Although children across the country are looking forward to another school break, if you’re tasked with looking after them it can be quite daunting - not to mention expensive. Here are some ideas to keep them entertained without breaking the bank.
Keeping your youngsters entertained without spending an absolute fortune can be tricky. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Explore the Outdoors
To a large extent this will depend on the Great British weather and as we reach October there are no guarantees you will be able to venture outside without getting wet!
However, if the rain does hold off there are so many activities you can do as a family for free.
• Explore some of the countries parks and forests there are lots of nature trails and walks to enjoy.
• The English Heritage and The National Trust look after hundreds of site across the UK so why not see what events are being held nearby? Both often hold free events for children during the half term break, or offer discounts meaning you don’t need to pay the full price on tickets or attractions.
• As we enter conker season, why not get the kids to collect as you explore, later in the week you can always get them to varnish or bake their conkers as a second activity – before arranging a good old conker fight!
• Go on a bike ride or flying a kite depending on the weather, both are quite inexpensive if you already have the equipment and can be great fun.
• Get out in the garden. The kids can plant seeds, do a spot of weeding or water the flowers while learning about how to care for everything in the garden.
Sign up for Free Sporting Activities
You may need to book in advance to secure a place, but these free activity days are run by qualified coaches from organisations such as the FA, Sport England, Sport Scotland, Sport Wales and Change 4 life and are great events that the kids will love.
• During the half term break supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda sponsor free sporting activities across the UK to promote a healthy lifestyle and keeping fit. To find your nearest event visit the Asda Sporting Chance, or the FA Tesco Skills Sessions websites and book your children a space on an activity of your choice.
• Nestle are also offering free sporting activities with everything from Horse Riding to Abseiling when you collect activity points in promotional packs.
• Tennis for Free are promoting free tennis courts and coaching across the UK, giving you and your kids the chance to pick up a racquet this half term.
• Of course if you’d like to have a more hands on approach there are thousands of parks and swimming pools across the UK where you can enjoy sporting activities for free.
• Change 4 Life have lots of games idea you can try with the kids if you’re stuck for ideas.
Cheap Cinema Tickets
• Most cinemas run a Children club or something similar where you can buy discounted tickets for some of the latest family films. Prices can start from as little as 95p – Vue cinemas are currently showing Pixar’s Toy Story 3 until the 28th of October 2010 – well worth keeping the family entertained for a few hours.
Arts & Crafts
If you are looking to keep the kids entertained at home then why not encourage them to get creative?
Depending on just how adventurous you are feeling you could get them to paint a picture, bake a cake or set up your very own Hollywood studio at home.
Here are just some of creative ideas to get you started:
• Paint a picture – a great starting point and activity for all ages, you can always experiment with materials to make this a little different as well.
• Bake a cake – Spend an afternoon in the kitchen cooking up some tasty treats.
• Make Christmas or Halloween cards/gifts – if you struggle to know what cards to buy why not get the children to design and make some over half term.
• Make a necklace or bracelet
• Learn a life skill – Teach the kids something fun and useful such as sewing or woodwork.
• Make facemasks for Halloween– Halloween falls just after the school break so get the kids outfits ready by designing and creating some scary masks.
• Set up your own movie theatre – choose a film, get in the popcorn, dim the lights and create the cinema experience in your own home (for an authentic touch invite friends over and appoint an usher).
• Film your own Blockbuster – Set up a film set and record the next Oscar winner, you can get the children to act, dress up and even create the scenery!
• Put on a show – Encourage the children to perform a live show, it could be anything they like from a theatrical production to the X Factor!
There are lots of home craft kits that you can work through together as well as guides and recipes available online.
