Fun activities for the family

We’ve themed our family learning workshops to offer you the chance to explore a whole world of design and technology-based fun activities as a family.

Read on to discover our top ten family learning workshops. The list is by no means exhaustive – these are just the ten activities which are most popular with families and children.

1 - Puppet Play

Arts and crafts activities for young children and older children alike, these simple to make and fun to decorate puppets are popular with all ages. Our puppet play workshop introduces the correct use of tools and joining techniques. It also helps to develop descriptive language as new materials are introduced.

2 - Ugly Bug Ball

Jitter bugs, bedside ‘bug’ table light and a pull along bug carrier make this an enjoyable workshop for the whole family. It introduces simple circuit work, switches, and relies on creative use of imagination to produce intricate bug designs.

3 - Stories and Rhymes

Building on earlier simple circuit work, our Stories and Rhymes workshop introduces the use of a pressure pad switch. You’ll have the opportunity to follow the magnet tracks, wind-up Incy Wincy spider or even create a ‘buzz bag’.

We find that magnets, circuits and stored energy toys encourage curiosity and imagination throughout this design and technology workshop, which also focuses on language skills.

4 - Festive Flair!

Seasonal activities involving a motorised sleigh, pop-up cards and an unusual table centre are the focus of Festive Flair! Paper and card folding techniques, motors, lights and a simple reversing switch, are all covered in this very enjoyable workshop.

5 - Fun and Games

We’ve a range of games for all the family to make and play, all of which involve key learning skills such as developing rules, sharing and solving problems. This workshop introduces the use of 1cm square section wood and the safe handling of a bench hook and junior hacksaw.

6 - Tinkering with Toys

Here the focus is on mechanisms and you’ll get the chance to experiment with different sized gears – you could change the speed of a dancing ballerina or make a pop-up frog. It’s a fun way of using toys to develop a knowledge and understanding of gears and cams.

7 - Wild Things!

Believe it or not Wild Things! introduces the use of pneumatics (simple syringe and tubing system) to create a range of fierce creatures that open and close their mouths! You could even add a buzzer or moving head to make your wild things even wilder.

8 - All the Fun of the Fair

Roll up, roll up for a technology extravaganza. From clowns with moving heads to motorised rides and side shows, it’s a workshop where everyone can join in the fun!

9 - Outer Space

Let their imagination run wild. This workshop really is out of this world as we extend the circuit work to create ‘ALIEN eyes’ and ‘crater creatures’ using parallel circuits.

10 - Robots

Lights, motors and revolving arms make this a challenging workshop where all the family’s newly acquired skills can be tested.