Features

The bumper list of kid-friendly activities and events

This list of handy websites, apps and online communities will help you discover all the best events and activities for you and your little one, whether you need a lively day out or some rainy summer day downtime. 

Image: Colin Czerwinski on Unsplash

Websites

For those that love a good ol’ story session, Waterstones’ events will captivate the little one in your life. There are lots of storytime sessions throughout the year for boisterous babes including some special Summer Storytimes with favourite characters and series like Bluey and Ten Minutes to Bed, as well as story sessions with new books like Flora and Nora Hunt for Treasure. There are stores nationwide, so keep an eye on local listings for an opportunity to marvel at the latest books and discover fantastic stories or have a look at their website to see what's happening in July and August.

WOW

WOW is THE place to go to find classes that offer early years care and education for every baby, toddler and preschool child in the UK. There are baby sensory classes designed to stimulate baby's senses – which is key to development at this young age – to toddler sense classes that will keep busy little ones occupied and stimulated. There are even Reading Fairy classes (that can also be birthday parties) which lay the foundation for loving books.

Made by mums with young families, the What's On 4 Kids team believes it’s important to keep your kids active and fit, so they provide details of thousands of classes and activities for babies, toddlers and preschoolers in your local vicinity. It’s brimming with baby clubs to join and even party ideas for those impending milestones and summer birthdays.

The Rhythm Time team are passionate about music and how it can help enhance your little one’s development. In line with the Early Years Foundation Stage, they’ve got classes for newborns, babies, toddlers and preschoolers that will teach you how to make music fun for your child. You can even listen to the music from the classes at home!

The crème de la crème of events listings, Time Out London has a dedicated kids section with finger-on-the-pulse activities for youngsters of all ages. There are plenty of events listings with the best recommendations highlighted – think everything from days out at the aquarium where you can wonder and delight at sea life, to indoor soft play centres where you and your little one can roll about together and just get the giggles.

LittleBird's mission is to make family life easier while also being affordable and fun. They hand-pick family days out, theatre shows, activities, family breaks, parties and more – all to give parents a little helping hand (and one less thing to worry about!). There are lots of events for really little kids to choose from, but also interesting activities that will keep any older children engaged too. They also have a Family Pass that will give you year-round savings on top brands, attractions, restaurants and more.

Banish any boredom over the summer with Kids Days Out. It’s overflowing with fun and affordable kid-focused things to do from one end of the UK to the other. There are events on your doorstep or trips further afield in Scotland, Wales or England if you’re feeling a little adventurous!

Adventure Babies is an award-winning sensory development class combined with an exciting storytelling session. Perfect for little ones aged between 0-2, Adventure Babies brings brilliant books to life through sensory props and activities and supports language and communication development for tots. It's also a great way for new parents to meet other parents.

Picniq is a days-out destination for families in the UK. Established to help busy parents plan great days out for their tots, they also provide deals on family tickets to attractions, events and festivals. Visit their blog for inspiring ideas to keep you all busy, from Top Days Out For Toddlers to 10 Ways To Entertain Your Baby.

This popular online radio station and website for kids and families has an ‘events’ section that has fun listings for everyone from babies to school-goers. There are free and paid-for events plus festivals, shows and lively days out, from things to do this weekend through to half-term and holiday activities, to keep just about everyone occupied.

Days Out With The Kids is a family-focused website that helps families to get out and about together, to explore and embrace new adventures. There’s a handy town and postcode filter so you can find events for you and your children in your locale, a blog with articles and a fun, personalised email that’s delivered straight to your inbox on a monthly basis.

Apps

Hoop is a fantastic app that contains UK-wide listings for fun days out so you can quickly uncover thousands of local events and activities to plan quality time with your tot. There are handy filters for a child’s age, price, and travel options, meaning you won’t be recommended a drama workshop if you’re looking for baby yoga!

For parents by parents, Villije replicates those school-gate conversations in a convenient app. You can search for and find local activities near you which have been reviewed by parents in your local area. In the app, you can filter activities by age, the date you want to go, accessibility and more. Super handy when you are stuck for ideas on what to do.

Online communities

Netmums is a well-known fave for mummies and parents looking for an online community of like-minded souls. As well as tips, advice and helpful articles on parenting, they have a brilliant ‘Local’ section that displays local-to-you information for those who like to be kept on their toes. You can easily filter by location to discover the perfect events in your neighbourhood for you and your little one. There is also an 'Activities' section that shares lots of arts and crafts style activities so on those rainy summer days you won't have to look far to keep the kids busy!

For parents, by parents, Mumsnet is one of the world wide web’s most established parenting communities. In their 'Talk' section you can search for information on any parenting topic that comes to mind and connect with parents in your local area. If you're planning a bigger summer break and need some help, Mumsnet has a 'Holiday' section with information on all the best family-friendly destinations in the UK and beyond. And there are lots of discount codes to be found as well for entertainment and activities.

Aiming to inspire families to make memories while also having fun together, Families Online’s ‘Places to go’ is bursting at the seams with fun-filled activities for babies and young children. Choose your local site to find events, or just enjoy the arts and crafts section on the blog for some inspiration for home-based, rainy-day activities for you and your tot.

Ladybird books does not endorse and is not affiliated with any of the brands or websites mentioned in this article.

Sign up to the Ladybird newsletter

The latest books, activities and tips to help you grow little readers