8-11 Year Olds

More freedom. More say.

We treat our oldest Clubbers like the brilliant, growing humans they are - offering more independence, more say in how they spend their day, and plenty of opportunities to try new things without pressure. They’ll join a Crew when you book - Blue, Yellow, Orange, or Green (or Blorange and Grellow depending on the club) but there’s loads of time to mix with children from other groups too. From large-scale games to all-in dance-offs, forest quests to inflatable finales, the bigger kids help shape the energy of the day - and they love it. We give them space to take the lead, cheer their team on, and be role models for younger children through our buddy system (complete with a shiny gold wristband!)

What they’ll get stuck into

This is the age where kids start to form strong interests - so we make sure there’s always a variety of things to get involved with. From forest challenges and assault courses to craft competitions, football, baking, face painting, slime science, water fights and escape room-style missions… there’s always something going on. They’ll never be bored. But if they want a bit of downtime, that’s fine too. There are always quieter spaces to read, chat, or plan their next big move.

Life Skills

At Practically Family, we don’t just keep older kids busy - we help them build confidence, resilience, and social smarts that’ll stay with them long after the holidays. We help them:

• Develop leadership and empathy through our Buddy System
• Build friendships across different ages and schools
• Learn conflict resolution in real-life moments
• Understand the impact of their choices
• Reflect (with our support) when things go wrong
• Feel part of something bigger

We model respect, responsibility and kindness - and we expect it back. That’s why our big kids help shape the ground rules, support each other, and genuinely enjoy being part of a club that feels like family.

Big kids. Still little people

We know that at 8, 9, 10 or 11, your child might be independent and full of swagger one minute and in need of reassurance and space the next. That’s okay. Our team gets that. We meet them where they’re at and adapt our approach day to day. One-to-one chats, private check-ins, supportive encouragement - they’re all part of the package. Our golden rule? No child should ever feel left out, too shy, or too cool to join in. We’ve created a culture where every child can find their people, their voice, and their moment.