Surviving The Summer Holidays

Sara Whitehouse - 17 Jul 17

Are you stuck for something to do with the little ones this summer? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.  We have devised a list of eight fun, cost effective ideas that will cure boredom this summer holiday and help you to enjoy precious time with your children.

1. A picnic in the park.

Why not try a picnic in the park? Picnics are a great way to keep children entertained for hours. This great family tradition is fun for everyone, and for a little extra fun why not get your children to help you fill your picnic basket? Letting them choose nice healthy foods to put in your basket will make them feel more involved, and maybe even more excited to eat their greens.

2. Be a tourist for the day.

You’ve lived in your town for many years, and never seen any of the local attractions? Why not try being a tourist for the day? Grab a packed lunch, and hit all of the local heritage spots. Get your little ones to take some pictures of anything and everything they find interesting, then when you get home you could try making an online scrapbook of everything they’ve seen.

3. Discover your green fingers.

Why don’t you try your hand at some gardening? Gardening doesn’t have to be expensive, why not try growing some fruits or veggies. Things like cress seeds can be brought for as little as 50 pence, and are so easy to grow, even for the littlest of fingers. It only takes about 24 hours before you can see your handy work pay off, and after just one week you can harvest your crop. You could try it on a nice egg salad sandwich, yum!

4. Giant Lawn Games.

Giant versions of games such as dominoes and scrabble are being sold in almost every supermarket, and they are a great way to keep children enjoying the outdoors this summer. Buying the games won’t set you back too much, but you can always try your hand at making them! All you need is A4 card and some paint. You could get the children to help, because making the games will be just as much fun as playing them!

5. Get crafty.

Arts and crafts are a great way to keep children entertained, but why not take it outside? It’s less mess, and more fun! Activities such as leaf painting are a brilliant way to not only banish boredom, but also get your little ones interested in nature. Go outside and let them chose some leaves that they like, then just paint the leaf and stamp it on to the paper! (You could also encourage them to find out what kind of tree their leaves came from.)

6. Go on a bike ride.

There is no need for expensive bike hire or roof racks, your local park will have great cycle routes for you to follow. All you need to do is pick your favourite, put your helmets on and go! It’s a great way to get outdoors and get active, not to mention a great way to have fun!

7. DIY theatre productions.

Going to the theatre can sometimes be a bit pricey so why don’t you make your own? Children love playing dress up so why don’t you get your children to put on a production of their favourite fairy-tale? You can film it, then watch it back at its very own movie premiere. Bring on the popcorn!

8. Go on a back garden camping trip.

Back garden camping is a great idea, and it’s completely free. Don’t worry if you don’t a have a tent, you can just get some old bed sheets and make your own. Camping isn’t for everyone, but having your home comforts on your doorstep is a great benefit! If it rains just grab your tent, and carry on your camping trip in your living room.

At Hand Made Places we want to ensure you and your children have a jam packed summer of fun!  So, go ahead and try out some of the activities on our list for yourself!

Sara Whitehouse

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