Indoor Fun for the Family this January

January can bring the worst of the weather, but there’s still plenty of indoor family fun to be had across the Yorkshire Coast.

After the excitement of the Christmas break, ideas on keeping the kids occupied can start to run a bit thin. So here are some ways that I keep my little ones entertained when the weather isn’t kind – that don’t cost you the earth either.

I’ve provided a few examples here but be sure to check out your local village or town that may offer something closer to home.

Swimming – Make a splash and visit one of the great indoor pools we have locally, usually prices are around a fiver for adults whilst under 5’s swim for free. To find out more check out Everyone Active Scarborough and East Riding Leisure Bridlington.

Soft Play – We are lucky to have lots of options for soft play and it’s always a winner with kids of all ages. Why not combine a visit to a different town and try somewhere new!

You could tie in a trip to the boating lake before a session at Mini Monster`z in Whitby, or visit one of the village locations such as the Royal Oak in Hunmanby, The Mayfield in Seamer, or The Plough at Lebberston. Heading further South lookout for the Candy Kingdom in Bridlington or Beach Cove at Hornsea Freeport where you can spend an hour browsing the shops too.

Get Crafty – If buying all the supplies and controlling the mess feels too much like hard work at home, visit one of the many craft stores offering great mess-free fun for your little one.

Join the weekly sessions for under 5’s at Sewerby Halls Squirrels which have a different craft theme each week, if the weather is kind try their brass rubbings trail too.

Painting and decorating pots is lovely, try Mrs Pot’s Pot’s in Scarborough and choose your own piece to decorate.

Explore the Library – The days of libraries being silent places are long gone and children of all ages are always welcome. I’ve saved a fortune on buying books since I started to visit mine!

My local library is Scalby & Newby Library in Scarborough, which offer a fantastic Norman Bear Club, children get to choose a free handmade Norman Bear once you sign up and receive a sticker each time they visit, once they have 10 they can choose a free book to take home and keep. Get in touch with your local library and see what’s on offer today, it’s free to visit and means you always have new books for bedtime.

Let’s Bowl – Ten-pin bowling is a great activity for children and adults and has the benefit of being relatively inexpensive as you pay per game and not per person.

Olympia Leisure in Scarborough has great bowling with lots of amusements and ride on cars too. The Forum at Bridlington offers bowling, amusements and a cinema too – you can spend a whole day there!

Love the amusements but don’t fancy bowling? Why not try indoor minigolf at Treasure Island in Bridlington instead.

See a show – Okay so maybe not as cost-effective as the above but great for a treat! Catch a live performance of Fireman Sam at Scarborough Spa this February or experience a beautiful ballet created just for children with Pinocchio at Brid Spa in March.

Hopefully, that’s eased the burden of idea’s to keep the little people amused this winter when the weather is particularly poor, although often I find it can be the little things that we take for granted that children adore doing, something as simple as taking a ride on a bus or the train to a nearby town can feel like an epic adventure to a little one!