Hi PeachyClair
I am in South Wales (outskirts of Newport like you, but other side.
I take DD (3 in Sept) to a Jo JIngles (music) group in Bassaleg, tho they are held in other places also (incl. Rogerstone), but are not held during the holidays.
How about Soft Play in the local leisure centres? They have it in Newport Leisure Centre, tho there may be a leisure centre closer to you?
A couple of fab places if you are able to travel are 'Jump' and 'Cafe Junior' (both have websites:
'Jump' is in Llanishen and is a massive warehouse with a great toddler area and a cafe, a sensory room (often used for sn children) and a 'quiet room' (sofas, plasma tv, newspapers), as well as a football area, small bowling area and huge climbing frame things and trampolines (sounds scarey, its not!). Been there today myself and you alwasy get talking to other mums.
'Cafe Junior' is a cafe with a large area with lots of lovely wooden toys / dressing up clothes etc. for the kids. Its fab as they also have classes there (baby signing, baby yoga etc) and after the class you can stay and play.
I have enroled DD amnd DS in a gymnasium which is by TGI Fridays, just outside Cardiff (on Newport Road). Its called 'Somersault'. I can give you some more info if you want it.
Obv. all the above cost, but you can pick and choose.
'Free' activities could be:
~ Cardiff Bay: either park at the barrage and walk around it, bout 15 minute walk, you get to a lovely park . Or park near where all the cafes are and take bikes, let the kids ride around the Oval Basin (now called Roald Dahl Plass I think), which is by the Millennium Centre.
~ Spend a day at Roath Park. Lots to do there incl, a park, big lake for walking round / boating on, lots to gardens to wander around.
I know all the above are a bit Cardiff-orientated and I don't know if you have transport, but there may be similar things near to you.
Let me know if you wantsome more info.
HTH.