kids Archives - Wander-Lust

20 Oct 2019

6 X INDOOR PLAYGROUNDS IN AMSTERDAM

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On October 20, 2019 With No Comments

Keeping your kids entertained when the weather fails you, can be a day job to say the least! Luckily, there are a lot of indoor playgrounds around to make the day less gloomy nowadays.

As a parent, you know you need to be a little inventive when it pours outside. We’ve lined up 7 indoor playgrounds in and around Amsterdam, so your kids won’t be bored on a rainy day.

Monkey Town, Zuidermolenweg 32

If you live in Amsterdam New West, this is the perfect location for you. What we love about Monkey Town is the big lounge chairs where parents can sit in, and the staff is really helpful. Because Monkey Town isn’t located in the centre of Amsterdam, it’s never too busy. If you come before 11am on a weekday, you only pay €4,95!

We love the lounge chairs at Monkey Town!

Candy Castle, Erik de Roodestraat

Because of the huge size of this indoor playground, your kids can run free and will never get bored here. On the other hand this also means that you need to climb, slide and help your little one if they are below the age of 4 years old. Located in an old Church, there are trampolines, countless slides, ball pits and a separate play area for the little ones. Of course you can book a birthday party here in one of the themed rooms downstairs. There is even a kart track downstairs! www.candycastle.nl

The Massive Candy Castle

TunFun

In general, this is probably the largest indoor playground in Amsterdam. The location is perfect, right next to Waterloopplein and tucked underneath the street. Once in there, you may need some earplugs because it can be extremely busy, especially in weekends. That said, your kids will love it because there is so much to play with!

The largest indoor playground of them all, TunFun.

Ballorig, ArenA Boulevard 240 & Valburgdreef 1001

This indoor playground can be compared to the others above, and it was one of the first places to offer such indoor fun for kids up to 12 years old. There are 2 locations in Amsterdam, so plenty of choice!

Speelparadijs Raceplanet, Herwijk 10

This indoor kart-track has a special area that has been designed for kids. Children from all ages get the opportunity to race and ride cars, but also run, climb and play. Additionally, you can also book laser games, bowling and kart racing for older kids. Currently, there are construction works going on to upgrade the playground, follow their Instagram account to stay updated.

The Little Gym, Henkenshage 4

Equally popular are the many upcoming gyms for kids in Amsterdam. In fact, we’ve seen a lot of new businesses that have opened in the last couple of years. Children and babies get the opportunity to practise their movement skills and balance, which is great for development. The Little Gym is probably the most well known gym of all, but if you google, you’ll find the nearest kiddies gym near you. www.amsterdam.thelittlegym.eu

As shown above, there are plenty of indoor options for a rainy day!

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11 Apr 2018

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Amsterdam Guide, Traveling with Kids Permalink

Tried & Tested » Nemo, Science Museum in Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 11, 2018

Did you know there are so many cool things to do in Amsterdam if you have kids? One of those is Nemo, the science Museum. I had a look and checked out why it’s so popular.

When you enter the museum, the first thing you see is what my niece calls the “soap bubble area“. You can create giant soap bubbles and some are even big enough to stand in. There are several floors in Nemo and perhaps it’s best to describe them one by one.

The “Fenomena“ area is full with science we encounter every day like sound and movement. This is also the floor that is most suitable for smaller children. They can learn here how the reflection of sound waves works, why some objects that look the same but are made of an other material, move faster then others and what happends when you mix different colours of light. Here they also have the 15 minute Chain Reaction that they show several times a day. This is great fun for young and old and is moderated in dutch and english.

At the “Technium“ there is a very big machine with coloured balls that show you how a logistic process can work. You can set off an order and see how the balls move around the machine and in the end reach their intended destination. In this area you can also visit the world of shapes, huge or tiny chairs to sit on, a big wheel that slowly turns and in which you can create beautiful patterns and a room where you can trick your brain, because small kids turn into giants and the other way around…my nieces favourite!

Is it real or just an illusion?

At the “Elementa“ you can find the exhibition: Life in the Universe. They have this huge screen where you can play a videogame and protect the earth from dangers from outta space such as comets, meteorites and Solar Wind. The kids take a shield and hold them above their heads and the movement is shown on the screen. Kids from every age love this exhibition. They also offer 30 min. science workshops, that starts at 11:00 during the weekends, and during the week at 12:30pm. Kids from age 6 can attent. Unfortunately we ran out of time and didn’t have time for it.

NEMO; Living in space

At the top floor there is, among other things, an exhibition about puberty. For my 7 year old niece this wasn’t so interesting, although the french-kiss-machine caught her eye! haha. Most of the experiments and tests on this floor are for older kids. The same applies to the journey through the mind on the same floor. Very interesting though!

At the top floor you can also find objects from the past and future

Nemo is located near the central station and surrounded by water

Food and Drink
Nemo has a very nice restaurant with a large outdoor terrace which is also accessible without a museum ticket. Totally worth a visit, because it has a nice view over Amsterdam. There is an outdoor exhibition called “energetica“ with wind- and water-sculptures, pretty cool! There are also 2 smaller cafés inside the museum where you can get drinks or enjoy a Dutch “tosti”. Prices in the restaurant are above average but still ok.

Good to Know

There are free lockers which are video surveillance, so you can leave your stroller or buggy there if you do not want to take it into the museum.
If you can, go on Saturdays rather then on a Sunday, it is a little less busy. Rush hour is between 12 and 2 pm because the early birds and the people that arrive a little later, overlap. Most people stay around 3-4 hours in the museum, so manage your time carefully.
It’s not encouraged, but you can bring your own food into the museum. Great for people with allergies!
Prizes: kids up to 3 years old are free! From 3+ years, you pay €16,50,-

Verdict:

Nemo rocks. It’s so cool that they’ve designed a massive museum, just for children and their families. More importantly, Nemo triggers, teaches and inspire, all at the same time. All in all, I had a great day and spent 3 hours in the museum, but I could have easily stayed much longer.

Nemo, Science Museum
Oosterdok 2, Amsterdam
Website

Love,

Elke

*All photo’s are shot by DigiDaan

28 Nov 2017

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in Travel Tips, Traveling with Kids With No Comments Permalink

Backpacking with Children » 5 Reasons To Do It

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On November 28, 2017 With No Comments

Do you know what backpacking means? If you type the word into Google you will find about 235.00 results. According to Google, ‘backpacking’ means a lower-cost independent travel, often with a backpack that can be easily carried as the backpacker moves from location to location. Backpacking means freedom, adventure, fun (and sometimes less fun) people, new experiences and little or nothing to fall back on. In short, a journey of discovery! So when you have children, does this all change? As a mother of two, people often me and my partner how we ‘do it’ and they wonder if backpacking with children is even possible. I wasn’t always this flexible about travelling with my children so I understand where this question is coming from. It sounds exciting and adventurous but maybe it’s a bit too much? Here are 5 reasons why backpacking with children is always a good idea.

1. Create Forever Lasting Memories!
The great advantage of backpacking is that you get to travel and therefore you experience more. For children, it is often an impressive experience. They experience new things they have never seen before. We make the lives of our children richer by showing them the world. And best of all, you and your family will create memories that will never be forgotten.

Cheryl’s family Backpacking through Asia

I loved traveling when I was single. I love traveling with my wife. But I love it more now that I have kids. – Santorini Dave

2. Freedom and Adventure
Backpacking means travelling around from location to location. You don’t need a fixed plan. The whole idea of backpacking is to be flexible. Arrived some place and want to stay longer? Then do! Our advice for backpacking with children is to prepare your trip. For us this means we select a view accommodations at each location (so when we arrive we can make fast decisions). Flights we book in advance, any other transport we arrange at the destination. Choose train & bus above the plane (unless your kids are very young, then travel less locations or lower the distance). Any other preparation is not necessary, you’ll handle it!

3. It’s good for your budget
Feel like exploring the world with your children but you don’t have a large budget? Backpacking is low budget travel. Sometimes you’ll find a hidden gem, sometimes you end up in a little less more pleasant environment. Don’t focus to much on what the accommodation looks like, as long as it’s clean it will be fine (and the kids will be ok). Try to select your next stay with the children. Keep their wishes in mind!

Taking care of their own backpack makes them more independent

4. They learn to be a little bit independent
It starts even before you head off on your little adventure.Give older children in your family some responsibility during traveling. It makes them grow in their self esteem because they contribute to family interests. Taking care of their own backpack makes them more independent and last year our daughter Jessie (then 11 years old) purchased and carried her own backpack. Of course you need to decide as a parent if your child is physically able to handle this. Not every eleven-year-old is the same. Our daughter liked to have her own backpack. Because she’d have to carry her own stuff she packed less! responsible!

5. You realise anything is possible
If you decide to take your children on an adventure, you are taking a leap of faith and yes, it can be scary. But how cool is it when you’ve actually done it! Backpacking is all about surprises and backpacking with children is the 3.0 version of that. A lot of people regret things in life, just because they didn’t do something. Break the rules and be different. Be that person that has no regrets. And look back at it with pride, no matter how the experience was. A fact is, that you did it and that itself, is pretty damn awesome.

Traveling by boat, Cheryl has done it all

Tip! Lower your expectations
If you are a hardcore adventurer and backpacker, you might want to lower your expectations a little bit. The truth is, backpacking with children will be a bit different from doing it by yourself. You have more responsibilities and it starts with the items you pack. This time, bring the first aid kit that you would normally leave at home, research the area you’re traveling to and the list goes on. Once you are prepared, your backpacking adventure will be a lot more relaxing.

Tip! The less you bring, the better!
A suitcase with 30 kg of clothes, shoes (and more) sounds interesting until you have to travel from one location to another (and you have to carry that large heavy thing everywhere). From my own experience: this will make you cry. The suitcase is a NO-GO, buy or borrow a backpack.

Tip! Take care of yourself and invest in a backpack!
Find an outdoor shop and try a number of different backpacks. You will see (and experience) that there’s a real difference in types. I can’t advise about which backpack you should buy. Find a store on and try several (including weights!).

Love,

Cheryl

*Cheryl is a mother of 2, with a love for travel. Having 2 kids didn’t stop her from traveling the world and she has become somewhat of an expert when it comes to traveling with children. She will write for Wander-Lust once a month where she will provide you with the best traveling tips for and with children! Find out more on her blog: travellingwithkids.extrememedia.nl

Wander-Lust now has a TRAVELING WITH KIDS section, check it out!

12 Jun 2017

Sticky Post By Wander-lust Posted in City Trips, Spain, Traveling with Kids With No Comments Permalink

10 X Child Friendly Hotspots in Barcelona

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On June 12, 2017 With No Comments

If you are a parent and want a café where you can easily get in with your stroller and enjoy an amazing coffee and at the same time let your baby have a great time; we have the perfect places for you!

It is easy to fall into routines and always go to the same places, doing the same things. Let’s switch things up for the summer! Here are 10 child friendly hotspots in Barcelona curated by The Nannyline.

Parc de la Ciutadella

Passeig de Picasso, 21
Near Arc de Triomf we find the beautiful Parc de la Ciutadella, “the central park of Barcelona”. This 17 hectare big park is filled with fun, exciting things that the kids will love! We find a little café next to a majestic fountain. Right next to the café you can take a 30 min row boat ride in a little lake. The park also has a greenhouse, The Umbracle, filled with tropical plants. Moreover, probably the most exciting for the kids: The Zoo! Parc de la Ciutadella is nevertheless the ground for Zoo of Barcelona. Perfect place for your nanny to bring your kiddo. Test your kids animal knowledge outside the children’s books! In the zoo you will meet hippos, flamingos , monkeys and much more. Parc de la Ciutadella is undoubtedly a park you can spend countless hours in. This is the place for both expats, tourists and locals to hang and enjoy the amazing city of Barcelona.

CosmoCaixa Barcelona

Carrer d’Isaac Newton, 26
Too hot outside and in need of air conditioning? Explore the wonders of science in CosmoCaixa’s Science Museum! Your nanny and kid will definitely be entertained by this museum placed in northern Barcelona, Sant Gervasi. Boost your kid’s curiosity and creativity and explore the different interactive workshops and activities! They have a recreation of an Amazonian rain-forest (Flooded Forest “Bosc inundat”), a planetarium taking you on a journey through space and time, and a creative space with experiments and games suitable for kids from 7 years and older. They also have workshops like ¡Toca-Toca! and Clik, where you are not only allowed, but supposed to touch, play and interact with different things.

The Beach

Build sandcastles, maybe play a little football and take a refreshing dip in the water: the beach is one of the best things of Barcelona. A big city with an accessible beach; can it be any better? You can take your nanny with you to the beach so you can relax for a bit and let the nanny babysit the kids. Here are some suggestions for beaches where you, your child and nanny can go:

Sant Miquel and Sant Sebastià
Near hotel W we find these two beaches. Great for kids because the water is shallow.
Nova Mar Bella
A bit more quiet with space for a picnic and there is a playground nearby.
Ocata beach
A bit outside of Barcelona heading north we find Ocata beach. A big, wide beach with white sand. Perfect if you have the time and ability to go outside the city.

Aquarium

Moll d’Espanya del Port Vell, Website
Barcelona’s aquarium “ L’Aquàrium de Barcelona” will bring you on an fascinating underwater experience. Prepare to meet lots of different little and big sea friends. You have the guided Discover the L’Aquàrium’s secrets tour where they talk about how the aquarium works and how they take care of their fishes. A fun experience with lots of fun, new facts. You and your babysitter can of course also decide your own tour strolling around as you like. Barcelona’s aquarium also offers a clue game, handicraft workshop and a Q&A with the carers while they feed the fishes.

Parc del Laberint d’Horta

Passeig dels Castanyers, 1
Play in the maze of Parc del Laberint d’Horta! Barcelona’s oldest park located in Sant Andreu is the perfect place to spend a weekend or an afternoon. The green garden is filled with small squares, mythological sculptures, flower beds and a waterfall has a truly enchanted feeling to it, great for exploring! Have a picnic, get lost in the maze and discover all the different corners and places of this beautiful park.

Pudding coffee shop

Avinguda Diagonal, 515
Open hours: Mon – Sun 9.30 – 21.30
The wonderful coffee shop Pudding will make anyone fall for it’s charm . Beside the brunches, sweets and good food they offer they also have a special kid’s club. The club can both help you fix an awesome birthday for your child or provide you with a babysitting service. Located at Carrer de Pau Claris near Urquinaona metro station this coffee shop is a must when you are in Barcelona!

Parc Turó de Can Mates

Carrer de Josep Irla, 50
This park , located in Sant Cugat del Valles is a lovely playground to bring the kids to. Parc Turó de Can Mates has four different zones: a flat green area with some trees and an outdoor gym, one area with long and fun slides, a climbing frame and a big sandbox. The park is easily accessible and has a good parking lot. Ask your nanny to take your kids here for the afternoon and let them explore the different areas of the park. Play in the sand, slide down the slides and climb the climbing frame!

Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens

Ctra. de Miramar, 50-58
Open hours: Mon – Sun 10.00 – 19.00
Mossèn Costa i Llobera Gardens is a botanical garden at the foot of Montjuïc. Here can your child explore over 800 different sorts of plants. The garden was actually built as an outdoor classroom for students of Escuela de Jardinería de Barcelona but is now open for the public. Take this opportunity to teach your kids about nature while looking at this rather unusual garden. Make sure to not stick yourself on the cactus spines!

Baby Deli

Avinguda Pau Casals, 6
Open hours: Monday – Saturday 10:15-14:30 and 16:30-19:45
Baby Deli is a combined store and café. With a sophisticated interior design Baby Deli welcomes us with a warm feeling. This is the perfect place for the whole family. They sell baby food, amazing coffee, toys and clothes. While parents can enjoy a cup of coffee and maybe some snacks, the kids are free to play with a variety of books and toys. It is located close to Francesc Macià and has a nice park just one minute walking distance away. Definitely a new favorite place for the summer!

Family Room Café

Carrer Joan Gamper, 13
Open hours: Tuesday, Wednesday 09:00-21:00, Thursday, Friday 09:00-00:00, Saturday 10:00-00:00 Sunday 12:00-20:00
Vergós 55. Open hours: Tuesday – Friday 08:30-21:00, Saturday 09:30-21:00
Family Room Café is based on the idea of being “a place for families”. They offers healthy food and a cozy atmosphere on two locations; one in Les Corts and one in Sarrià. The café is spacious and light with nordic inspired interior design. The dried flowers in vases on the wooden tables gives the café a fresh, organic feeling. They have a playground for the kids in both cafés. In Les Corts they have cute wooden houses, toys, a little kitchen and a wooden horse. The Sarría café just opened about two weeks ago and offers a whole floor just for the kids! This is a place where you want to sit down for a couple of hours, eat brunch, drink coffee, relax while the kids have a whole room full of things they can enjoy. A must-see during the summer!

Family Room Café, Les Corts

Love,

The Nannyline

*The Nannyline is an international agency with highly educated, experienced and enthusiastic nannies based in Barcelona. Find out more at www.nanny-line.com