horizon) and found that many are only half day (morning or afternoons only) or only run for part of the holidays or are completely out of my neighborhood . Whilst this may be great for full time mom’s or half day mom’s, they aren’t really much use to me and I’m sure thousands of other mothers with similarly limited time. The Kid’s Village Day camp option looks great but is way out in the sticks which would means either setting off at 6am to be able to get there timeously and back through the traffic to be at the office for 8am and leaving work early to get there by closing time of 5pm for the entire two weeks of March / April holidays. Let’s not even talk petrol costs and stress levels here!

I really feel schools need to make more of an effort to arrange facilities (summer school / holiday programs) for children as we are left with very few alternatives. Not all of us can afford au pairs / full time maids / have freely available grandparents etc. And yes, I’d be willing to pay for them (and we don’t even get a reprieve of cutting school fees during these breaks).

I wish there were facilities whereby you could leave your children in good, safe hands in major centers (community centers / libraries?) during school holidays where they are stimulated, educated and entertained whilst taking a break from the usual school routine (at a reasonable fee too – from my mouth to God’s ears).

I think it’s a good business idea to get into but unfortunately I don’t have the resources or contacts to set this kind of thing up and obviously it’s only during certain times of the year.

I guess I’m just venting and sadly wishing away the time to when my child is old enough to be able to fend for herself at home – but that would probably still entail sitting in front of the tv all day or getting up to mischief

In conclusion – if there are such programs and I am unaware of them – please kindly direct me to them.