Keep the kids busy with fun

WE’RE deep into the school holidays and while our beautiful city is crammed with fun and exciting things to do, there are probably times when parents are tearing their hair out wondering how to combat that endless children’s refrain of “We’re bored! What can we do? Take us somewhere!”

Well, did you know Stodels offers a whole lot more than just plants and gardening accessories? Branches all around Cape Town have plenty of ways to keep those little ones entertained for a solid hour at a time, plus coffee and gift shops for frazzled moms and dads to chill a bit. Heck, even wandering around among all that verdant foliage should take the edge off and bring a feeling of calmness.

In Bellville there is a permanent play park and a reptile garden, as well as a jumping castle, sand art, train rides, water balls and slides (don’t forget to bring towels and cossies) and a trampoline which is open daily.

Additional activities include face painting on Mondays (until January 9), colouring competitions on Tuesdays ( until January 3), bead jewellery workshops on Wednesdays ( until January 11) and plant pot-painting on Thursdays (until January 5).

The Reptile Garden is open every day from 9am to 5pm, for children to meet some cute – or scary – creepy crawlies. This activity costs R25 a child (children under three free). Stodels Bellville, Eversdal Road. Telephone 021 919 1106.

In Constantia, Wednesdays and Fridays are the ones to diarise. Finger painting of pots takes place on Wednesday; on December 30 they can learn how to put a plant in a pot which they can take home to watch grow; and on January 4 there is drawing and colouring-in.

Stodels Constantia, 62 Doordrift Road. Telephone 021 794 2221.

The plant pot painting and potting of plants happen at Kenilworth as well – Monday and January 2 for the former, and Wednesday and January 4 for the latter. There is one more session of face painting on January 6.

Stodels Kenilworth, Doncaster Road. Telephone 021 671 9050.

Stodels Milnerton in Racecourse Road has a jumping castle, sand-pit, jungle gym and trampoline. Telephone 021 528 4000.

In Somerset West, the pot painting is on Monday, January 2 and 9, and plant potting on Wednesday, and January 4 and 11. On December 30, January 6 and January 13, children can learn how to build their own fish tank. This is the only activity that has a price (R110). For that they will get a full starter kit comprising a bowl, gravel, fish food and the fish to eat it, and will be shown how to set it up. A goldfish is a low-maintenance gateway pet so if your child can keep it alive for a reasonable length of time, negotiations for a puppy or kitten can be considered.

Stodels Somerset West is at the intersection of the N2 and R44, opposite Somerset Mall. Telephone 021 852 7400.

All activities begin at 11am and last until around noon. Best of all, they are free (except the fish and reptile garden). For more information, call the branch closest to you or go to www.stodels.com.