Left: any budding champions can give giant chess a go at Caldicot Castle.

Already at a loss now the school holidays are upon us? Unsure how to entertain the kids through those long summer days?

Pack your fears away for there's plenty of fun to be had up and down the country. Here's just a selection of the special events being put on to entertain children and their parents every day throughout August.

August 5 - 9 2002 - Crazy Colours at Catalyst - The Museum of the Chemical Industry in Cheshire is a hands-on workshop looking at the world of colour by examining the different pigments in ink, separating the colours in smarties and making a painted spinner to take home.

Right: who said science couldn't be fun? The good people of Catalyst, The Museum of the Chemical Industry in Cheshire show how.

There are three one-hour workshops per day starting at 11.30am, 1.15pm and 3.00pm and the event is free with paid admission to the museum.

August 6 2002- Artlarks at the Rutland County Museum in Oakham is a free one-day workshop, which gives children aged between five and twelve the chance to create their own artistic masterpiece. It takes place between 11.00am and 3.00pm and is supervised by museum educational specialists.

August 6 - 9 2002 - Fancy looking like a tiger, a clown or even a big colourful pattern for the day? Free face painting workshops from 10.000am to 5.00pm at the Royal Air Force museum in London will give you the chance.

August 7, 14, 21, and 28 2002 - Make a mini hurdle fence, rub some brass or learn how to pit saw during activity Wednesdays at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum in Chichester throughout August. Accompanied children can learn countryside skills and crafts as they explore a special activity trail.

Left: Rural History Re-enactment at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex.

August 9 2002 - This two-hour workshop for children at the Manchester Art Gallery explores the use of memory by playing games and taking photographs to record each other and their visit to the gallery. It is free and starts at 1.00pm.

August 10 2002- Make a traditional rag doll inspired by the Art South Asia exhibition at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston, Lancashire. The two- hour sessions start at 10.30am and 1.30pm and booking is essential.

August 10 - 11 2002 - There will be many celebrations to accompany the opening of the new Jubilee children's playground at Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire. Children accompanied by a paying adult go free to the opening of this innovative new playground modelled on industrial themes from the mill.

Rides include a spinning table, a beam engine swing and a mill tunnel slide. On August 10 2002 there will also be a circus skills and skipping rope making workshop in the morning and a one-man show of singsongs, comedy and story telling by Wynndebagge in the afternoon.

Right: catch the science bug at Catalyst! The Museum of the Chemical Industry in Cheshire.

August 12 - 16 2002 - Learn what happens to the waste we throw away during Recycle - The Rubbish Game! at Catalyst - The Museum of the Chemical Industry in Cheshire. The hour-long workshops are aimed at 6-12 year olds, start at 11.30am, 1.15pm and 3.00pm each day and involve a recycle game and the making of a fridge magnet to take away to remind you to recycle at home.

August 13 2002 - Take part in fun and puzzles using the castle's giant chessboard and follow a chess trail around the castle at Caldicot Castle in Monmouthshire from 2.00pm - 4.00pm.

Left: it's check-mate for boring holidays.

As an alternative to traditional tales the Harris Museum and Art Gallery are treating us to Storytelling with a twist at 10.30am and 1.30pm.

August 14 2002 - Get creative by making your very own Indian miniature painting at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston in two workshops starting at 10.30am and 1.30pm.

Alternatively, Bewdley Museum in Worcestershire continues the creative theme by offering you the opportunity to make a clay mask to hang on your wall at 14.30. Finished work will be fired at the museum and can be collected at a later date.

August 17 2002- Leeds Museum Resource Centre teaches 7 -11 year-olds about the life, customs and times of Ancient Egyptians. There are only 25 places at each session at 10.00am and 2.00pm, so booking is essential.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston is offering children the chance to make their own puppet at 10.30am and 1.30pm. Again space is limited so booking is essential.

A busy day, also on the 17th is More Minera Mayhem at Minera Lead Mines near Wrexham. Children's activities include lead panning and metal detecting and there are even guided tours available for mums, dads and grandparents.

Right: Catalyst, The Museum of the Chemical Industry in Cheshire.

August 19 2002 - Flying High! at Catalyst - The Museum of the Chemical Industry in Cheshire allows children between six and 12 to create helicopters, planes or hot air balloons from paper, card or Meccano. The hour-long workshops start at 11.30am 1.15pm and 3.00pm and are free with paid admission to the science centre.

August 21 2002 - Adults and children can learn Indian dance movements at special workshops at the Grosvenor Museum in Chester. Prajyoti Madhusdan is the master who will teach adults in the morning session at 10.30am and 11-18 year olds at 2.00pm.

August 22 2002 - Experiment with body art without permanent repercussions at Henna Tattoo Summer Event at Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston. The two-hour sessions start at 10.30am and 12.30pm on a drop in basis.

August 26 - 30 2002 - See how high you can build a freestanding tower out of Super Strong Spaghetti at Catalyst - The Museum of the Chemical Industry in Cheshire. The hour-long sessions start at 11.30am, 1.15pm and 3.00pm.

August 28 2002 - Fill those tummies with unusual yet delicious food at South Asian Food Summer Event at Harris Museum and Art Gallery in Preston.

Click here to see our guide to some of the most exciting and intriguing exhibitions going on during the school holidays.