Sometimes when it comes to the 6 week holidays, we just don't have the funds to jet off an a luxury holiday with our kids and this can sometimes leave us feeling guilty. So, below I have come up with a list of activities to enjoy with your children at home so you to can enjoy the summer holidays and keep the kids happy and occupied.
- Color puddles!
The first one is actually designed for if it is raining. Put on your wellies, go outside and take some food coloring and pour drops into the puddles. Watch the puddles change color. You can create patters and mix the colors up, the kids really enjoy this!
- Robot building competition
Challenge your kids to use as many recycling items as they can and create a robot using ONLY recyclable items! This is fun AND extremely good for the envrioment!
- Biscuit decorating
Buy a packet of rich-tea biscuits or any other form of plain biscuits and some icing. Smear on the icing and add mini marshmallows, sprinkles, cherries and so on. Get creative, it's cheap and yummy!
- Cave building
This one is where you also have to get creative. Find as many blankets as you can and build your self a cave!You may have to use other house hold furniture to hold up the material but it can be great fun!
- Fruit smileys
This is one which is healthy. Chop but different bits of fruit and have your child create their own fruit face using the different pieces of fruit.
- Obstacle course
Build an obstacle course in your home or your garden. This keeps the kids fit and active
- Potato decorating
Give your child a potato to decorate (a bit like what you do with boiled eggs but faster and less messier), let them cut pieces of old cloth to make clothes for their potatoes and stick on some google eyes !
- Go camping in the garden!
If your lucky enough to have a big garden and can't afford to take the kids away on a trip, have a night out in the garden camping! Grab a tent, some snacks and your ready to go!
- Get cooking
Allow the children to help you out with cooking (even if it's just giving them a bowl with flour and sugar in) so they feel like they are helping out and contributing. Kids often enjoy "adult activities" so they can feel grown up!
- Make flour babies. Grab an unused balloon and fill it up with flour, then tie the balloon at the end and you have a flour baby! Your kids can them design it however they want and take care of it for the day!
- Build your own ball pit!
This is a good one for all ages, buy a bag of plastic balls (you can grab them for as little as £9.99 and fill up and old padding pool with them or a travel cot for the younger ones!
- Get chalking
Buy some large chalks (they are available in the pound shop) and allow your children to go outside and chalk the bricks, floor you name it! The rain washes it away easy enough and it's great fun for them
- Bath crayons
These are a good buy. Purchase some bath crayons (also available in the pound shop) and allow your kids to draw pictures all over the bath and tiles, like the chalk, it washes away easily!
- Imagination play
If your child enjoys imagination play, set up a "fake shop" or a "doctors surgery" and get involved with them. Allow them to role play for the day.
- Go insect hunting!
Let your child get their hands dirty, digging in the mud and searching for things that wiggle!
If you have any more suggestions PLEASE post below, I am really wanting to know what else is out there because I have been pulling my hair out myself trying to keep my 5 year old occupied.
Have fun!