10 Children’s Activities For May 2010 In Melbourne

Time for a look at what Melbourne has to offer for kids in the upcoming month. All images used in this post come from the respective source.

1. Cardboard Spaces

Cardboard Spaces May10
ArtPlay are having foundation year architecture students from Monash University constructing four creative spaces for children out of an unusual building material: cardboard! Spaces will be created for listening, for reading, performing or for making.

When: Saturday 15 May to Sunday 27 June
Cost: FREE, no bookings necessary
Time: Wednesday to Friday from 10am to 2pm; weekends from noon to 4pm.
Age: All ages

2. Mother’s Day Woodwork Workshop

Knox Shopping Centre holds free Dads & kids workshops on the first Sunday of the month with a different theme each time.

Dads and their kids can make something special for mum this Mother’s Day at this exciting woodwork workshop. Plus, there will be spot prizes available on the day!

When: Sunday 2 May
Time: 11am – 2pm
Location: Level 1, near Myer, 425 Burwood Highway, Wantirna South

3. Buddha’s Day and Multicultural Festival

Buddha's Day and Multicultural Festival

Buddha’s Day and Multicultural Festival incorporates the traditions of Buddhist ceremonies and Buddhist celebrations including the “Bathing of the Buddha”, daily Dharma ceremonies, the Wishing Bell and traditional incense offerings; a vegetarian culinary tour of Asia alongside the Yarra on the River Terrace; cultural demonstrations and insights; music; art and craft, community service groups providing information and assistance to Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.

The festival is a unique introduction of Buddhism for kids and families with special activities and games for the younger of body and mind.

This event is held at Federation Square form 15 – 16 May. Check the website for further details.

4. Kids at the Library

Most libraries have some form of story time for young children, but if you haven’t been to the State Library before it is a gorgeous place and they also have sessions for the kids:

Storytime for pre-schoolers
Share the wonder of books! This enjoyable session of stories, songs, rhymes and activities is especially designed for pre-schoolers (ages two to five).
Time: Wed 5 May, 11–11.45am
Venue: Experimedia
Bookings: 03 8664 7099 or bookings@slv.vic.gov.au
Cost: Free

Baby bounce session
Encourage your child to have a lifelong love of books! Join in a fun-filled session of stories, songs and rhymes, as part of the Victorian Government’s Young Readers Program. (For ages eight months to two years.)
Time: Thurs 6 May, 11–11.45am
Venue: Experimedia
Bookings: 03 8664 7099 or bookings@slv.vic.gov.au
Cost: Free

5. Dachshund U.N.

Dachbound UN
Now I just want to say that I have not seen this and am not sure that it would be of interest to all kids, but when I was researching activities for May, this seemed so unique that I had to mention it. The installation at the Melbourne Museum is by Perth artist Bennett Mille is part of the Next Wave Festival featuring performances incorporating 47 daschunds.

A scale replica of a former U.N. office in Geneva, Switzerland, will be constructed by Miller in the Melbourne Museum Plaza, where it will remain for the duration of the 2010 Next Wave Festival. Each Saturday afternoon, this structure will play host to a meeting of the U.N.’s Commission on Human Rights, wherein all 47 of the national delegates are live dachshunds, or ‘sausage dogs’. Dachshund U.N. is both a joyful and chaotic experiment, and a meditation on the utopian aspirations of the Commission on Human Rights, and our capacity as humans to imagine and achieve a universal system of justice.

Audiences are invited to these exclusive live viewings of the operations of the Dachshund U.N., where 47 specially recruited dachshunds will engage in rigorous debate.

Date: Saturdays, 15 May – 29 May 2010, from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Where: Museum Plaza
Cost: Free

6. Melbourne International Jazz Festival

Play School's Big Jazz Adventure
Melbourne International Jazz Festival runs from 1 – 8 May across a number of venues. They have a fantastic family fun program including:

Play School’s Big Jazz Adventure on at Melbourne Town Hall, Sat 1 May. There are two shows (10am & 12pm) which have a duration of 40 minutes. All tickets are $15. (All children must be accompanied by an adult. Suitable for children 2 to 5 years.) Book online here.

7. National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime
This has been running for seven years now in Australia, but this is the first time that I have come across it. National Simultaneous Storytime is on 11am Wednesday 26th May 2010. The book for this year is Little White Dogs Can’t Jump, by Bruce Whatley.

National Simultaneous Storytime is a campaign organised by the Australian Library and Information Association, in which a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously to children in a variety of venues around Australia.

This campaign promotes the value of books and encourages young people to read, share books and become involved in other fun and engaging literary based activities. The campaign is an integral part of promoting the value of reading and literacy within Australian society.

8. The Royal Botanical Gardens – The Children’s Garden

RBG Children's Garden

The Children’s Garden is open from 10am until sunset, but they are closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Entry is free. The garden allows children the opportunity to dig, create, roam and explore. Our family’s highlights of the garden are the Tree Tower, The Isle and the Kitchen Garden. When visiting the Children’s it is best to enter from the main entrance to the Gardens in the Observatory Precinct, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra.

The garden will close Monday 12 July and re-open on Wednesday 8 September for rest and maintenance over winter, so now is a great time to visit!

9. Guided Walks in Kinglake National Park

Join a ranger on a guided walk into Masons Falls, a popular section of Kinglake National Park. It will be some time until this area is again open to public with access tracks and facilities yet to be rebuilt. Many plants are now regenerating after the fire and the song of the lyrebirds can again be heard coming from the gullies. The duration of the tour is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, concluding with a drive up to Mt Sugarloaf after the walk.


Where:
Kinglake National Park
Date: Sun, 16 May 2010
Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Melway Ref: Key Map 9 M1
Bookings: Places are limited and bookings are essential. To reserve you place send – your name – a contact phone number – the number of people wishing to attend – your preference for a 10am or 2pm start to srule@parks.vic.gov.au srule@parks.vic.gov.au or call 03 5786 3000. You will be notified of the starting point when your registration is confirmed.
Further Information: Sarah Rule – Parks Victoria, 13 1963

10. Sunday Funday – Lego Educational Centre

The Lego Educational Centre is located at 37 Hall Street, Moonee Ponds. Each Sunday they run building sessions for kids and adults aged 4 – 99+. There is a different theme each Sunday and the sessions run for 45 minutes.

Times: Sessions begin at 11am, 12noon, 1pm
Cost: $5.00 per person (including accompanying adult)
Note: Children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of each session. (One adult to up to 3 children)
Bookings: Not required.