Mamma Knows West shares top school holiday tips around Melbourne
KIDS bored and you’re out of ideas already? Here are the best school holidays activities around Melbourne, as recommended by the experts.
School Holidays
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MAMMA knows best — especially when it comes to keeping bored kids busy these school holidays.
A savvy group of Melbourne mothers has founded a network of websites designed to help other parents in their area.
The sites — covering the city’s west, east, south and north — offer daily updates of events and activities from those who know kids best.
South Kingsville mother-of-two Sammi Dobbinson, who started the initial mammaknowswest.com.au site with Mandy Couzens three years ago, said it started out as a way to help new mums from being isolated.
SCROLL DOWN FOR SCHOOL HOLIDAYS TIPS
It has grown to include advice from women across a range of professional backgrounds, including the business world, media and education.
“We’re all local mums and that’s what people want — local knowledge from people who
know best,’’ Ms Dobbinson said.
WHERE DO BABIES COME FROM? YOUR KNEECAP, OF COURSE
“Mandy and I both found that when we got out of the house to explore our local neighbourhood the pressure we felt as new mums started to lift
“We wanted other mums and dads to get find those connections and have fun too.
“With kids it can be hard to go too far so we stick to our local areas.”
The four Mamma Knows sites have compiled the top activities across Melbourne these school holidays — spanning wild nights at Werribee Zoo, a magic festival at Northcote and an ice rink on Sorrento Foreshore.
“We cover markets, events, places to go, parks, playgrounds, cafes, classes, stuff to do, shops and fun,’’ Ms Dobbinson said.
“There are so many wonderful businesses doing so many great things.”
MAMMA KNOWS NORTH
1. Bug Lab @ Melbourne Museum, Carlton
2. Inside the Brick, Fitzroy
3. Melbourne Magic Festival, Northcote
4. Latitude, Heidelberg West
5. Free family movies at the Clocktower centre, Moonee Ponds
MAMMA KNOWS SOUTH
1. The Big Freeze Festival, Narre Warren
2. Lah-Lah’s Having Fun Tour, Chelsea
3. Ice Slide by Eureka Skydeck, Southbank
4. Map 57, St Kilda
5. Ice-skating rink, Sorrento Foreshore
MAMMA KNOWS EAST
1. Inflatable Futures, ice rink at Eastland, Ringwood
2. V Junior, Fountain Gate
3. Snow play, Mount Donna Buang (provided there is snow!)
4. Legoland Discovery World, Chadstone
5. Puffing Billy, Belgrave
MAMMA KNOWS WEST
1. Wild Nights, Werribee Zoo
2. Winter Wonderland, Williamstown (14th and 15th July)
3. The Snow Queen, Altona City Theatre
4. Space9 @ The Dream Factory, Footscray
5. Laser Maze and Forest, Scienceworks
— For more, go to Mammaknowswest.com.au, Mammaknowseast.com.au, Mammaknowsnorth.com.au, Mammaknowssouth.com.au.
Susan.obrien@news.com.au
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