Finding the Holiday Fun

Holiday activities at the Ipswich Art Gallery last year

My school holidays as a child were spent on outings with my Mum and siblings while Dad was off at work. My Mum didn't drive so we went everywhere by bus, which I guess made most outings more of an adventure. My Mum spent time before the holidays doing her homework, looking through the newspaper, local and Brisbane wide and through flyers to see what was on around town which would be fun and cheap to do with kids. She kept a scrapbook which contained ads, articles and flyers and then copied the details into her diary.

The holidays were filled with outings to libraries for great craft times, seeing short kids films and borrowing books. We went to free exciting shows at the local shopping centres and saw exhibits at special places. She hardly spent a cent yet there was always fun to be had. These are some of my best childhood memories!

I have to say that I follow in Mum's footsteps when it comes to filling up the holidays for my kids but since her days with littlies, things have changed a lot. I have the opportunity to look in newspapers and flyers too but I mostly go online to see what's on for kids. Here are a number of places I look to find holiday fun in Brisbane for my girls.

• Brisbane Child Magazine - I {heart} this magazine. It usually has a detailed list or ads of exciting things happening and it's free. Pick up a copy at libraries, play centres, cafes etc


• Brisbane City Council Library 'What's On' Brochures - these come out at the start of each month and detail each of the libraries activities. There's always great stuff happening in the holidays! You can grab a copy at any Brisbane City Council Library.


• Aussie Kids Magazine - I love this magazine too! You'll find all the information of shows and exhibitions taking place over the holidays. This time around there was a whole page ad for most of the shopping centres. It too can be found in libraries, cafes and play centres.


• Kidspot - Just take a look. There's heaps of fun to be had!


• Bim Bam Boom - A toy shop with a holiday program for kids. Each weekday of the holidays there is something happening. Kids can enjoy all kinds of crafty fun.


• Indooroopilly Shopping Centre


• Garden City Shopping Centre


• Toombul Shopping Centre


• Redbank Plaza


• Carindale Shopping Centre


• Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre


• Chermside Shopping Centre


• Queen Street Mall


• Ipswich Art Gallery - Great fun all year round but the holidays are even better. There's amazing things to see and do.


• Queensland Museum


• Queensland Art Gallery


• Queensland State Library

You could also check out the local newspapers and publications such as Brisbane News . And, don't forget to see the fun at Flying Fox Studios.

Brisbane is a great place to live so there's really no excuse for kids being bored in the holidays, especially when most of the above places run events for free or at a low cost. Be sure to check them out if you live in Brisbane.

So far these Winter holidays we...

• iced cupcakes at the Shingle Inn at Garden City Shopping Centre (YUM!) and visited the library to borrow some books. (It's always nice to go to a different library to our local one)
• went to the New MacDonald's Farm show at Toombul Shopping Centre
• went to the David Hamilton's Puppet show (always a favourite with my Miss M) and the 96.5 Romeo the Radio Dog Live Show at Aspley Hypermarket

We also plan to...

• visit the Ipswich Art Gallery exhibition

These holidays are nearly over but now can be a good time to start thinking about preparation for the next holidays. Don't miss the holiday fun!

Do you live outside of Brisbane? What's happening for kids in your part of the world? I'd love to hear about it!