The summer holidays are on their way and they just stretch out for ever in front of us don't they? I always find that the kids end up bored on the first day of the holidays, so I have come up with some great outdoor activities to help keep them busy.
1. Sand Box
Kids love playing in the sand. Buy a cheap plastic double sided sandbox. Fill one half with sand and the other with water. Add all your old kitchen utensils and some containers, and this will occupy your kids for hours.
2. Ribbon Sticks
You will need some strips of wide ribbon and some bamboo sticks - about 4 ft long each (get them from your local garden centre). Snap the sticks in half and tie a length of ribbon to one end. Make the ribbon length what the kids can handle depending on their age/size. Let them pretend to be like the gymnasts on TV making shapes with the ribbons - circles, shapes, snakes, etc.
3. Picking Berries
Find a place with lots of berries (blackberries, strawberries, redcurrants, raspberries, etc) and go berry picking for the day. There are often farms where you can do this and you will have to pay for what you pick, but there are often lots of places where berries grow wild and are free to pick and use.
You could take along a book on berries so you can discuss what type of berries you pick. When you get home you can use the berries to make desserts, jams and cakes and get the kids involved in helping you with that too.
4. Arrange a Treasure Hunt
You can do this at home, in the garden, at the park or even on a walk. Hide some small items (toys or sweets) in various places. Draw maps with 'X Marks the Spot, and easy directions.
5. Vegetable Patch
If you have a garden, get your kids involved in making their own vegetable garden. Seeds are cheap and easy to grow. You could try carrots, lettuce, onions and pumpkins. Herbs are also really easy to grow - try watercress, parsley, chives and basil.
6. Borrow a Pet
Get your children involved with animals. If you don't own a pet, offer to look after the school rabbit (for e.g.), or you could offer to take your neighbors dog with you on nature walks.
7. Nature Walks
1. Sand Box
Kids love playing in the sand. Buy a cheap plastic double sided sandbox. Fill one half with sand and the other with water. Add all your old kitchen utensils and some containers, and this will occupy your kids for hours.
2. Ribbon Sticks
You will need some strips of wide ribbon and some bamboo sticks - about 4 ft long each (get them from your local garden centre). Snap the sticks in half and tie a length of ribbon to one end. Make the ribbon length what the kids can handle depending on their age/size. Let them pretend to be like the gymnasts on TV making shapes with the ribbons - circles, shapes, snakes, etc.
3. Picking Berries
Find a place with lots of berries (blackberries, strawberries, redcurrants, raspberries, etc) and go berry picking for the day. There are often farms where you can do this and you will have to pay for what you pick, but there are often lots of places where berries grow wild and are free to pick and use.
You could take along a book on berries so you can discuss what type of berries you pick. When you get home you can use the berries to make desserts, jams and cakes and get the kids involved in helping you with that too.
4. Arrange a Treasure Hunt
You can do this at home, in the garden, at the park or even on a walk. Hide some small items (toys or sweets) in various places. Draw maps with 'X Marks the Spot, and easy directions.
5. Vegetable Patch
If you have a garden, get your kids involved in making their own vegetable garden. Seeds are cheap and easy to grow. You could try carrots, lettuce, onions and pumpkins. Herbs are also really easy to grow - try watercress, parsley, chives and basil.
6. Borrow a Pet
Get your children involved with animals. If you don't own a pet, offer to look after the school rabbit (for e.g.), or you could offer to take your neighbors dog with you on nature walks.
7. Nature Walks
- Fun things to do with children
- School holiday activities
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