Holiday activities have been lined up for children of all ages this holiday, so there is no reason to hear those three dread words, "Mom, I'm bored!"

FOR those stressed parents who have run out of ideas to entertain their kids during the school holidays, several activities have been planned to keep children amused and parents relaxed.

The upcoming holiday presents a great opportunity for families to spend quality time together, and there are loads of things to do.

Theatre
The National Children's Theatre is showing the popular children story, Cinderella, until 22 July. Performances are at 10.30am and 2.30pm from Monday to Saturday. Tickets are R55 for children and R65 for adults. Bookings can be made through Computicket or by calling the theatre on 011 484 1584/5. The theatre is opposite the Wits Education Campus on 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown.

The People's Theatre at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre stages The Adventures of Winnie Pooh

The Old Mutual Theatre is staging an exciting production, The Adventures of Captain Awesome and Wingman. The fun-filled show is directed by Asher Stoltz. There is one show daily at 3pm from Tuesday, 24 June to Saturday, 5 July. Tickets are R60 for all.

Bookings can be made through the theatre on 011 883 8606 or 083 918 8551. Alternatively, visit the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square website.

The People's Theatre at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre complex stages one of the most popular children's stories, The Adventures of Winnie Pooh. During the school holidays, performances are at 10.30am and 2.30pm from Monday to Saturday. Tickets are R75 for both children and adults.

The Johannesburg Civic Theatre is on Loveday Street in Braamfontein. For further details, call the People's Theatre on 011 403 1563 or book at Computicket, or visit the People's Theatre website.

Maropeng
A visit to Maropeng will keep young minds busy. The Maropeng Visitor Centre is open daily from 9am to 5pm and the last boat ride departs at 4pm.

Entrance is R85 for adults and R50 for children between the ages of four and 14. You can get a combination entrance ticket at Maropeng and Sterkfontein Cave for R130 for adults and R80 for children.

Maropeng kicks starts the holiday with Youth Day celebrations on Monday, 16 June at the Maropeng Hotel. Visitors who want to stay overnight can make a booking at the Maropeng Hotel for R620 per person.

On Saturday,28 June, Maropeng hosts stargazing activities at Tumulus Restaurant at a cost of R170 per adult and R95 a children. This covers the presentation and a three-course dinner.

Maropeng's resident astronomer, Vincent Hetman, focuses on the stars that are visible during winter. He will have his large aperture telescopes for guests to gaze at the stars in the crisp winter sky.

In an ongoing quest to reveal the secrets of the past, Maropeng is also showcasing the world's oldest dinosaur eggs until 30 June. The 190-million year old eggs, on loan from the Bernard Price Institute, belong to the Massospondylus carinatus species of dinosaurs from the early Jurassic period. The clutch of seven eggs was discovered in 1976 by the late Professor James Kitching in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

The embedded embryonic bones were so fragile that they had to wait for somebody with the necessary skills to prepare the eggs for further study.

For further details and bookings contact Sylvia on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 014 577 9000. Directions are available on the Maropeng website.

Gold Reef City Theme Park
The theme park has planned loads of activities to keep children busy this holiday, including amusement park rides, dance and magical shows.

For those who love music, Afride Marimba Band plays a variety of African and western music, complemented by saxophone and drums at the Town Square. The show starts at 10am and ends at 4pm.

The Diepkloof Tap Dancers also perform. The unique tap show combines western and African culture. There are four shows daily - 11.15am, 12.15pm, 1.15pm and 2.30pm at Town Square. And popular traditional mine dancing is on at Gemstone World at 10.15am and 12pm.

Over the amphitheatre, visitors can watch the Free Flight Bird Show, featuring a variety of birds of prey and exotic birds, at 2.30pm. Also not to be missed are the mystical Kenyan Tumblers. The live show includes acrobatics, skipping and fire performances. To add more to the fun, the tumblers have introduced further new and exciting routines. The show times are 10.45am, 11.45am, 12.45am and 3pm.

Also on the cards is the breathtaking Terry and Gordon's Magic and Illusion Show. Children will witness Terry and Gordon trisect a woman and pierce her with a sword in the abdomen. This show takes place at Town Square at 11am, 12pm, 1pm and 3pm.

There is also a magical street parade daily at 2pm along the streets of Gold Reef city. All shows will be held daily during the holidays. For further information, contact Gold Reef City Theme Park on 011 248 6800 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Johannesburg Zoo
Young children are invited to an animal enrichment programme, running from 7 to 20 July and from 25 to 29 August, from 9am to 1pm. It and is designed for seven- to 13-year-olds.

Other interesting activities include a sneak peak behind the scenes and craft making. Tickets cost R55 for children only.

The zoo is also running a special programme for three- to six-year-olds on 8 to 10 July, from 10am to 12pm. Children need to be accompanied by an adult for this programme. Refreshments will be served and there will be a ferry ride plus animal demonstrations or story time. Tickets are R 55 for children and R36 for adults.

The Myth Buster Tour includes a visit to the zoo's nocturnal animals. There is also a bonfire and story telling. The tours are on 9 July and 27 August and start at 5.15pm. Tickets are R70 each.

The zoo is in Upper Park Drive, Forest Town. For further details, call the zoo on 011 646 2000 or send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Library
Johannesburg Public Library's programme is full of activities, including homework supervision, story telling and games, face painting and computer games. The programmes run from 23 June to 11 July at 10am.

Olivedale Library will have a snake demonstration on Friday 27 June

Olivedale Library plans an exciting holiday with a snake demonstration on Friday 27 June. Lizards, snakes, baby iguanas and bearded dragons will be on display. Tickets are R10 per person.

On Friday, 4 July there is a water board show to teach children about water issues.

Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill holds a youth exhibition from 12 to 30 June. It highlights different images that depict the artists' concerns about the effects of substance abuse, poverty, HIV/Aids and the high unemployment rates on the youth.

For those who are interested in history, Constitutional Hill has tours of Soweto on Friday, 20 June and the hill on Tuesday, 24 June. These are an opportunity for schoolchildren to learn more about the history of South Africa.

On 2 and 9 July children can learn about democracy and rights through poetry, dance, music, story telling and drama. All programmes start at 10am and end at 2pm

Constitution Hill is at number 1 Kotze street, Braamfontein. For more information and bookings contact Constitutional Hill on 011 381 3125.

Online and at home
Another way to keep the kids busy during the holiday season is to look for educational websites. Some offer exciting games that children can play: Kids Turn; Word Mania; The Kidz Page; Fun Brain; and Eduplace are a few places to start.

Of course, there are many other activities you can do with your children during the holiday season. Try these:

In your own backyard, make homemade kites to fly, or make stilts from cans and string.

Go to the bush and play hide and seek, but be careful not to venture outside the boundaries. Go tadpoling - catch a few and keep them in water at home. Watch them grow every week. Make a list for great spots for picnics - and then go on a few. Learn how to read a map or use a library book to identify birdlife or flora.

Go to the river and learn how to fish, or make paper or wooden boats and race them down a shallow stream.

Go to the park and study the habits of the local ant colony

Related stories:

• A week in Joburg
• Events calendar