Things To Do in The Summer Holidays – Without Spending A Fortune

By Rachael – Content Editor

Published 9th August 2021

Keeping your children entertained for the summer holidays is no easy feat! As a busy working Mum, I know how much time and energy it takes to get through those six long weeks. Without school to tire our little ones out, children easily become restless and bored. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of easy ways to alleviate boredom and find activities for the school holidays.

Explore Your Local Area

It may seem obvious, but sometimes we can be unaware of wonderful places to explore within our local surroundings. Big tourist hotspots and large attractions may be advertised regularly, but you don’t always need to spend a fortune for a fun day out.

Try a quick internet search to check for events in your local town or city. From exhibitions to local fetes, there is likely to be something your family will enjoy.

If you’re fortunate enough to be close to the countryside, try researching footpaths and nature walks. Not only does this provide exercise and fresh air, but it can feel like an adventure in the wilderness – especially for younger children. Why not create a checklist for commonly found wildlife and flowers before heading out, then see who can find the most?

A Teddy Bear’s Picnic

In my opinion, picnics are still underrated! Even on a cloudy day, I love laying out the picnic blanket, hosting a large spread of delicious goodies. Perfect for meeting up with groups of friends or families, a picnic at the local park makes for a wonderful day out.

So, you’ve got your food sorted, why not bring along some activities? Bubbles and ball games are always a crowd pleaser! How about packing some of their favourite toys to join in the picnic with you? If you are with a large group, a round of Bingo or a child-friendly Quiz is a great way to bring everyone together.

Bake It ‘Til You Make It

Baking always goes down a treat! Yes, it can be a little messy to clean up – but you can enjoy the results just as much as the little ones. Baking has endless possibilities, from simple all-in-one packet mixes to complex recipes.

In our house, we love to make fairy cakes or plain biscuits so that the children can decorate them. Whip up a quick bowl of icing with a selection of toppings and let them have fun with it. Explore our blog – we have some great recipes for you to try. If you need a reliable range of bakeware to get the job done, look no further!

It doesn’t have to stop at baking, little ones love to get involved in the kitchen. Why not get together before mealtimes and let them help with food preparation? You never know, they could be a master chef in the making.

Face Painting

When we think of face painting, it’s usually reserved for Halloween or summer fetes, but it doesn’t have to be! You can grab a basic set of face paints for as cheap as a pound and they provide so much fun!

It’s easy to research fancy designs and characters or try creating your own! Let your children have a go at painting your face, or even your arms – I’ve had some fantastic sleeves of face paint tattoos in the past!

Now that you’re all in character, why not get out into the garden for some imaginative role-play games?

Playing Cards

Don’t get me wrong, I am not going to suggest your start teaching your children how to play poker. But, simpler card games can be really engaging for a younger audience and are often forgotten about.

Start off with a family-fun classic such as Go Fish, a great way to introduce youngsters to the pack. Fast-paced games such as Beggar My Neighbour help with numeracy basics, such as counting and number recognition, as well as bringing out their competitive nature.

A brilliant excuse to take a break from the screen, a pack of playing cards gifts you with hours of entertainment. You can’t beat a quick game of Snap, Rummy or Blackjack, so get playing and enjoy some quality time together.

A Trip To The Movies – In Your Living Room

Make the most of watching your next film with the kids, transform it into an event! Why not spark their imaginations and get them to make film posters and tickets for all the family members? If you’ve got any amateur dramatics on your hands, perhaps they could provide the opening trailers in the form of a live performance?

When the time comes to gather around, make your surroundings as cosy as possible with extra blankets and cushions. Draw the curtains to build excitement and lay out a spread of delicious snacks. Your favourite cinema treats will be much cheaper from the local supermarket. A big bag of popcorn usually does the trick in my house!

Hunt For Treasure

Treasure hunts provide family entertainment for the summer holidays that is completely free of charge and enjoyable for all ages. Start by hiding your choice of treasure, which could be something simple like a tasty treat, then work your way backwards with hidden clues. For example, if you have hidden the treasure behind a plant pot you could use a clue such as “I’m leafy and green, on the windowsill I’m seen”. The clue leading to the plant pot could then be hidden by a lamp in the lounge with a clue such as “I am shiny and bright, it’s the living room I light”.

There are so many ways to be creative with this and it can take as long as needed. If you have the skills, perhaps drawing up a map could add a whole new dimension to the game – perfect for learning how to use a compass! You may even find the children become inspired and want to set up a treasure hunt of their very own.

Let Them Loose with Chalk

On a nice dry day, get outdoors and let their creativity flow by drawing on pavements and brick walls with chalk. We have plenty of coloured chalks available in-store that will provide hours of entertainment. Patios and pathways will become a canvas for your children’s creations and lift the spirits of passers-by.

Now for the best part – there is no cleaning up to do! Just wait for the next shower of rain and the drawings will be washed away in a flash. Make sure to take extra care and be mindful if your pavement is near to a road.

Get A Little Messy

Next time you are visiting one of our stores – take a look in our arts and crafts section. There are so many ways to be creative in the summer holidays without breaking the bank. Crafts are the perfect way to let children chill out at the end of a long day as they provide a relaxing task that keeps their minds focussed and calm. Keep them busy at the table whilst you get the dinner sorted or catch up on emails from work.

Take advantage of the warmer weather and move messy craft activities to outside. Lay a messy mat down in the garden and try some finger painting or even make some slime! If you have a little tea set at home, young children love to sit and play pretend with some water. Why not bring the teddies out in the garden for a brew?

Make A Splash

On days when it really heats up, water play can be fun for the whole family! If you have the space, investing in a paddling pool for the summer holidays is worth every penny. Firstly, make sure to always read the instructions and supervise children at all times. How about pulling up a sun lounger next to the pool, or better still, why not jump in the pool with them?

Water slides are brilliant fun if you are lucky to have enough to have the space. Get the whole family involved at the next BBQ get together with a sliding competition! If space is limited, why not grab some water pistols and water balloons? Fill up two big buckets of water, pop on some old clothes and go head-to-head for some good old-fashioned friendly competition.

Relax and Enjoy Yourself

To sum up, however you choose to spend your summer break, make sure you take the time to look after your own wellbeing. We all want to make it a special time for our children, but it is important to factor in some self-care too. Above all, have a brilliant summer – and have fun!