March 27, 2007
By Lesego Madumo
THE school holidays are upon us, and as always, parents are concerned about safe children's entertainment during the day.
Sport is a great way of burning off excess energy, and the Phefeni Recreation Centre in region D has a holiday programme aimed at getting learners to participate in various physical activities.
Kicking off on Monday, 26 March, the holiday programme introduces kids to various types of sport, including netball, basketball and volleyball. The following day it hosts mini aerobics and a sports day on 28 March. Thursday, 29 March is devoted to indigenous games.
Friday is rest day and instead of sport, the children will be treated to cartoons and educational, sport and funny movies from Leon Schuster. Indigenous games continue in the second week of the holidays, starting on Monday, 2 April.
The programme aims to stop the worry and ease the stress of working parents who need to entertain their kids while they are on school holidays. A number of activities are planned for the second week of the holidays, such as modern dancing lessons on Tuesday, 3 April and a sports day, team building and life skill sessions on Wednesday.
It's feedback time on Thursday, 5 April, when the public will be able to give their input on the programme. Region D expects about 130 children a day to participate. For more information, phone Daizy Phela on 072 234 2359.
Region G's sports and recreation department also has programmes for the school holidays. There will be fun and games at Ennerdale, Lenasia South, Orange Farm and Extension10 swimming pools from 23 to 30 March.
The line-up includes the Learn to Swim programme, volleyball, water safety tips, fun galas, splash polo, water emergency procedures and hand tennis. The programmes start at 10am and entrance is free for season ticket holders, otherwise children pay R2,50 and adults R5.
Swimming pools at Eldorado Park Extension 4, Eldorado Park proper and Lenasia Extension 5 host the Learn to Swim programme for early childhood development. Children can also play soccer, board games and pool snooker. Admission is free and the programmes start at 10am.
Libraries
Meanwhile, the South Hills Library in region F has board games in its school holiday programme, on Tuesday, 27 March. The games are at 10am and 12.30pm, while on Friday, 30 March children are invited to watch videos, again at 10am and 12.30pm.
In arts and crafts on Thursday, 5 April, children will be able to make hanging Easter pyramids and design Easter cards, again at 10am and 12.30pm. Puzzles, drawing, colouring in and reading are on the calendar for 28, 29 and 30 March. Easter eggs, colouring in and playing games are scheduled for 2, 3, 4 and 5 April.
The Central Johannesburg Children's Library offers an Easter story hour, computer games and colouring in on Monday, 26 March. The next day is devoted to word puzzles, chain reading, playing games and listening to stories.
Glenanda Library has educational activities for primary school learners at 10am and 12pm on 28 March; there is a story hour and educational activities for pre-schoolers on 29 March at 10am and 12pm. The Mayfair Library plans Easter stories and Easter eggs on 28 and 29 March at 10am and 12pm.
Another excellent programme for kids is being held by the chairperson of the Melville Koppies Management Committee, Wendy Carstens. Carstens is taking children on a nature trail through Melville Koppies East, between Monday, 26 March and Friday, 30 March, from 9am to 11am.
Kids aged five to 10 - with moms, dads, grans, gramps or au pairs are welcome. Bring tackies, a hat and a backpack with snacks. The cost is a R20 donation to the koppies. Booking is essential - phone Wendy on 011 482 4797.
Or go west and take the kids on a short walk at Alberts' Farm on Friday, 30 March at 5.45pm. The farm is the site of the only Artesian well in Gauteng. Meet in the parking area off 8th Street, Greymont. Take the dogs too. For more details phone Sherri on 072 304 2600.
Theatre
For parents whose children are keen on the theatre there is the National Children's Theatre Trust production of
Charlotte's Web.
The musical, through its network of fine threads, is an appealing story of loyalty and trust. It runs from Friday, 23 March until Saturday, 21 April, at the theatre - 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown.
With its cast of unusual characters - the cynical Old Sheep, Templeton the mischievous Rat and Charlotte the spider - Charlotte's web of friendship is on for the fourth season, by popular demand.
The play has won a Naledi Award for best children's theatre production. Performances during school holidays are on Mondays to Saturdays at 10.30am and 2.30pm.
Ticket prices are R55 for children of all age groups and R65 for adults. There are specials and group bookings for schools and birthday parties. Book at Computicket on 083 915 8000 or at the theatre on 011 484 1584.
A short trip across town, at the People's Theatre in the Civic Theatre complex in Braamfontein, children can enjoy the thrill of interaction at Alice in Wonderland. The show, which opened on 5 March, runs until 10 April, with a possible two-week extension. Performances are at 10.30am and 2.30pm on weekdays and Saturdays during school holidays.
Tickets are available at Computicket or at the People's Theatre on 011 408 1563, and cost R70 for non-members and R45 for kid's club members; their accompanying adult pays R60.
The Tesson Theatre focuses on teenagers in its play Chilli Boy, performed by Matthew Ribnick. It runs from 27 March to 22 April and tickets are R80, with discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more. These are available by calling VIP ticketing on 011 877 6854.
It tells the story of an Indian woman who dies and is reincarnated as a white man, a 30-year-old racist gangster from Boksburg. As he suffers flashbacks of his life as an Indian woman, "issues of gender, race and identity play havoc with the gangster's mind – he starts wearing saris, cooking curry and biryanis", reads the press release.
Performances for this 75-minute show are on Tuesdays to Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 6pm and 8.30pm and Sundays at 3pm. Geraldine Naidoo can be contacted on 011 793 2412 for further information.
Soweto Story is on at the Civic's Nelson Mandela Theatre. Based on the great love story of Romeo and Juliet, the show opened on 24 March and runs until 13 May. Performances are on Tuesdays to Fridays at 8pm; on Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm and on Sundays at 2pm and 6pm.
Tickets are available from Computicket, and cost R195. There are also discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more, available by calling VIP Ticketing on 011 877 6854 or 083 915 8000.
For a different day out, the Princess Alice Adoption Home invites children and their caregivers to an Easter craft market and egg hunt on Saturday, 31 March at the home at 36 Pallinghurst Road, Westcliff.
There will be a garden stall, tea garden, beer garden, Danish hotdogs and much more. It takes place from 11am to 3pm, and is a fundraising event for the home.
Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill, the home of the Constitutional Court, also aims to stay in contact with children and their caregivers over the holidays, through the Early Childhood Caregivers' Skills Programme Workshop at Orlando Children's Home in Soweto, on 31 March.
The event, which starts at 9.30am and ends at 12.30pm, is limited to 15 caregivers and 15 infants; entrance is free. Include in the programme, which is aimed at improving the skills of baby caregivers, is baby massage.
It will be held at Constitution Hill's Junior Education Centre on 14 and 28 April. Then, 30 infants and 30 caregivers are expected to attend.
Johannesburg Zoo
The Johannesburg Zoo invites young children to a Wet Wild Animals programme focusing on animals that love water. The programme is designed for 3- to 6-year olds and it runs on 27 March and 17 April.
The zoo has a special programme for young ones running until 17 April
Refreshments will be served, and there will be a ferry ride and an animal demonstration or story-time. It is scheduled for 10am and will end at 12pm. Adults should accompany children for the programme, which costs R50-00 per child and R34 per adult.
There is another programme for older children, from seven to 13 years old. Starting at 9am and ending at 1pm, this is for kids only and costs R50 each. The programme runs from 26 to 30 March, and again from 16 to 20 April.
Kids should meet at Upper Park Gate at 9am, and should bring lunch or tuck money and juice.
An Autumn Night programme includes a moonlight tour, during which children can learn about nocturnal animals. A bonfire is also on the cards. The tour is set for 30 March and 20 April and booking is essential. Tickets are R65 per person and the tour starts at 5.15pm.
Visitors are advised to wear good walking shoes, old clothes and a hat; the programme will be cancelled if there are less than 10 people. For more information call 011 646 2000, extension 263, or email education@jhbzoo.org.za.
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