Places I Go With the Children

I've noticed I don't write enough about Essex. The way I go on about myself, I could just as well be ATypicalSurreyGirl. So, here are a few things I like.

Cheeky Monkeez in South Woodham Ferrers - . Big playroom for children, including a separate area for mums with babies. It's not so much a soft play place, more of a big room with lots of toys. It also has a very reasonably priced cafe. And it feels safe. And the people who run it are unfailingly polite and cheerful, a miracle bearing in mind they work in a big room with lots of toys (and therefore lots of noisy children.) EssexSprogBoy had his 3rd birthday there and lots of guests remarked on what a great place it is. Which I've never heard anyone say after a visit to KrazyKidz. (What is it with children's venues and horrible spelling?)

Colchester Zoo. I love Colchester Zoo. Buy a gold card and if you visit just three times, you've recouped your money. It has animals (obviously) but also a ball/soft play area where you can grab a table, have a sit down and let the children run riot.

Monkey Puzzle in Maldon - great big soft play area set over two floors. Unfortunately, the layout does mean that sometimes you hear your children plaintively yelling from downstairs as they can't get up to the top floor. It's OK though. You just need do drag yourself off your chair, lean over and shout, "Climb up the slide!" until they learn not to yell again.

The 99p Shop in Witham. OK, not technically a fun day out for the children, but I really am fond of that shop. All that stuff! For 99p!