CHILDREN’S HEALTH The Broadwater Parklands Ages: All Stretching alongside the Gold Coast’s sparkling Broadwater lays the Broadwater Parklands with multiple barbecue areas, cycling and scooter tracks, shaded grass areas, a fenced playground and a boardwalk along the water’s edge. A narrow beach fades into an enclosed lido for young swimmers, while just off the shore, a series of mini pools and fountains - The Rockpools Water Playground - holds adventure for toddlers. On New Year’s Eve (Thursday 31 December 2015) the Broadwater Parklands will host its Food Truck Feast, featuring the Gold Coast and Brisbane’s best food trucks, live music and entertainment, and a spectacular fireworks show from 5.00pm to 9.00pm. Visit goldcoast.qld.gov.au for more information. Movies Under the Stars Ages: 5 – 12 Summer isn’t about being cooped up indoors with a couple of DVDs – it’s about watching great family films beneath the cover of twilight. Throughout summer, City of Gold Coast is playing family films, such as Shaun the Sheep and Inside Out, in pop-up outdoor theatres across various Gold Coast parks for its Movies Under the Stars program. From late December until early March, movies will be played at Palm Beach, Elanora, Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, Reedy Creek, Mudgeeraba, Southport, Nerang, Ashmore, Pacific Pines, Coomera, Pimpama, Worongary and Maudsland. Grab a picnic blanket and enjoy some relaxed family time under the stars. Visit goldcoast.qld.gov.au for the timetable and list of movies. Surfing lessons Ages: 5 – 16 The Gold Coast is an international surfing mecca that draws thousands of world-class surfers every year. Now it’s time for the kids to join them. Many local surf schools offer school holiday programs, including Currumbin Alley Surf School (CASS) and Go Ride A Wave (GRAW) in Surfers Paradise. Throughout the summer holidays, CASS offers a five-day Frothing Grommet Program for kids aged five to 16, which teaches surf safety and awareness, standing up, surf specific stretches, board control, and surfboard design and technology, with the option of duck diving and turning for more advanced students. GRAW is part of Surfing Queensland Surf School, whose programs are designed to teach 5-16-year-olds basic water safety and confidence, body surfing and standing up, with beach games included. GRAW offers a four-day school holiday program, as well as six-week school term programs for continued lessons. Visit currumbinalleysurfschool.com. au and gorideawave.com.au for more information. Sparky Do Dah’s Natural Adventures Ages: 5 – 10 Playground adventurist Sparky Do Dah is one of the Gold Coast’s best entertainers who loves connecting kids with the natural environment. From late December through to late January, Spark Do Dah is hosting six ‘Sparky’s Natural Adventures’ in Burleigh, Mudgeeraba, Benowa, Bonogin and Varsity Lakes. Each Natural Adventure consists of two hours of nature-based games and activities designed to educate and familiarise kids with Australian flora and fauna. Parents are required to stay and watch their children participate, but are also welcome to join in the fun! Visit sparkydodah.com.au for the timetable and locations. Mrs Red’s Art Room Ages: 2 – 9 Tucked away on West Burleigh Road, Mrs Red’s Art Room is bursting with paint, glitter and glue! Owned and operated by local art teacher Mrs Whittred (Mrs Red), this cosy and colourful art studio runs several art classes throughout the summer holidays for different ages. Let the kids’ creativity flourish in the Kombi Canvas class where they’ll use sand, fabric and paint to create their own vintage Kombi picture. The Skate Deck workshop supplies kids aged 9+ a high quality deck and materials to customise it, while children aged 5-8 in the Recycled Owls class will get arty with egg cartons, sticks and feathers. Visit mrsredsartroom.com for the Summer Madness timetable. December hits, the heat rises, the waves crash and the days grow longer. Summer is a beautiful time for us lucky Australians, especially those living on the Gold Coast, where the holiday rhythm quickly attunes to the tide and coastal breeze. But for many families, the holidays also mean a house full of excitable kids who, without liability to homework or uniforms, feel the need to unload their energy on Mum and Dad. This summer, plan your family holidays with a loose agenda of activities, games and local events that will keep kids entertained and parents, sane. Out and about pindaramagazine.com.au Pindara Magazine 47
Pindara Private Hospital Magazine - Issue Six
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