Did you know that health experts recommend that children should be active for at least 60 minutes each day and spend no more than 2 hours a day using screens?
This can be hard to achieve, so Go Golborne has created this booklet full of ideas for screen-free activities for children. All of the activities are in easy reach of North Kensington and are either free or low cost.*
Many of the centres featured in this guide are giving out special Unplug & Play stickers to children who mention the campaign when they visit. Add a sticker or colour in the Unplug & Play motif as you complete each activity.
Tweet us @rbkc_families using #unplug&play to show us how you like to Unplug & Play or email a picture to gogolborne@rbkc.gov.uk to claim your limited edition pin badge!
Go Golborne is a local campaign led by the Council that’s all about supporting children and families to eat well and keep active – find out more www.rbkc.gov.uk/gogolborne
*Note for parents: this is not a comprehensive summary of all local services but a list of ideas that includes lots of local things to do and places to go
Why do we need to Unplug & Play?
Too much screen time can be bad for our health. It can cause us to have difficulty getting enough sleep, which can affect how we feel and how well we can concentrate on things. If we spend lots of time sitting around on screens it probably means that we are not spending enough time being active, which can cause us to get unfit. This is why we should all try to be active for at least 60 minutes each day and spend no more than 2 hours a day using screens.
Here are some top tips from the experts:
• Try to avoid screens in the mornings before school so you have a calm start to the day
• Avoid watching screens while eating meals – concentrate on enjoying your food and chatting to your family instead!
• Try to make bedtime screen-free and keep screens out of bedrooms – this makes for a better night’s sleep
• Make screen time into a special event, such as a family ‘movie night’
• Use a timer to keep track of how much time you are spending on screens
• Keep busy with lots of screen-free activities – like the ones in this booklet!
Grab a towel and head to the pool to splash, jump, dive and practice your strokes.
Kensington Leisure Centre
Silchester Road, W10 6EX 020 3797 8210
Chelsea Sports Centre, Chelsea Manor Street, SW3 5PL 020 7352 6985
Families on a low income can apply for a family leisure pass that offers discounts on leisure activities across the Borough. Visit the reception at your local leisure centre to find out more and apply.
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
The Centre runs regular holiday activities and family friendly events – head down to explore the wooded wildlife area, hunt for mini-beasts and join in with animal themed crafts.
Holland Park Ecology Centre, near Abbotsbury Road car park 020 7938 8186
www.rbkc.gov.uk/wildlife
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Borrow a book from your local library
As well as browsing the shelves for a new book to borrow, most libraries offer toddler morning, homework clubs, story and craft sessions and much more!
Kensal Library, 20 Golborne Road, W10 5PF
North Kensington Library, 108 Ladbroke Grove, W11 1PZ
See www.rbkc.gov.uk/libraries for opening hours, activity listings and details of other libraries in the Borough.
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Experience Carnival
Every August bank holiday
Notting Hill Carnival turns North Kensington into Britain’s biggest street party! Sunday is children’s day – whirl and twirl your way along the carnival route and get busy with the beats!
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Get busy in the kitchen and make yourself something tasty. Check out the Change4Life website for loads of healthy ideas and download the Smart Recipe app!
www.nhs.uk/change4life/recipes
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Sign up to Change4Life
NotFruitandvegmakethebestsnacksandcounttowardsyour5A onlyaretheytasty,buttheyareagreatsourceofvitamins, andfibretoo.Herearesometoptipsforsnacktime: for
This is one to ask your parents to do! By signing up to Change4Life your family will be the first to hear about new tips, recipes, competitions and special offers to help the whole family stay healthy. registration.change4life.co.uk/change4life
Plant a seed and watch it grow into a beautiful flower or something yummy you can eat. Cress, sunflower, runner beans, sweet peas and marigolds are all easy to grow in a pot on your windowsill.
There are a number of free community kitchen gardens in Kensington where residents can grow their own fruit and vegetables – for more information email environment@rbkc.gov.uk
Meanwhile Gardens Community Association run fun gardening activities for children and families.
156 -158 Kensal road, W10 5BN 020 8960 4600
www.meanwhilegardens.com
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Have fun with Mytime Active
Mytime Active run sessions in schools, Children’s Centres and other venues to help children and families eat well and keep active.
Find out where sessions are taking place near you by emailing info@mytimeactive. co.uk or calling 020 3795 9346
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Find the rainbow at a market
See if you can spot a fruit or vegetable for each colour of the rainbow when you next visit Portobello and Golborne Road Market!
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Red: Orange: Yellow: Green: Blue: Purple:
The Summer Reading Challenge takes place every year during the summer holidays. You can sign up at your local library, then read six library books of your choice to complete the Challenge.
There are rewards to collect along the way and it’s free to take part!
www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Go to a Playday
Playday events take place in parks in North Kensington every Summer with lots of fun activities including bouncy castles, games, face painting, arts and crafts and much more!
To find out about future Playday events follow @rbkc_families on Twitter and RBKC Children’s Centres on Facebook. Events are also listed on www.rbkc.gov.uk/fis
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Pop to the park
With so many local parks to choose from this should be easy to tick off! Why not make splash in the water play area at Kensington Memorial Park, climb a tree in Little Wormwood Scrubs, have a picnic in Emslie Hornimans Pleasance, or venture to the huge pirate ship at the Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens!
For details of all the parks and open spaces in the Borough see www.rbkc.gov.uk/your-local-park
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Whether it’s a cycle round the block or an epic bike ride, let’s see some pedal power!
If you need a helping hand then RBKC’s Bikeminded cycling campaign is here for you. Bikeminded run free child and family cycling events, cycle skills training, and can even help families to loan or buy bikes at a low cost.
www.bikeminded.org
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
With several adventure playgrounds in Kensington it’s time to get busy with the rope swings!
Whether you are into football, tennis, climbing, netball or basketball there is something for everyone at the Westway Sports and Fitness Centre, including multi-sports clubs during the school holidays.
This is one for the little ones. Families with young children can find a different place to stay and play nearly every day of the week. Find out more about sessions in venues near you.
www.rbkc.gov.uk/fis
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Children’s Centres across Kensington and Chelsea offer a packed programme of free activities for families with children aged under five including play sessions, storytelling, health advice, parenting workshops and much more.
See the Family Information Service website for details of Children’s Centre locations and activities.
www.rbkc.gov.uk/fis
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Bramley’s Big Adventure, 136 Bramley Road, W10 6TJ 020 8960 1515 www.bramleysbigadventure.co.uk Toddlers World at Kensington Leisure Centre, Silchester Road, W10 6EX 020 3797 8210
The Notting Hill Nursery Carnival takes place every second Monday in August in Kensington Memorial Park and includes a carnival costume competition, dancing, puppets, music, performances and much more! A highlight of the summer calendar for the little ones!
Kensington Memorial Park, St Marks Road, W10 6BZ
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Head to the Canalside Centre and try your hand at kayaking or canoeing! The Centre runs lots of fun activities for children and young people aged between 9 and 19 all year round.
Canalside Centre, Canal Close, W10 5AY 020 8968 4500
Grab your skateboard, bike or roller skates and get busy in a skate park!
Meanwhile Gardens skate park on Elkstone Road, W10 is one of London’s oldest skate parks with lots of different size bowls to practice your skills.
BAYSIXTY6 skate park, Acklam Road, W10 5YU is another great place to set your wheels in motion. www.baysixty6.com
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Find out if it is quicker on foot
Pick up a free walking time map of North Kensington from your local library, Leisure Centre or Children’s Centre. Plot a local journey that you would usually make by bus or by car and walk it!
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Whether you fancy learning to tap dance, playing an instrument, acting in a play or learning a new language, give it a go! You may discover a hidden talent!
The Council’s Family Information Service website includes listings of local groups and activities www.rbkc.gov.uk/fis
Date: Place: I enjoyed:
Thirsty for more?
For more information on events and activities happening in Kensington and beyond follow
@rbkc_families on Twitter and RBKC Children’s Centres on Facebook. The Family Information Service website also hosts listings of local activities and events www.rbkc.gov.uk/fis
The National Trust has drawn up a list of 50 nature inspired activities for children to try and experience before they are 11 3/4 ! Let them feel the wind in their hair, track wild animals and eat a juicy apple straight from the tree!
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/50-things-to-do
How else do you like to Unplug & Play? Use these pages to list all the other screen-free activities you enjoy!
To the best of the publisher’s knowledge the information contained within this guide was correct at time of going to print.
