The long school summer holidays are nearly here and the Met Office has predicted a hotter than average summer with heatwaves likely in July and August.
With the rising cost of living in the UK, many families will be wondering how to entertain their kids during the summer break but if this is you, don’t worry, the great news is that there are plenty of fun things you can do as a family that don’t cost a lot. Here are our top activities to try out with your kids this summer.
Bike Rides
Family bike rides are a great way to get everyone out of the house and enjoying the fresh air together. Kids often find walks boring unless there’s another activity involved but bike rides are more fun and mean that little ones can travel greater distances without getting tired. Cycling is great exercise too!
Cooking
During the school holidays, it can feel like you’re constantly preparing meals and snacks so why not get the kids involved? Older kids can help with meal preparation and cooking, and you could ask younger kids what meals they’d like to eat and draw up a healthy meal plan together. Even very little ones can get involved with basic recipes and everyone loves a bit of messy baking!
Go For a Picnic
Make the most of the warm weather and go for a family picnic. You don’t have to go far – your local park will do nicely. Take along a ball or some other outdoor games for after all the food has been eaten and wear your comfiest summer clothes like practical women’s shorts to catch the summer sun. Oh, and don’t forget your picnic blanket!
Make Slime
Kids love slime and it’s easy to make at home. This is a great one for rainy days when the Great British weather isn’t cooperating with your plans. As a bonus, if you get your kids involved in making the slime, it teaches them about science too!
Go Camping
Not everyone can afford a family holiday abroad but there are lots of amazing places to explore here in the UK and camping is a great way to get away together as a family and enjoy some quality time away from work and screens.
Paint Rocks
Rock painting is something that kids of any age can get involved with and enjoy. All you need are some smooth rocks, which can be collected when you’re out and about and a few different colours of paint and the rest is up to your imagination! Painted rocks can be used as an ornament for kids’ bedrooms, to brighten up the garden or as a paperweight for all their artwork over the summer.
Family Film Night
Everyone loves a family film night. Why not make it a regular event and take it in turns to choose a movie? Get cosy with pyjamas and popcorn and let them stay up a little later than normal to make it even more exciting.
In Summary
As parents, we want to give our kids the best possible summer with lots of fun experiences they can enjoy that will be lasting memories as they grow. The good news is that you don’t need to splash lots of cash or go very far to have fun with your kids this summer.