We travelled from Glasgow to London just to catch the They Might Be Giants show as part of Southbank’s See Further Science Festival. It was definitely worth the hours on trains!

The band’s set was preceded by an appearance of Festo, the AirPenguin which had kids and grown ups alike gawping at the ceiling in amazement! I was worried that the rock concert would be overwhelmed by the penguins’ presence, but once the New Yorkers took the stage, nothing could stop the infectious rhythms and catchy tunes.

This was my third TMBG concert, and I was especially impressed that they put the same effort and energy into this family show as they do at any other. Our kids sang and danced their way through songs more familiar to their folks such as Istanbul, and clapped along to their favourite new gems including Electric Car and Seven. My two-year-old spent most of the show in the aisle, twirling and clapping slowly, mesmerised by the new experience of real live music.

The addition of confetti canons was a stroke of genius and had all the children dashing down the aisles, returning gleefully with arms laden, only to throw it repeatedly over their heads, giddy with joy. They made it clear that “we believe in science” – a truly fitting message given the concert’s place in the science fest.

Southbank Centre and the Royal Society’s See Further: Festival of Science + Arts is on until this Sunday 4 July.

We recently visited the Natural History Museum’s Butterfly Explorers exhibit with our two young girls. 

When you enter the dome, you’re immersed in a magical space full of tropical plants and a world of beautiful butterflies. Stepping into the warm, humid air, it’s not hard to believe you’re in a South American jungle or deep in an Asian wilderness.

The habitats are arranged geographically with specific plants to attract the correct butterflies. Interesting facts are discovered within these spaces, so you really do feel like an explorer. You can also view rows of cocoons at various stages of hatching, which was interesting to see but did not impress the children.

For the kids, the butterflies were not only the stars of the show, they were the only show in town. They squealed with delight as we found ever more elaborate and beautiful butterflies lazily zig-zagging between the flowers and specially constructed feeding tables.

The best feature of the exhibit was the breaking up of the hot, stuffy dome with a breath of fresh air in the form of the UK section, which was outdoors.

There was a climbing frame, that didn’t seem to have much purpose but the kids enjoyed climbing up to survey from the platform. We saw local herbs, vegetables and flowers all enticing insect life to congregate there. You could even hold up a kaleidoscope to see a “butterfly eye view” of the compound.

You then really appreciated the second half of the hothouse, marvelling at the evolutionary forces that have shaped one insect in so many forms. A thoroughly enjoyable way to spend a morning – who could fail to smile with so much natural beauty before them?

Butterfly Explorers is on at the NHM until 26 September. Get your tickets at http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/butterfly-explorers