The kids are off for a week but there’s no need to panic. Fill your week to the brim with our fun finds from Pokemon Go hunts to ancient treasures of the world, magic and Moon Juice to poison frogs and bake-offs. Wooden swords at the ready people, we’re going in…

Cirque Berserk at Birmingham Rep
Contemporary cirque-style artistry with adrenaline-fuelled stunt action, over thirty jugglers, acrobats, aerialists, dancers, drummers, daredevil stuntmen and an award-winning clown and the legendary motorcycle circus act ‘Globe of Death’. Frankly, they had us at ‘berserk’.
Mon 20 Feb – Sat 26 Feb at Birmingham Rep, Broad Street, Birmingham B1 2EP. From £15. www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

Morgan & West’s Utterly Spiffing Spectacular Magic Show for Kids at the mac
We think there is always a place for heavy duty silliness and they don’t come much sillier than Morgan and West. Eccentric Victorian magician’s and tea drinkers extraordinaire, with some incredibly grandiose notions concerning themselves and their abilities. It’s enchanting fun with a decidedly steampunk feel about it all. Trickery, bluffery and buffoonery in equal measure.
Mon 20 Feb 11am & 2.30pm at mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH £10 macbirmingham.co.uk

Free Verve Poetry & Spoken Word Festival events for kids
Several events to engage the kids at Birmingham’s premier poetry event over the weekend Sat 18 to Sun 19. The Children’s Poetry Writing Workshop, hosted by award winning poet Rachel Piercey, invites youngsters to compose a poem based on the theme of astronauts and life on other planets on Sat 10.30am and local wordsmith Richard O’Brien (not that one) hosts a similar event on Sun 10.30am on the theme of myths and monsters. The Little Tyke open mic Sat 12.45pm gives budding spoken word artists, up to the age of sixteen, a chance to share their compositions with an audience. The great Kate Wakeling will be reading from her new book of poems for children ‘Moon Juice’ on Sat 1.15pm. All events are free but pre booking is required.
Sat 18 Feb to Sun 19 Feb at Waterstones, 24-26 High St, Birmingham B4 7SL vervepoetryfestival

Pokemon to Buried History at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
The best way to educate children is when they don’t realise they’re being educated. The BMAG has several fun events to entice the little ones along and whilst you’re there there’s a whole museum of wonder to explore. Excellent. How do you get them running round the museum? Let them loose on a Pokemon Go Hunt. From 11am till 3pm on Sat 18 hunters have the opportunity to capture several Pokemon, solve puzzles and enter a prize draw, a free event. Each weekend families can join in themed arts activities between 11am and 1pm for £2 per child. On Wed 22 and Thu 23 Buried History takes families on a thrilling adventure exploring the mystery behind the Staffordshire Hoard.
Sat 18 Feb to Sun 26 Feb at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DH bmag

Michael Morpurgo’s King Arthur at The Core Theatre
Rescued from drowning by Arthur Pendragon a boy listens to the King’s fabulous tales as he recovers. Acclaimed production company the Story Pocket Theatre bring Michael Morpurgo’s best selling novel to life. Enthralling and captivating performances transfer the magic of Morpurgo’s writing to the stage taking your imagination on a thrilling journey taking in the Knights, the Round Table, Guinevere and of course Excalibur, all in seventy breathtaking minutes.
Tue 21 Feb 2.30pm at The Core Theatre, Homer Rd, Touchwood, Solihull B91 3RG £10 tickets

Baking to Hobbit Hole Building at Sarehole Mill
The beautiful Tolkien tinged Sarehole Mill will fire up the kids imaginations with a half term gloriously riddled with activities featuring Hobbits and Middle Earth. Build your own Hobbit hole and create a magical little bit of Hobbiton in which to relax, there are miniature baking sessions to satisfy big appetites, Middle Earth themed crafts for your little orcs to create a bookmark and tours and talks exploring how Sarehole influenced the writing of Tolkien. Even without the activities Sarehole is a wonderful place to visit and we heartily recommend a piece of homemade cake from the cafe. Activities are various prices and some require pre booking.
Mon 20 Feb to Fri 25 Feb at Sarehole Mill, Cole Bank Rd, Birmingham B13 0BD sarehole

Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Always a beautiful place to visit anyway but for half term the BBG are laying on a raft of activities throughout half term week and remember under 16’s go free. Activities take place between 11am and 3pm. Throughout the week there is face painting, bug hunting, pond dipping, build and launch your own rockets but our favourite events are the storytelling trail on Mon 20 11.30am and meeting the animals which takes place throughout the day on Tue 21 and Thu 23. Snakes, lizards, poisonous frogs and stick insects up close. Cool.
Mon 20 Feb to Fri 25 Feb at Birmingham Botanical Gardens Westbourne Rd, Birmingham B15 3TR half-term-fun

All That Glitters Kids Junk Jewellery Workshop at The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter
Kids got the Midas touch? Bring them to this funky workshop to craft their own designs from junk and recycled materials. Just £1.50 to join in. Pop into this ace new exhibition while you’re there.
Tue 21 Feb 1pm-3pm Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, 75-80 Vyse Street, Birmingham, B18 6HA
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