Toddler Time preschool sessions at National Museum Cardiff

*Paid collaboration with National Museum Cardiff

Now that Little Man O has joined his big sister Little Miss E at full-time school, I’m trying to find activities that Toddler Boy I will enjoy.

We recently headed along to National Museum Cardiff for one of its Toddler Time events, as part of our blogger ambassador role with the museum and its sister site, St Fagans National History Museum.

These pre-school events sees arts and crafts activities, singing and storytime, and toys and activities in the various museum galleries. The free sessions take place between 1.30pm and 4pm every Friday afternoon during term time, with a different theme each week. We haven’t been for a couple of years, because with Little Man’s afternoon preschool drop offs and pick-ups, the timings were tricky, so it was good to return.

The theme when we visited was “a visit to the museum”. Toddler loves dinosaurs so it was great that the prehistoric creatures featured heavily in the activities on offer. The back of the Clore Discovery Centre, on the ground floor, was filled with dino-themed books, toys and activities, as well as painting and crafts equipment and other toys. We stayed here for around 45 minutes or so, with around six other children, before moving on to explore the rest of the museum.

Elsewhere in the museum galleries, we had great fun playing with the toy dinosaurs handily placed next to the dinosaur skeletons and replicas, as well as the basket of woodland creatures in the natural history gallery. Toddler Time has been developed with Cardiff Language And Play so that as well as being fun, all the activities help stimulate creativity and

One downside for us is that the singing and story session takes place at 3pm, which is too close to school pick up time for us. However, if you haven’t got it dash off, it’s a great way to end the toddler afternoons.

And while you’re at the museum, there’s plenty more to see, which you can read about in our previous review.

The museum is really welcoming to families. There’s a lift for those not able to manage the steps outside; a cafe downstairs which serves toddler pick’n’mix lunch boxes among other hot and cold snacks, there are baby change facilities, and loads of hands-on activities around the museum to keep little ones entertained.

The themes for October 2017 (until half term) are as follows:

06/10/2017 – Woodland animals

13/10/2017 – Colour and Shape

20/10/2017 – Castles, Princes and Princesses

27/10/2017 – Dinosaurs

Story at 3pm

Have you been to a Toddler Time at National Museum Cardiff? What did your little ones enjoy? Do let me know in the comments below, on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page or by tweeting me on @cardiffmummy 

For more ideas of local family-friendly days out, see the Cardiff section of Cardiff Mummy Says or follow our adventures on the Cardiff Mummy Says Instagram feed.

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