The kids are difficult to keep entertained at the best of times, but when winter shows its hand with cool rainy days, staying indoors can turn everyone a bit crazy.
Luckily, there’s plenty of activities to do for the kids in Perth over winter, both in and outdoor. We’ve selected eight things you should try out with the little ones to keep everyone in the family entertained and, most importantly, sane!
Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm, Henley Brook
Is there anything more exciting for your little one than feeding baby goats and getting up and close with rabbits, guinea pigs and other cuddle creatures?
The Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm is open every day this winter in Perth, and will easily occupy three hours of your children’s time while they explore the farm grounds. There’s also opportunities to ride a pony, feed the animals, play on the outdoor farm themed play area and a coffee shop for the ‘grown ups’ to find some magical energy via the wonder of caffeine.
Nature Playgrounds, Various across Perth
When the weather allows – which is most of the winter season in Perth, let’s be honest – the nature playgrounds around the metro area are perfect for two reasons. One, your kids will love flying on zip wires, climbing up rocks and helter-skeltering down the slides, all in a safe, outdoors environment.
And two, they’ll be so tired from all the adventuring they’ll burn all of their energy out and sleep well.
Yokine Regional Open Space features balancing logs, musical instruments, swings and cool roundabouts. Woodbridge Riverside Park has a flying fox, water play features and a pirate ship playground and an honorable mention should go to Dalamere Park in Currambine that serves children well in Perth’s northern suburbs. If the weather permits the nature playgrounds should be high up the list for children’s activities in Perth.
The Aquarium of Western Australia, Hillarys
An underwater adventure at the ever popular Aquarium of Western Australia awaits families who have half a day to fill during winter in Perth.
Australia’s largest walk-through aquarium tunnel gives you the opportunity to explore the various species of stingray, sharks, fish and other underwater species that will have your children in awe of the what lies beneath the ocean. The indoor and outdoor exhibition halls have plenty to offer, including a diving aquarium, an underwater coral viewing room and a glass bottom boat experience which you must do to unlock one of the best things about AQWA.
BOUNCEinc, Cannington
Another energy sapping activity for the kids this winter, and potentially fun for adults too is a visit to BOUNCEinc in Cannington.
Children who have been auditioning for Ninja Warrior in the school playground will feel right at home here on the X-Park obstacle course. There’s more than 50 interconnected trampolines to warp the rules of gravity without the potential for hitting a hard surface.
This is definitely recommended for older kids as jumpers have to be 110cm or over to take part.
If your child takes a shining to bouncing on a trampoline then it’s worth checking out the Mini BOUNCE program, which is designed specifically for preschoolers learning the fundamentals trampolining.
SciTech, West Perth
There’s always a good reason to go to SciTech when winter hits in Perth. It will occupy children of all ages on some level. The older kids will be enthralled with the wonders of science in the main exhibition hall or in the planetarium, whereas the younger ones will enjoy a run around the science themed play area. This winter’s feature exhibition is called Rescue, which allows visitors to experience and react to high-pressure, rescue-based scenarios in the air, sea, and on land. There’s a life size helicopter that you can step aboard and conduct a rescue using infrared cameras to look for heat signals, just like our rescue services would do in real life.
It’s an educational and entertaining experience for parents and children and is not to be missed this winter. Rescue runs all the way until 13 October.
Kids Music and Singing Lessons, Various across Perth
More often than not, kids love a good sing-a-long to their favourite Wiggles tune or a play on their toy keyboard that makes farm animal noises, so it would make sense to enroll them into a music class to keep them entertained! Studies have shown that music lessons in childhood can actually accelerate brain development, particularly in the areas of language acquisition and reading skills. Whether your child is in pre-school or at primary level, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved with children’s music classes and workshops in Perth.
Mini-Moovers in Pearsall offers imaginative and creative music and movement classes for the kids that are fun, exciting and an educational activity for children aged 6 months to 4 years.
The Suzuki Early Childhood Music program in North Beach and East Fremantle is a group music program for newborns to 3-year olds based on Dr Suzuki’s idea of providing “total human education” through music. Children gain social and musical skills, and good abilities in co-ordination, memory, concentration, language, creativity, self-confidence and physical grace.
Pitter Patter Music Together runs four nine-week terms per year in Darlington and Bassendean. Toddlers and kids have a vast array of musical instruments and percussion to try out throughout the hour long class.
Expect a lot of wiggling, clapping, dancing, singing, and laughing with your child as you both have fun learning through music.
DFES Education and Heritage Centre, Perth CBD
Located right in the heart of Perth CBD, only a short walk from Murray Street Mall likes the DFES Education and Heritage Centre where on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays families can enter the building free of charge.
There’s a real life fire truck with flashing lights and open compartments which the kids will love, and there are opportunities to put on a fire fighters jacket and helmet and grab a photo next to the truck.
The original building was the first purpose built fire station in Western Australia and has been beautifully restored to its former glory, inside and out.
Kids Indoor Play Areas, Various across Perth
When it’s raining sideways outside and blowing a gale, there’s no choice but to head indoors and explore the multitude of kids’ indoor play areas in Perth.
For those who live in the northern suburbs, Inflatable World Joondalup takes over the Bouncer Sports Centre on weekends and every weekday during the school holidays, where children and adults can bounce of the giant inflatable apparatus for two hours, but your legs might be a bit tired by then!
If you’re in the eastern suburbs, Lollipops Playground in Bayswater caters for small toddlers all the way up eight years of age. There’s also a huge bouncing castle and a cool pirate ship ride for the kids, which runs every 15 minutes or so.
In Perth’s south make sure you check out Crocs Play Centre in Jandakot for croc themed ball pools, slides, rockets and much more.
The nautical theme continues at Champs at Play Kelmscott where there is a huge playground with designated babies and toddler areas, bouncy castles, video game stations and a café for parents to get their caffeine hit.
