35 activities for NI kids this Summer
Hello July! How is your Summer kicking off?We had the most glorious two weeks in Donegal. I ate, drank, worked out (a little!) and spent days on end with my three boys and husband. No flight to rush for or bags to pack suited to airport scales. A simple trip where you bung everything (including the dog!) into the boot of the car and off you go.Half of the beach at Narin came home in our car but we all left happy and refreshed.
Find my print of Narin beach here on my online shop. Also the print of the two boys in the header can be found here.Now that I am back to work and the baby is back in day care I have the two big boys around my feet and had to get creative about where to put their bounding energy for a few days.I imagine some of you were prepared and booked ahead of time but sadly I am the mother who runs ragged on a Monday morning five minutes before the School bell scrapping money from the back of the sofa for dinner money. So there was no way I was going to be organised enough to get Summer activities in place before mid July!!
A takeaway coffee has been in my hand every day already this Summer. It always feels like such a treat even though I know I have coffee and a coffee pot in my own home and could rustle up my own!! Find my print here, it comes in two sizes.When the sun shines my two are easy to entertain as they play football for hours out the back or we just head to David Lloyd's outdoor pool.Unfortunately, I am unable to mention every club in Northern Ireland so please feel free to tag your company or your faves in the comments below or on my social media with links to your site for my audience. Also have a look at Discover NI for day trips and also here and here to see what is going on in your area.Many of the activities I have listed are paid. I have listed some amazing parks and beaches worth visiting on your down days with the kids. Very little beats a day outdoors finished by an ice cream on a park bench looking at the sunset with kids.
- Pickie fun Park
- Gruffalo trail
- Cavehill hike
- Portstewart east strand
- Newcastle promenade ( also Murlough Bay)- so many of my teenage years spent here. Once I got my driving licence it was a Sunday night treat after church with youth group when Mum let me have the car!!
You can buy my White rocks limited edition print in two sizes on my shop here.
- Cregagh glenn
- Stormont play park
- Comber greenway (cycling)
- Lady Dixon park
- Seapark
- Bloody bridge - good for starting the kids on trail walks and rock pools!
I have chosen many paid options as I am more likely to stick them in my diary after I part with that cash!Some of the activties are tried and tested by my lads and all of the ones I have listed are renowned and official but please do look into them yourselves and seek out all the information you need to know to suit your brood.Have a fab Summer! I don't know about you, but these clubs are my saving grace as I juggle my work and the baby in tow.I also find that when my kids are occupied and engaged by other humans we often get better quality time as a family because they have socialised and interacted with peers in a fun and educational environment.BRAIN POWER
- Campa chormaic Irish Language camp
- Nerve Belfast - Digital workshops. Animation summer school
- holamuchachos Spanish language camp - they even cater for 3 year olds here
- Miniversity - Education in a fun environment run by professionals- sounds incredible. They operate out of Schools around the country, see details here
See the football print and all other kids prints here on my online shop
PHYSICALITY
- David Lloyd holiday active. *Open to NON members ** I have my boys in this and they are also doing intensive swimming and tennis lessons on it as well as trips out to clip n climb and crazy golf. Winner!
- Galaxy coaching. My boys love this as they can do multi sports but friends have used the dance and drama workshop side of things. Booking is easy and they keep you on their cards for those after school activities they run through out so many primary schools. They are Belfast and Lisburn, Newry, Banbridge and Mourne.
- Ulster rugby summer camp
- Northern Ireland nutty crust Irish fa football scheme
- Shaws bridge Adventure kidz. - mountain biking, river sports, nature walks.
Find the Enpointe limited edition print and all other kids prints on my online shop here
CREATIVE FLAIR
- Vibe academy - run by Lisa who I know and love for her dance skills but also her vision for young kids in the field of dance.
- Jumping clay- modelling clay. My boys made an angry bird magnet once that still lives on our fridge. So fun!
- Appa dance summer scheme. Gymnastics. For the flexible kids!
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Bricks for kidz . They have a programme that runs in Belfast and Bangor for daily rate or a week. If your kids are lego lovers then go here
- Star camps - performance, confidence building, arts and crafts and more. I cried when I read the blurb on their site. Perfect for us parents who want to see our kids grow into their beautiful selves.
- Barry's amusements. One I visited so much in my youth and I'm still trying to persuade my boys to go on the ghost train with me!!
- Exploris - we haven't been in a while but my big two love love love seeing the water wildlife in the aquarium
- Cinema listings and locations if you're travelling around NI. *remember most cinemas offer matinee showings for tinies to come along too
- Eddie Irvine - all under one roof. Go karts, bubble football, crazy golf.
- We are vertigo
- Clip n climb
- Belfast zoo they have an explorer Summer programme which looks super!
The limited edition (and very special) abstract elephant print can be found here on my shop
- Dundonald Ice bowl - Ice skating, bowling, crazy golf.
- The Jet centre - if you are North coast for the week. Soft play as well as the bowling and other entertainment.
Other ideas for you without any research on my part but they came to mind when I brain stormed the blogpost :
- Netball
- Pony club
- Hockey camp
- Jewellery
- Paint
- Hair braiding
- Nail art
- Writers / poetry
- Free festivals
- Open house festival kids
- City hall Belfast activities
- Sailing
- Church bible summer schemes. My boys went to UCB beach mission in Narin beach every day we were at donegal. Sometimes twice a day. What a beautiful thing! No pushing of denominations, just games, singing and quizzes. We (the family and I ) head to Glasgow to do one of these summer camps in August. I can't wait for the mayhem!
- Flower crowns
- Cricket
- Special needs activities and Summer schemes in the various school calendar.
Check out Northern Ireland National Trust website for their activities and special family events. Especially if you have a dog. We love their properties!
You can buy my Carrick a rede rope bridge print here.
Have so much fun and enjoy the best Northern Ireland has to offer families!
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