When it comes to school holidays, the number of places ready and willing to take your money in exchange for a little child-oriented entertainment grows by the day. But that all-elusive combination of sufficient fun that everyone wants to go back again, without being so exhausting the grown ups can’t face it, remains hard to find. Leap Frog Ceramics is one I can heartily recommend.
Fairly much what it says in the title: you go in, choose your object from a good range of prices and styles, and settle down to decorate. Two of our adults painted with the children, two just watched. Between us we chose a plate, a mug, a shark, a skull, a trinket pot, and a bowl. There’s a good range of colours and brush widths to choose from, plus a clever device for fine work and writing. You can get as much or as little help as you like. And you can paint by formula or use more of your artistic talents. Really, the choice is all yours.
While painting, one of us had a pot of tea, I had of herb tea, a couple had coffees, and the children all found something they liked. And for when some had finished and others still working on their masterpieces, there was a nearby playpark to work off some energy. Hooray.
Although the website recommends booking at weekends and school holidays, we dropped in on the spur of the moment and were lucky.
The only downside to the whole event was waiting for our pieces to be fired and ready for collection. But then, you could certainly argue that it’s good for children to learn that not everything in this world is instant.
Altogether, a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon of fun.
