![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/national-trust.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Love-Bug-Bookmark-Designs-600x360-1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dragon-Puppet-small-1170x531_c-1024x465.png\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/fab-pharoahs.jpeg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Thursday-snails.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nFebruary Half Term Bumper Guide <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve rounded up some great activities and events to help you and your family stay entertained, inspired and active over the next two weeks. The only problem? How to fit it all in! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s plenty of fun to be had throughout half term plus lots to celebrate with Chinese New Year, Valentine\u2019s Day and Pancake Day too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you find our guide useful, please share Top Picks with your family and friends and sign up to the newsletter. We publish our blog every two weeks but we promise the fun below lasts a lot longer than that!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Virtual Events Dated<\/a><\/li>
- Outdoor Adventures<\/a><\/li>
- Online Anytime<\/a><\/li>
- Make, Watch & Listen<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
VIRTUAL EVENTS DATED <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Family Fun at the Southbank Centre
Throughout February half term<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dynamic-89f2e046-bf61-5ced-ad0c-4202e76ce6ad.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHead to the Southbank virtually and join their live-streamed fun for all the family. Fill your little one’s world with colour at Kaleidoscope Concert, a sensory online experience for babies. Or find joy in your own dancing and moving with DYSCO, a playful and celebratory workshop for all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To find out more and for booking info, click here
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Makes a Medieval Knight?
Family Live Stream
Saturday 13th February @ 9am <\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/eq_armour2_-_resized.width-1275.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPulling swords from stones, great castles with drawbridges, jousts on horseback, and perhaps even a dragon or two… We\u2019ve all heard stories about brave knights in armour, but what was it really like to be one of the fighting men of medieval Europe, over 500 years ago?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Join The Wallace Collection to find out all you need to know about medieval knights. Artist Millie Nice will be showing you how to create and decorate your own armour plates, along with special guest, modern day jouster, Andy Deane. Joining us from the Royal Armouries in Leeds, Andy will answer all the important questions, such as why did knights wear armour, is armour really heavy, what did they eat for breakfast, and how did they go to the toilet in steel trousers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event will be live streamed on The Wallace Collection\u2019s YouTube Channel<\/a>. Find out more<\/a> and download your armour plate template<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nMake a Dragon Puppet
Saturday 13th February @ 11am <\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dragon-Puppet-small-1170x531_c-1024x465.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHead to the Void Gallery to join artist Sinead Crumlish and find out how to make your own dragon to celebrate Chinese New Year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you can\u2019t make the session on Saturday morning, the workshop will be uploaded to the Void Gallery\u2019s Vimeo channel<\/a> so you can access it at your convenience. Find out what you need to take part here.<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nSofa Acrobatics
Saturday 13th Feb & Monday 15th Feb<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/sofa-aerobics.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSofa Acrobatics is part of The Spark Arts for Children Festival<\/a> (13th- 20th February). Join Mimbre’s acrobats for this family movement session of Sofa Acrobatics. Using each other for support and your sofa as a crashmat you\u2019ll get to explore some fun movement and adventurous shapes. The session will make slouching on the sofa into an art form, including pillow fights, human pyramids and the creation of your own sofa dance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event will take place on zoom, aimed all ages and levels. Tickets are limited. Suggested tickets price per household is \u00a310 ( \u00a31 minimum) To book find out more and book your ticket, click here.<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nTo find out what else is happening during the festival, click here<\/a> – all events are free or pay-what-you-can.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nChinese New Year at the National Maritime Museum
Saturday 13th February, all day<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/chinese-new-year-1024x555.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nCelebrate the Year of the Ox online with a whole host of Chinese New Year activities, videos and performances curated by the National Maritime Museum. Learn about traditions, watch storytelling, find out how to make a hongbao (a red envelope, that traditionally contains money and symbolises good fortune and prosperity for the coming year) as well as watching special performances from 4pm on Facebook.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
RMG will be adding activities in the build-up to the New Year, so keep checking for more great ideas and resources here<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nStories of the Skies
Sunday 14th February @ 7pm <\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-09.49.19.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStories of the Skies is part of the Northumberland Dark Skies Festival<\/a> (12th – 21st Feb). Every night, a pageant of Greek mythology is enacted among the stars. Ian Ridpath, a renowned astronomy author, will recount these famous legends, illustrated by classic works of art, and identify the constellations associated with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
To find out more, click here<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nChinese New Year
Digital celebrations with London Chinatown
Sunday 14th February<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/parade_dragon_dance_cny2017_jon_mo1920x1080.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nChinese New Year is the 12th February and 2021 is the Year of the OX. The Chinese New Year festival<\/a>, which is organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA), is taking place online on Sunday. There’ll be a CNY comic strip to tell the story of the Ox and CNY traditions, Kim Joy (from Great British Bake Off) will be creating a Year of the Ox-themed desserts and Ping Coombes (MasterChef) will be creating a selection of CNY dishes. Plus there\u2019ll be performances as well as highlights from previous years\u2019 celebrations. Full itinerary here.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Head to the LCCA\u2019s YouTube channel<\/a> to tune in on the day and follow on social using #StrongAsAnOx \t
<\/p>\n\n\n\nDecoding Pictures with the National Gallery
Monday 15th February @ 11am <\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-09.54.40.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow do we look at pictures, and what can a painting really tell us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make a virtual visit to the National Gallery and get closer than ever to the collection. Meet Gallery Educator Ed Dickenson and learn fun tips and tricks to unlock secrets hidden in plain sight \u2013 even if you\u2019re seeing a painting for the first time.Discover how to figure out what a picture is all about through looking, questioning and voting together in this interactive session. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aimed at ages 8+, access via Zoom. Tickets are free, but you\u2019ll need to book here.<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nEmerging from Winter: Royal Parks Virtual Discovery Week
Monday 15th – Friday 19th February<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Tuesday-pots-and-sowing.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Thursday-snails.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Wednesday-snowdrops.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAlthough the chill in the air can make Spring still feel far away, Royal Parks virtual discovery week is here to guide you to look closely and see that Spring is actually right around the corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They’ve pulled together a week filled with spring-inspired activities to help you and the family stay busy and discover nature on your doorstep during half term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sign up for the free virtual discovery week here.
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nSay Cheese! Charles Dickens Museum
Monday 15th – Friday 19th February @11am<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/DH773_2019.2.1_R1_Lost_Portait_Dickens_Gillies_1843_480x480.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nEver thought our obsession with capturing endless images of ourselves is a modern- day phenomenon? Then think again! Get ready to Say Cheese! with the Education Team at the Charles Dickens Museum to find out more about the famous author\u2019s preoccupation with appearance. Investigate some of the photographs and portraits kept at the museum, look more closely at some of Dickens\u2019 most visual character descriptions and have a go at making your very own self-portrait for posterity.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Aimed at ages 11 – 14. Access via zoom, tickets are \u00a35 per device (includes session & art pack). To find out more and book tickets, click here.
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nFab Pharaohs Family Workshop
Saturday 13th – Sunday 21st February<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/fab-pharoahs.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDuring this week-long series of workshops from The Egypt Centre, discover some of the most famous Pharaohs of ancient Egypt including Ramesses the Great, Cleopatra, and the boy king Tutankhamun. Learn to write your name in Hieroglyphs, watch a royal mummification demonstration and even have a go at making your very own Egyptian collars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aimed at ages 6-11. Tickets are \u00a35 and you can drop in as many times as you like throughout the week. You will be sent a link to all of the activities a day before the workshop begins and live Zoom introductions will run on Mon 15th @ 11am, Wednesday 17th @ 12pm and Friday 19th @ 11am. To find out more and to book, click here<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nChildren\u2019s Football Writing Festival
Monday 15th – Friday 19th February <\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Childrens-Football-Writing-Festival-Whats-On-updated-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe National Football Museum is hosting some of its favourite children\u2019s authors online this February half term including Tom Palmer, Eve Ainsworth and Seth Burkett. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of the talks and activities will be hosted on the museum\u2019s YouTube <\/a>and Facebook <\/a>channels and will include simple writing challenges to encourage children to pick up a pen and transfer some of their football flair to paper!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
See the full itinerary and find out more here.
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nDesign Quest: Under the sea online make along
The RIBA
Wednesday 17th February @ 10am<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Screenshot-2021-02-11-at-10.04.59.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOur coral reefs are under threat, and these ecosystems are hugely important for the welfare of marine life! Our finned friends need your help. Where will everyone live? What will protect them from the open ocean? Who will save the coral? Join RIBA for an online creative architecture make along and help our finned friends with their housing crisis under the sea<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aimed at ages 6 – 10. Tickets are \u00a35 excluding booking fee. Find out more here and learn what materials are needed.<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nWestminster Abbey and the World
Wednesday 17th @ 2pm & Thursday 18th February @11am & 2pm <\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Westminster-1024x414.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nExplore how Westminster Abbey celebrates communities all over the world. Join this virtual tour full of fun and quizzes as you discover the links that this royal church has with the Commonwealth through shared history and the events that happen.The Commonwealth Day service is held at the Abbey every year to celebrate the worldwide family of nations which make up the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Access via zoom, aimed at ages 5+. It\u2019s free but you\u2019ll need a ticket, book here<\/a>.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nTom Gates: Ten Tremendous Tales with Liz Pichon
Thursday 18th February @ 10am<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Tremendous-Taes.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nJoin Liz Pichon as she celebrates Tom Gates\u2019 10th Birthday. The latest book in the series – Ten Tremendous Tales – is out on Thursday 18th February and Seven Stories are hosting a special launch day celebration. Liz willl read one of the new stories, tell you all about how she created Tom and his adventures, and show you how to doodle in the same way. Don’t forget to bring paper and pencils!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aimed at ages 7 – 11. Join via zoom, tickets are \u00a33 per device. To find out more and book, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Seven Stories have also digitised three of their exhibitions including exhibitions on Judith Kerr and Enid Blyton that you can enjoy anytime you like. To start exploring the exhibitions, click here.<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe’re Going On A (Social Distancing) Bear Hunt
Friday 19th February @ 10am<\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/BearHunt2.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPart of Onceupona Virtual Children\u2019s Festival<\/a> taking place Mon 15th – Sat 20th Feb, join this interactive and comical retelling of the family favourite We\u2019re Going On A Bear Hunt (social-distancing version), using music and puppetry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aimed at ages 2-8, tickets are free but you\u2019ll need to book here<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With shows and storytelling happening throughout the week as part of the festival, click here to find out more<\/a>. Tickets are \u00a33.50 per household.
<\/p>\n\n\n\nKids Arts & Crafts Workshop hosted by John Lewis, Friday 19th February @10am<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/app\/uploads\/2021\/02\/5ff9cb15fae0f73c2afa6061_https3A2F2Fcdn.evbuc_.com2Fimages2F1226567812F2317306798872F12Foriginal.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHosted by John Lewis, especially for half term, this workshop encourages children to explore their creativity and learn letter formation, shapes and pattern creation, ideal for developing key motor skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The workshop will be led by Alice Mazzilli, an experienced calligrapher who has experience in teaching children handwriting and learning through creative classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aimed at ages 3 – 6. To find out more about this event, click here.<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\nHalf Moon Theatre\u2019s Dust
Until 19th February @ 11am each day<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
- Outdoor Adventures<\/a><\/li>