Summer Holiday Fun!

 The holidays are on their way, and we are all hopeful that all this rain is near an end and that sunshine is just around the next cloud.  It’s time to get out and play!  There are so many lovely day outs wherever you live from farm parks, to play barns to theme parks, but how about just spending some time in the garden or surrounding areas, instead of having to troop off in the car.  Here are some ideas to get you out and about!

• Hold an Olympics Sports Day.  You can run all sorts of events; an egg and spoon race, sack race, walking with a bean bag on their head, throwing the balls into a hoop, the list is endless.  Give out medals at the end for all participants (either the cheap ones you can buy at Tescos or some home-made ones made by you and your little ones with ribbons, shiny paper and pens.

• Do some gardening.  Buy some seeds, choose a patch in the garden, prepare the area, plant the seeds, put some plant markers next to them so you know what you’ve planted and water them.

• Go on a picnic.  Find a nice spot in the garden, pack up a lunch together, a blanket, a bat and ball and enjoy.  The great thing about a picnic at home is that you can pop back in doors for some ice lollies for pudding!

• Spend the day doing outdoor things.  Paint with water (when it dries you can repaint something new), make some leaf rubbing pictures with crayons, make mud pies and draw on paving slabs with chalk.

•  Build a Den.  Collect some sticks, old sheets and poles, and find a tree or just an area of the garden or patio with some tables and chairs to lay sheets over.  Depending on the age of your little ones will dictate how much you need to help.  Bring them out toasted marshmallows as a well-deserved treat once the den in built.

• Go on a treasure hunt – make a list of things to find such a leaves from specific trees (make sure you choose trees that are in your garden), a daisy, a dandelion etc.  Then send them off with their list and their crayon either in the garden or further afield with you trailing behind.  I usually finish the list with a chocolate coin and then plant a few along the way as we go.

• Go on a bug hunt.  Ask them to drawer a picture of any bugs they find and give them a name!

• Get out the sandpit.  Take off yoru shoes and socks, roll up your trousers and dig out the buckets.  Or if you’re feeling brave – let them bury your legs!

• Make a natural collage out of flowers, leaves and grass.  You can press them first under some heavy books and then glue them down to make pictures or cards.

• Play traditional games, hop-scotch, jacks, hula-hoop, skipping etc.

• Fly a kite.  If you have older children you could make the kite first. Google is full of sites telling you how.

• Get out the paddling pool.  Be sure to supervise younger children at all times.  (I know I’m ‘preaching to the converted’ but you I am a bit neurotic about these things!)

Summer and the holidays are a very special time for re-connecting to your children, instilling the values and behaviours that you deem important, and just simply enjoying the amazing little creatures that you have created.  So make memories and treasure every moment.  Enjoy!

Sally Hall is co-owner of Dorothy & Theodore (www.dorothyandtheodore.com).  For more ideas for the summer holidays (or to buy that sandpit!) check out www.dorothyandtheodore.com/blog.