Banish the boredom of school holidays

Sylvia Thompson offers ideas for entertaining children over the next two months, with everything from art workshops to horse-riding

Not so stuffy

Many children enjoy discovering details with the assistance of touch screen guides and activity sheets. The National Museum of Archaeology in Kildare Street and the National Museum of Decorative Arts in Collins Barracks, Dublin; the Natural History Museum on Merrion Street and the National Museum of Country Life in Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo have fantastic workshop programmes and family tours throughout the summer. See www.museum.ie. (01-6777444)

Hands on History Summer School at the National Museum of Decorative Arts, Collins Barracks, Dublin Three workshops to choose from here. What's in the Paper? looks at the craft of paper making with hands-on experience. July 12-15, 11am-1pm (13-15 year olds). Body Shock introduces children to jewellery and clothes on display before they design their own pieces. July 19-22, 11am-1pm (8-12 year olds). Musical Recycle offers a chance to create musical stories using recycled objects. July 26-29, 11am-1pm (8-12 year olds). Admission free; booking essential. (01-6486453)

Tours and Saturday Club at the Natural History Museum, Merrion St, Dublin Find out all about animals from various parts of the world on these special children's tours. Every Thurs July 7-August 25 11.30am-12.30pm (7 and over). The Saturday Club teaches children the elements of tour guiding over four sessions. July 9, 16, 23 and 30, 11.30am-12.30pm. Admission free but booking essential. (01-6486453)

Summer Schools at the National Museum of Archaeology, Kildare St Walk like a Viking explores the exhibition Viking Ireland and then encourages participants to make their own swords and shields (7-12 year olds) Aug 2-5, 11am-1pm, admission free; booking essential. In Trendy T-shirts children can make their own T-shirts, inspired by the exhibitions (for 7-12 year olds). August 9-12, 11am-1pm. Admission free, booking essential. (01-6486332)

Summer School in Traditional Crafts Make your own craftworks using ceramics, rush, straw and wool (7 and over) July 19-22; July 26-29, 10.30am-12.30pm. National Museum of Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo, admission free. (094-9031773)

For rainy days

The big library event this summer is the Hans Christian Andersen exhibition at the National Library, Kildare Street, Dublin. The free exhibition, part of the celebration of the bicentenary of the birth of the famous children's writer, will be more of interest to adults than to the children who love his stories. Thankfully, there is also a children's programme of storytelling (Sat, July 2, 9 and 16 at 11am) and creative workshops (Sat, July 2 at 2.30pm). The exhibition on James Joyce's Ulysses downstairs also includes creative writing workshops for 10-12 year olds (July 18-20, August 15-17, 11am-2pm. Admission free, booking essential. (01-6030200)

Libraries offer incentives for young people to read over the summer months with book review competitions, workshops and storytelling sessions. Some install a summer reading tree, which comes to life as rapsongs, art work and book reviews written by children sprout on the branches. See www.dublincitypubliclibraries.ie or check out activities at your local library.

Getting creative

Almost every city suburb and town in Ireland seems to have children's art classes now. However, the quality varies hugely and sadly some tutors fail to allow individual expression, tending instead to have set projects for children to complete so the portfolio at the end is impressive but the classes are busy and uninspired. Classes run by art galleries tend to offer more interesting opportunities and the backdrop is more inspiring than the community hall. There is also a variety of courses in musical instruments and some singing workshops, and many of these are run by music schools with very good reputations. Some summer festivals also incorporate music and art workshops.

Kids Art Attack and Little Masters Drawing Classes The annual art workshops at the National Gallery are hugely popular. The Little Masters drawing classes for 3-6 year olds explores basic drawing techniques (July 4-8 and July 11-15, 11am-noon, €5). Kids Art Attack is a five-day workshop for 7-12 year olds (July 4-8 and July 11-15, €50 per week). National Gallery, Merrion Street, Dublin. (01-6633579)

Summer Art Workshops at the Dublin City Gallery Once-off morning workshops for different age groups run from July 12-15, July 19-22 and Aug 11, 18 and 25, €5 per class. An introduction to drawing for 13-17 year olds, July 12-22, 2.30-4pm, €50. Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane, Charlemont House, Parnell Square North, Dublin. (01-8749294)

Music Workshops at the National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 Music Making for Families are one-hour sessions for children in age groups from three to 12 where adults can join in the music making. Aug 6, 7 and 27; €8, family tickets €28. Instrument Making Workshops offer a chance to learn about the instruments of the orchestra and then make your own model instrument to take home in these two-hour sessions. Aug 13, 14, 6-12 year olds, €12. Parent and Toddler Workshops introduce three-year-olds and under to the wonderful world of music. August 13, 14, €8. (01-4170000) See also www.nch.ie/education

Sense of adventure

Exploring national parks and woods with adults who enjoy walking can give children a lifelong passion for the outdoors. Glenveagh National Park in Co Donegal, Killarney National Park in Co Kerry, The Wicklow Mountains National Park in Glendalough and the Connemara National Park in Co Galway are beautiful places to visit. Specifically for 7-12 year olds, Art in the Park sessions take place on Thursday afternoons in July and August in Glendalough. Booking essential on 0404-45656. There are also many local woods and forests with walks of different lengths to suit all ages. Contact the Tree Council of Ireland for a free copy of a guide to such walks (01-2849211). Closer to the capital, extra special woodlands to visit include Devil's Glen Wood near Ashford, Co Wicklow. Open all year with car parking and picnic facilities, it also hosts an interesting outdoor exhibition of sculptures. See www.sculptureinwoodland.ie. Knocksink wood near Enniskerry, Co Wicklow is the home of the National Environmental Education Centre which hosts guided nature walks and workshops for children throughout the year. www.knocksinkwood.org

A bit of culture

The Office of Public Works has dropped admission charges at seven locations. The sites where this applies are the Corlea Trackway Visitors Centre in Co Longford (with the largest old bog road to be uncovered in Europe); St Audoen's Church in the medieval heart of Dublin; Ballyhack Castle, a 15th-century castle in Co Wexford; Dungarvan Castle with its 12th-century keep, Co Waterford; the 13th-century Ferns Castle, Co Wexford; Desmond Hall in Co Limerick; and Maynooth Castle, Co Kildare. Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park is also open throughout the summer for free. Children's craft workshops run on Saturdays and Sundays in August (01-8155900) www.farmleigh.ie. A heritage card gives free admission to 65 sites. The 12-month access card costs €20 adult, €7.50 for a child and €50 for a family. See www.heritageireland.ie

Sporting chances

There is a plethora of privately run multi-sport camps but some of the best value is still in the countrywide programmes organised by national sports bodies.

Soccer Samba Soccer: run by schoolteachers, PE teachers or soccer coaches. Courses for 5-16 year olds in July cost €95 per week. (1890-702237) www.sambasoccer.com Pepsi Summer Soccer Schools: July 27-August 26. Trained by qualified FAI coaches, in venues throughout the country, these week-long courses are open to boys and girls, seven to 15. Also special programmes for goalkeepers and girls-only weekends. (1890-653653) www.fai.ie

Sailing Young sailors and windsurfers can take lessons at one of the Republic's many sailing centres. (01-2800239) www.sailing.ie. Glenans Sailing Club also runs courses for 14-17 year olds. (01-6611481)

Horse-riding The Association of Irish Riding Establishments has details of trekking and trail-riding centres and riding schools. (045-431584) www.aire.ie

Tennis Lessons for excellent value are offered on public tennis courts as part of Parks Tennis, c/o Kay Lonegan, 142 Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3. (01-8338711) www.parkstennis.com

Dramatic licence

Dance and drama classes are almost as popular as art classes. However, as with art, quality isn't always guaranteed. The best bet is to choose courses run by established schools of dance and drama.

Ballet Ireland Summer School 2005 Week-long courses focus on dance, mime, music and the dramatic elements that combine to make a complete ballet. Running from July 4 to August 26 at venues in counties Wicklow, Laois, Donegal, Dublin, Tyrone, Clare, Kildare and Tipperary. E-mail: balletireland@eircom.net

Gaiety School of Acting Drama courses, a week-long make-a-movie course for 11-19 year olds, and more in July and August. In the Temple Bar headquarters; Sutton Park School, Dublin; Mermaid Arts Centre, Bray, Co Wicklow; Cork Opera House; Firkin Crane Centre, Cork; Kenmare, Co Kerry; and Killarney, Co Kerry. (01-6799277) www.gaietyschool.com

Scientists at heart

For technologically minded youngsters, the Save the Robots exhibition and workshop programme in Dublin is a must. The main exhibition explores the art and design of robots. Tues-Sun, 10.30am-5.30pm at the Ark, Eustace Street and Filmbase, Curved Street. €8.50. Check out the robotic ducks on St Stephen's Green (July 9, 10, 16 and 17). There's also a robotic DJ from German techno-art group, RobotLab at the Ark, an international Robot Talent Show at St Michael and John's Church, Temple Bar and a Robot Film Season at the Irish Film Institute. The Save the Robots workshop programme runs June 29-July 28 at various venues. www.robots.ie (01-6707788)

whowhatwherewhenwhy - W5, the interactive discovery centre at Odyssey in Belfast has an extra exhibition, Myths and Monsters, until October 2, with mask workshops, UFO show and a chance to make Plasticine and Lego monsters. Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm; Sun noon-6pm. £6/£4. (048-90467700) www.w5online.co.uk

Young Environmentalists Children are encouraged to save local wildlife at Animal Magic at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Castle Espie, Comber, Co Down, July 2 and 3, 10.30am-5.30pm. Adults £4.60, children £2.75, family £11.95 (048-91874146) www.wwt.org.uk

The Oxford Island Nature Reserve on the shores of Lough Neagh near Lurgan, Co Armagh is another fantastic place for young environmentalists. Events include children's wildlife hours, nature walks, bat walks and an ugly bug ball. (048-38322205) www.oxfordisland.com

Joining in the fun

The best arts and community festivals have programmes of workshops and performances for children. Here's a sample but check out your local festival, too. Sometimes, it's the spontaneous encounters with friends which makes for the best day out for younger folk.

Earagail Arts Festival, Co Donegal Saturday, July 16 is family day in Letterkenny Town Park with musicians and street entertainers from France and The Netherlands. Sunday is carnival day at Falcarragh with dancers, drummers, stiltwalkers and large-scale props. Puppet shows, art and music workshops and an outdoor environmental art project are also scheduled. July 4-17 (074-9120777) www.eaf.ie

Galway Arts Festival Check out Big Telly Theatre Company's magical production of Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale, The Little Mermaid, in Leisureland Pool on July 13 and 14, noon, 3pm and 7.30pm. Also, The Giant by Barry Murphy (5-10 year olds) and Playin' around, in which two clowns (Mark Doherty and Mikel Murfi) play a spot of golf. The Macnas festival parade from 3pm, July 17. July 11-24 (091-566577) www.galwayartsfestival.ie

Spraoi, Waterford This lively street festival is preceded by five days of workshops for 5-8 year olds from July 25-29. This year, workshops will celebrate traditions including string puppetry, masked dancing and sand mandalas. Spring Onion Puppet Theatre presents Amici Animali, a moral tale about animals. July 29-31 (051-841808) www.spraoi.com

Kilkenny Arts Festival Renowned for its imaginative workshops, the festival will also have puppet and children's theatre. Author of the Artemis Fowl books, Eoin Colfer, will read. Street theatre performers include the Australian Snuff Puppets. Aug 12-21 (056-7752175) www.kilkennyarts.ie

Dún Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures, Co Dublin Music, circus and street performers, theatre, exhibitions, markets, puppet shows and a book fair with storytelling. Aug 26-28 (01-2301035) See also www.festivalofworldcultures.com

Family Fun in Temple Bar Free programme of traditional music, storytelling, acrobatics, dance, theatre, magic, music and movies in Meeting House Square. Sundays at 2pm from July 10 to Aug 21 (exc July 31). Highlights include circus performer Nakupelle, Aug 7 and drummers Urban Drum 'n' Bass, Aug 14. www.templebar.ie