I am (relatively) new to Basel and looking for activities for my four year old children - one girl,one boy. Ideally something like a football club, swimming class, dance class run after school or on a weekend would be great. If they spoke English and added advantage since my german is limited to the very basics.

Many thanks

Welcome to Switzerland Andie!

I live in the Zurich area so don't know much about Basel, but you could go here and ask... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BaselParenting
There are more than 200 members there so someone is bound to have some info for you:-)


Here are some links to things to do there with your kids in that area...

BASEL



Dampfbahn - Mini Steam Engine - Psychiatrichen Universitaetsklinik Basel
Mini Steam Engine rides every second Sunday (middle of April through middle of October).
http://www.dampfbahn-basel.ch

Tierpark Lange Erlen - Basel
Animal Park
http://www.erlen-verein.ch


Zoo - Basel
http://www.zoobasel.ch

Wiesner's Beeriland - Bottmingen
Berry picking in June & July.
http://www.beeriland.ch

Park "Im Grünen" - Münchenstein
Playground, Mini-Golf, Restaurant...
http://www.seegarten-gruen80.ch

Solarbob - Langenbruck (BL)
A rodelbahn (alpine summer sled run) that uses solar energy for the lift.
http://www.solarbob.ch

Andie, have you heard of the English speaking club "Centrepoint" in Basel. They run children's activities in English. The website is www.centrepoint.ch. A good place to start anyway.

Thanks for the suggestions. The Zoo in Basel is great as is the Lanfge Erlen Animal Park but I was thinking of activities that the children can do with other children. They spend most of their time with us and they must be bored stupid!

Welcome to Basel !
Music: Kindermusic (http://www.kidsmusic.ch/), my 5.5 year old son loves it !

For some fun activites when bad weather or for birthday parties: http://www.okidoki-loerrach.de/

Gymboree too (near SBB) but with 4 year old they are already almost too old. English courses otherwise at Open door or Ahead with English.

Cheers

Welcome to Basel, it is a great place to have kids, but a lot better when the weather warms up and we can all get out to the parks again!

Try the BCT, Basel Childbirth Trust, they have various playgroups through the week. Beyond Bruises is probably the one for you on Friday afternoons. It is a fun meeting place with other English speakers and fun things for the kids to do. Check out the website for more details.

http://www.baselchildbirthtrust.com/

The BCT is also a great source of information on ex-pat family life and a good social network too.

Swimming lessons- try at a local pool and see if you can pick up a leaflet as there are usually lots of swimming lessons, and the language doesn't seem to be much of a barrier in the water.

Check at your local Gemeinde for details of Waldspielgruppe, forest playgroups where the children go off to the forest and grill sausages etc for the afternoon (if you can get over the health and safety aspects!).

That's all I can think of for now,
Have fun,
Hazel

Dance and gymnastics:
http://www.turngarten.ch/

Swimming school
http://www.schwimmschule-knechtli.ch/

There are also plenty of Krabelgruppen (crownling groups) for toddlers.

Oh and acroballet for other gym classes

http://www.acroballet.ch/index.html

Dear Andie

This organisation has playgrounds (=Spielplätze) all over Basel, where they also offer activities:

http://www.robi-spiel-aktionen.ch/ro..._aktionen.html

For a special event, such as a birthday, I can recommend my own skills as a children's Facepainter. For more info, please send me a private message.

Swiss Cynic

My son who is six goes to the Schwimschule Beider Basel for his swimming lessons in Binningen. There are also swimming sessions with both parent and child. Some of them do speak English. You may want to try this number 061 3616519 and speak to Frau Kanouni. You will need to register early for the spring semester.

Also, you may want to try Kindermusik where they definitely speak English. Ms Susan Pombo can be reached at https://kindermusik.com/Legacy/Class...x?EducID=31136
Höhenweg 63
4102 Binningen
061 321 5636

Best wishes...