Chance to learn our industrial heritage

WAKEFIELD youngsters had a chance to get in touch with their mining roots and have fun while doing it as part of a national playday.
5 Aug 2015...National Play Day at the National Coal Mining Museum.Picture Scott Merrylees SM1009/16g5 Aug 2015...National Play Day at the National Coal Mining Museum.Picture Scott Merrylees SM1009/16g
5 Aug 2015...National Play Day at the National Coal Mining Museum.Picture Scott Merrylees SM1009/16g

The Mini-Miner Seaside special took place at the National Coal Mining Museum in Wakefield for under-fives and their carers as part of the nationwide Playday initiative which happens annually to highlight the importance of playtime in young children’s lives. The day included a train ride carrying the children from Caphouse Colliery to Hope Pit, where they listened to seaside stories, sang songs, enjoyed a treasure hunt and took part in lots of other seaside activities.

The event was seen by organisers as a great opportunity to introduce young children to mining heritage.

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Assistant education officer at the Museum Sallyann Burley said: “Miners and their families traditionally visited the seaside for their holidays. Seaside holiday camps and day trips were particularly popular. Re-enacting this tradition seemed an appropriate activity for our youngest visitors to experience.”

The special marks the return of the Museum’s Wacky Wednesdays for under-5s, which resume weekly at the start of the school term. Sallyann said: “This event launches what we hope will be yet another successful year for our under-five offer.

“During term-time under-five children and their carers can drop-in for our popular Wacky Wednesday sessions of stories, songs activities and crafts.”

Already short-listed for the ‘Kids in Museum’ award the museum runs family activities throughout the holidays and aims to provide fun, active and interesting things to do for all ages.

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The mother of a three-year-old said: “My son always looks forward to coming. We really enjoy all the activities like the storytelling, singing and the excellent crafting things we have made in a very friendly atmosphere.”