If You Go Down To The Park Today…….

A day of fun, games, arts and crafts and more awaits children in Rhondda Cynon Taf and their parents/carers on Friday, as the ever-popular Teddy Bear’s Picnic returns. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has organised the event in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, Pontypridd, to showcase the incredible range of services that are on offer for young children and their families. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

While the children can enjoy fun fair rides, face-painting, bouncy castles, arts and crafts, music and dancing and cartoon mascots, parents, carers and guardians can pick up loads of information about what is on offer all the year through. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Geraint Hopkins, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Equality and the Welsh Language, said: “Teddy Bear’s Picnic is a popular annual event that allows children to have a free day out and enjoy a whole range of activities that are just for them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“But while they are singing, dancing, bouncing and spinning their way through the day, parents and carers can pick up essential information on a huge range of services and activities that are on offer for them every day of the year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“From childcare and playschemes to growing up healthy, learning through play and parenting tips, there is load on offer – and it’s free!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Services to be showcased include: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Flying Start, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and continues to deliver support to families including free child care, additional health visitor support, parenting support and advice and play development. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Libraries, membership to which is free to residents of all ages and offers a range of books, DVDs, CDs, events, internet access. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Playschemes and after school activities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Local sports and arts/culture access ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Health including Designed to Smile dentistry support. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Many of the visitors to the Teddy Bear’s Picnic arrive with their schools, nurseries and childminders. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

However, parents or carers with children aged under five can attend and purchase a wristband if they wish. Wristbands are for under-fives only and cost £3.50, which offers all-inclusive access to the bouncy castle, funfair rides, face-painting and other activities on offer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For security reasons, only parents and carers accompanying an under-five to the event will be permitted access and must wear a wristband at all times. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​