THERE'S no need for children to be left bored this half term. Check out these ideas for things to do in Gwent this half term for inspiration.

1) Watch a pantomime. Christmas may be long gone – but one theatre in Cwmbran is still showing performances of pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Everybody knows the story in this much-loved classic fairytale and children will enjoy every minute of it. It has music, dancing and even a talking mirror. Performances are at the Congress Theatre in Cwmbran daily – and sometimes twice daily – from Friday, February 12, to Sunday, February 21. Tickets cost £11 for children and £15 for adults.

2) Take part in a Roman boot camp. If a sports camp is too tame, try to see if you would have survived life in the Roman army. From Monday to Friday 11am to 3pm visitors to the National Roman Legion Museum will have the chance to meet some Roman soldiers who will put kids through their paces with marching and sword fighting. Children will learn all about life in the army and have a go at making bread and going hunting for (paper) animals. Entry costs £2 and last entry is 2.30pm

3) Get up close with wildlife. Cwmcarn Forest is holding a hedgehog session on Tuesday for adults and children. Visitors are invited to come and learn about the creatures and find out what to do if you come across one. Sessions last 45 minutes from 12pm until 3.15pm. Places cost £2 for adults and £1 per child. For more information please go to the Cwmcarn Forest website.

4) Play some music. Make some noise this half term by taking part in the Instrument Zoo being held at the Riverfront in Newport on Tuesday, February 16, and Wednesday, February 17. The series of free workshops, at 9.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3.30pm will give children the chance to try a selection of instruments. Also new for this year, Gwent Music is holding a Disney-themed vocal course called Stagestruck for children aged seven to 14. Running from 10am to 3.30pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, the £40 course is suitable for absolute beginners or those who have sung before. There will be a performance at the end of it where family can come and watch. Other half term courses include the Greater Gwent Jazz Orchestra and Gwent Youth Strings course. For more information about these courses or to book, visit gwentmusic.co.uk/parent.

5) Channel your inner Van Gogh. Every day during half term Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre is holding a different day of arts and crafts activities. For five to 13-year-olds, the sessions last from 10am to 3pm every day. Monday focuses on giant 3D water lillies, Tuesday is pop art jewellery, Wednesday is landscape painting, Thursday is Cubist portraits and Friday is the finale – making sunflowers out of clay. Each day-long workshop costs £10.50. For more information please call 01633 483321.

6) Try snorkelling and scuba diving. Children aged eight to 14-years-old have the chance to don some fins, snorkel and mask to learn how to swim underwater. There will also be some fun underwater games. Snorkelling sessions will be held from 11am to 12pm on Wednesday at NISV pool and 10am to 11am on Tuesday and Thursday at Newport Centre Pool. Throughout the day on Friday at Active Living Centre Pool, there will also be scuba diving taster sessions from 10.30am to 11.15am, 11.15am to 12pm and 12pm to 12.45pm. All week long at Newport’s Active Living Centre pool and NISV teaching pool there will be swimming classes for children aged four and upwards. The swimming schools – divided into non-swimmers aged four and upwards, beginners aged five and upwards and later-stage swimmers aged five and upwards – are on every morning throughout half term. For more sports events run by Newport Live please visit newportlive.co.uk/holidayfun.

7) Go to the theatre. The magical story of The Tap Dancing Mermaid is coming to the Blackwood Miners’ Institute for one day only in half term. The play combines stunning puppets, original live music and tap dancing so impressive it will make you want to join in. Reviewers have even said the adults will be as enthralled as the kids. There are two showings at 11am and 2pm on Thursday, February 18. Tickets cost £4.50 for adults and £3.50 for children. Age three and upwards.

8) Burn off some energy with a half term sports camp. Pontypool Active Living Centre will be holding two days full of sport on Wednesday, February 17, and Friday, February 19, from 9am to 3pm. In the morning, children will go swimming while the afternoon will feature other sports. On Friday from 3pm to 5pm, there will also be the chance to try skiing at the ski centre. The sports camp costs £10 per day. Children aged six to 12 are welcome. For more information please call 01495 742222.

9) Make crafts and recycle at the same time. From Tuesday until Friday children will be welcomed to a series of Make and Take workshops and Blaenavon World Heritage Centre and Library. Jointly hosted by craft shop Artie Crafie, each day kids bring an old bit of recycling to make into something new. They will be making pop bottle turtles on Tuesday, milk bottle elephants on Wednesday, willow lanterns on Thursday, tube crafts on Friday and lanterns on Saturday. There will also be spare materials available if need be. The workshops cost £1 and there are two each day: 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm. For more information please call 01495 742333.

10) Cycle at Newport’s velodrome. Make like an Olympian and spend a Sunday at the Wales National Velodrome at Newport International Sports Village. There are ‘cycle tots’ sessions for two to four-year-olds at 10am and for five to six-year-olds at 11am. For new riders who have some practice riding a bike there is a Cycle Fun session every Sunday at 11am which costs just £2.70. And for families who want to come together to try out the Velodrome’s track, come along to the Track Taster session on Monday from 4pm to 5pm which cost £15 per person.