Things to make & do

From 1 to 26  August, 2011 the National Trust is offering free entry for children.

National Family Week begins today and with 5326 events taking place around the country there's no shortage of things to do as a family during half-term. Here are our top events to give you a taste of what's on offer.

For hundreds of thousands of young families across Britain, Monkey Music has become a rite of passage, introducing pre-school children and their parents to the joys and benefits of music. Launched in 1992 by concert oboist and music teacher, Angie Coates, Monkey Music is now a major franchise throughout the UK.

Famous toy giraffe Sophie has been celebrating her birthday with a card competition. See the exhibition of them at Battersea Park Children's Zoo. Get a discount voucher when you visit during May.

Helen Webb, author of Shoot the Baby, gives her top ten tips for taking perfect pictures.

If you are looking for somewhere to enjoy fresh air and stunning gardens, see what the National Trust has to offer. Here we list their top spring gardens to visit.

Butterfly World, St Albans springs into life for its third season on 8 April with a host of brand new attractions and special Easter activities and events for visitors of all ages to see, explore, touch, learn and have fun. Setting the season off to a flying start entry is just £5 for everyone throughout the whole of April.

What makes a museum especially family friendly? Is it trails for toddlers? Art sessions for teenagers? Highchairs in the cafe? All good – but not good enough. Each museum on the shortlist for the 2011 Guardian Family Friendly Museum Award has also shown a commitment to the local community.

If you are looking for somewhere to go during half term one of the 20 museums on the Guardian Family Friendly Award long list for Kids in Museums could be just what you need.

As people like Martin Lewis, the money saving expert, campaign for children to be educated in financial matters, the websites Saving Squad and Fun Squad offer resources designed to make learning about saving money fun for children.

This new family-friendly exhibition at Imperial War Museum London takes a fresh and engaging look at five of the best-loved books written for children about conflict – War Horse by Michael Morpurgo, Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden, The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier, The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall and Little Soldier by Bernard Ashley.

It’s not very often children get encouraged to pick their noses and sit in front of a computer but with Red Nose Day fast approaching on Friday 18 March, there are three little monster Red Noses just a click away waiting to tell the whole nation to do something funny for money – all you have to do is log on!

Watch the woodland floor transform as swathes of pure white snowdrops spring to life. From enchanting bulb meadows to the UK’s largest winter garden, experience nature’s new beginnings and lift your spirits with a refreshing snowdrop stroll. Here are the National Trust’s top ten gardens promising spectacular displays of snowdrops.

The 2010 Lectures will be given by Dr Mark Miodownik, a materials scientist from King’s College London. The series, called Size Matters, will explore the living and non-living matter that makes up the universe. With the help of an audience of children and their families, he will try to answer the question - does size matter?

Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland many of the National Trust’s houses and gardens will be helping Santa with amazing locations for his grottos; from atmospheric woods and ancient forests to castle towers and historic courtyards, these enchanting grottos will fill the whole family with Christmas cheer.

Continuing the list of Santa's Grottos at National Trust properties.

Need a little incentive to get your child to do whatever he or she is meant to? Harriet Elliot, Alex Bell and Shelley Burns test out out the Horrid Henry Reward Charts on their offspring.

Snazaroo, creator of face and body paint, has provided a step-by-step guide to transforming your child's face into a vampire for Hallowe'en fun