CHILDREN have had an array of activities to enjoy these holidays, thanks to a creative range of programmes on offer.

From jumping at gymnastics, learning to swing a golf club, having a try at CrossFit, or building Lego and coding at the library, plenty of physical and creative challenges were on display.

Jumping joy at gymnastics

EBOP gymnastics club has hosted 156 children across eight days, giving them a taste of gymnastics these holidays.

With circuit work, the floor is lava, as well as minute-to-win-it and carnival games, the groups have kept busy every day of the programme.

Operations manager and head coach Kelly Precious said the programme being indoors but completely physical is a point of difference for the club.

“The kids are moving the whole time except for morning tea and lunch, so it’s the opposite to school.”

Many of the staff are high school-aged, sharing their skills with the next batch of gymnasts coming through the club.

Ms Precious said the club sees children signing up with the club from the day, as well as waiting lists started for the programme each school holidays.

Going golfing

TWO days at Ohope Beach Golf Links had up and coming golfers learning to putt all kinds of circuits.

Swinging, hitting and putting practice, followed by a turn on the first few holes of the course itself set children up for a day of fun activities.

Each group ended their round with a trip to the Ōhope Top10 mini putt to put their new skills to the test, followed by a tasty lunch courtesy of the club.

About thirty attended each of the holiday programme days last week, with some plays coming back for seconds by attending both days.

Junior golf coordinator Ryan Walker said the programme culminated with prizegiving on the Tuesday afternoon, with enough prizes for all participants.

“We appreciate them all coming here and getting involved,” he said.

They are hoping for some signups for the free weekly Sunday junior golfing programme during the school term.

“We aim for ages 5 to 15, but an older sibling or parent might want to join in the fun, and they’re welcome to come along too,” Mr Walker said.

Getting CrossFit

CHILDREN had the chance to try CrossFit these holidays, at the first every FunFit holiday programme at CrossFit Whakatāne.

The three-hour programme was primarily led by high school students, with no crossfit experience necessary for children to attend.

Holiday programme coordinator Lincoln Jones said this was the first holiday programme for Whakatāne CrossFit.

“We don’t do full-on crossfit with the kids, but more fun games using the equipment to get them involved. We have musical yoga balls, running noughts and crosses, dodgeball, soccer, alongside cup tower stacking and paper plane making,” he said.

Each day starts with a 15-minute exercise circuit, and a taste of Just Dance or Jump Jam.

The trial in the first week proved such a success the programme quickly organised another round for the second week of the holidays and plans to continue in the October holidays too.

Lego at the Library

CREATIONS and challenges were taken on at the Lego -fuelled library holiday event on Wednesday.

The library has run several activities throughout the holidays, including a pyjama dance party and a computer coding workshop to design digital exploding snowflakes.

Each activity has around 15 attendees, but the Lego is “perpetually popular”.

Learning & Outreach Specialist Kerrin Burns said the library and gallery had been very busy these winter holidays.

“We’ve had beautiful families coming in and reading together, and we have craft activities going through the holidays – there's always something for kids to do,” Ms Burns said.

A Winter Book Bingo is also running through the library running until August 10, where if a child completes four challenges in a row they win a prize. Challenges include reading a book that has won an award, read under the covers in bed, and draw a character from your favourite book.