Summer holiday fun in a wheelchair

kathrynha

My 12 year old is going to be on crutches/in a wheelchair for the summer holidays. She is normally an active and adventurous child, who would be going climbing, trampolining, running around etc.
She likes a bit of craft and baking but will soon get bored with that.


Do you have any suggestions of things to do with her. General suggestions, but also places to visit within approximately an hour of Leeds


Thanks

WeAreGhosts

Rodley Nature Reserve has some accessible paths - http://www.rodleynaturereserve.org/explore/accessibility-at-rodley/

Golden Acre Park is fairly level - decent wide path right around the lake, plus accessible cafe.

I don't know how much of Tropical World at Roundhay Park is accessible - I presume all of it, nowadays - https://tropicalworld.leeds.gov.uk

Kirkstall Abbey is, from a hazy memory, pretty flat. Plus, it's free entry.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park at Doncaster is pretty good for wheelchair users - https://www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com

You could have a trip to Meadowhall (if you can stand the crowds during the holidays!)

I have no first hand experience of this, but it looks cool (and accessible) - https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/immotion-vr-leeds

Bowling?

You can play LaserZone in a wheelchair - http://www.laserzone.co.uk/leeds/

If she's not able to be as active as she usually is, how about buying her a cheap camera - disposable? - and she could put together a scrapbook of the holidays.

gettingtheresometime

Not sure if this will float her boat but I'm a member of a Facebook group that basically decorates rocks & hides them ....when they get found the idea is you take a photo of the rock, post the picture on the page (you put a message on the back of the rock) & then rehide it.

Is this something she'd be interested in starting in your area?

Some of the rocks are a real work of art

kathrynha

Thank you WeAreGhosts, some good suggestions there. tropical world and Yorkshire Wildlife Park are definitely on my list, but Rodley and Kirkstall Abbey are going on my list too.


Didn't think about LaserZone, because I thought it would be no good, but will definitely look in to it.

Thanks GettingThereSometime, yes the rock painting is popular locally. Think finding the rocks could be awkward, but she will enjoy painting them, and we have a pile of pebbles in our garden.

kingfisherblue

I bought a large bag of rocks from a builder's yard. They cost £8 for a lot! We painted them with Brownies and Guides, and there is still half a bag left. Nail polish is good for painting with, as it doesn't wash away. Also, avoid putting on sequins or similar as they can harm wildlife.


The Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester often has events in the holidays. Some areas have accessible bike schemes - your council should know if there are any local to you. My son is disabled and we pay £2 for an hour cycling on an accessible bike (he rides a giant trike). One of the bikes is suitable for an adult to ride, with the person in the wheelchair on the front. We finish my son's bike ride with a visit to the park cafe for a toastie and drink.


We have a trampoline park local to us that has a summer holiday pass for £45. For that, you can go in for two hours a day (Mon-Fri) and an hour a day at weekends. We go during the quieter periods, usually the last hour. My son sits on a trampoline and I bounce him gently. Sometimes the staff block off the dodgeball area so that he can throw the balls onto the trampoline walls, and he then gets his brother or myself to bring them back to him. A carer goes free. Our park is an independent, and they are happy to make adjustments for people with disabilities, so it might be worth checking with any local to you if they can accommodate your daughter's needs.


The cinema often has children's clubs during the holidays, and there are wheelchair places at the front. Kids clubs are usually a lot cheaper than normal tickets - they are around £1.50 where I live, and any accompanying adult pays the same price. The films tend to be about 2-3 months old, but children dn't usually mind that. Reel Cinema usually have a children's club every day in the holidays, with a different film each week. Although there are nione in Leeds, it may be worth a drive, especially of you can combine it with an afternoon activity in the area that you drive to. List of locations here:
https://www.localstore.co.uk/stores/75789/reel-cinema/