Summertime is here, time to kick back and soak up the sun. Not quite but the school holidays are upon us which means we need lots of ways to make sure the kids have fun. Here are 10 ideas & hacks to ensure you have a super summer with the kids.
- Set a schedule early on and stick to it
- Make your own ice lollies in the freezer
- Stay cool on hot days with water fights
- Save (some toys) for a rainy day
- Keep up the learning, just do it creatively!
- Stay active
- Limit screen time
- Save money by ordering a ‘fakeaway’
- Keep bugs out of drinks
- Get back in touch with nature with fun challenges
1. Set a schedule early on and stick to it
Children need to have a daily routine and rhythm. Sure, it might be a little more relaxed in the summer holidays, but a loose schedule can make all the difference. Discuss your plans with the kids ahead of time. Ensure everyone is awake by a certain time, keep mealtimes consistent, and don’t forget to focus on having fun!
2. Make your own ice lollies in the freezer
Ice lollies are easy to make, just blend the ingredients as you would a smoothie. Pour the mix into moulds and stick them in the freezer to set. Keep it simple with berries and yoghurt. Or go tropical with mango, banana and coconut milk. You could even sneak in some veg – avocado or spinach turn lollies a funny green! The best part? No more waiting for the ice cream van to visit the street or heading to the shops!
3. Stay cool on hot days with water fights!
Is there anything better than a water fight on a hot day? We don’t think so whether it’s splashing around in a paddling pool, making a slip n’ slide or having a water fight. For something different, the awesome Fire Fighter’s Water Sprayer is brilliant for imaginative play, putting out pretend fires and spraying the plants.
4. Save (some toys) for a rainy day
While playing in the garden is one of the best parts of summer, the weather doesn’t always cooperate! But that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. It’s essential to be prepared with a special supply of rainy day toys. This might be the hilarious Upside Down Challenge, the This or That 50/50 guessing game or the Little Pack of Optical Illusions. Need to burn off some energy indoors, how about the T-Rex Squeeze Popper, a Spinning Zzzopa Football or an Ollyball indoor play ball.
5. Keep up the learning – just do it creatively!
Children are naturally curious. And even if school isn’t in session, they’ll probably be happy to continue gaining knowledge all summer long. Sneak in some learning every day. Cooking and baking are fantastic ways to apply maths skills – try doubling a recipe so your children calculate amounts. Reading books together, playing games, and building things – all effortless ways to reinforce educational concepts. Why not doodle your own Fairytales Crossbody Bag, create some moving sand art with Sandscape or paint some butterflies with a magic Aquarellum set.
6. Stay active
It’s tempting to lounge around all summer, reading books and staring at screens. But to be healthy, children and adults need to stay active. The NHS recommends that children between 5 and 18 aim for a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. Go for daily walks or hikes, schedule weekly bike rides or have a dance party. There are also loads of free workout videos on YouTube! Other brilliant ways to stay active include getting outdoors with a Jumbo Soccer Ball, a Booma Boomerang or a Jumbo Octopus Kite.
7. Limit screen time
Watching Netflix or playing games on the tablet can be a wonderful way to unwind, but too much screen time can mean not enough time doing other essential activities: playing, staying active and enjoying the beautiful weather. Discuss your concerns with children and agree upon daily or weekly screen time limits. If you’re still struggling, download a tracking app or make them ‘earn’ screen time through chores.
8. Save money by ordering a ‘fakeaway’
Ordering a takeaway is a great occasional treat but doing so regularly can get expensive when you’re trying to feed a whole family. One solution? A ‘fakeaway’ night. Get the children involved and make your own pizzas, burgers and chips, Chinese food or other takeaway classics. You can even have them decorate paper or card to make lookalike ‘wrappers’ for the food.
9. Keep bugs out of drinks
Summertime means plenty of time outdoors, but it also means bugs, bugs, everywhere! Keep water, juice and soft drinks free of bugs, leaves and other bits with this simple hack: place a fairy cake liner upside-down on top of the cup or glass and poke a hole through it with a straw. Perfect and looks cool too!
10. Get back in touch with nature with fun challenges
This summer, reinforce children’s love of nature by going above and beyond the usual walks or hikes. Challenge them to build their own awesome outdoor Den, create your own treasure trail or play have some fun with this Jump Rocket. Borrow some library books that teach you how to identify birds, plants and trees, and start spotting!
For more great summer toys, check out the full range on our website!
Why does ice cream always get invited to the party? Because it’s cool!
