Summertime, and the living is............ Let's face it, pretty hectic if you've got children! Are you juggling work and childcare this summer, trying not to spend a fortune on activities? Wondering how to keep your brood and their friends entertained? Here are 10 simple, creative activities to encourage kids away from screens, and get some fresh air. They are designed to mix up art and imaginative play to occupy kids for longer. All of these ideas have been tried and tested on my two children. I'd love to hear your feedback if you give any of them a go. |
1. Build a Native American Teepee Camp
Download this popular teepee template - both outline and colored versions are available on my website.
They look great topped with feathers and twigs and little lego characters fit well inside :-)
2. Festival Time
Mine love orchestrating fashion shows at the moment.
Leave an old mirror and some child friendly face paints outside - hilarious outcomes!
3. Decorate a Tree
You could introduce a theme, such as ''family', 'beach', 'when I grow up'........
Download blank postcard and bunting templates here.
4. Clay Faces
Press a ball firmly onto the trunk of a tree and let the kids do the rest.
Get foraging on the forest floor for all manner of materials to make a unique piece of outdoor art.
5. Edible Jewelry
Small children can thread cheerios, or any cereals or corn snacks with a hole in the middle onto licorice laces if you're happy letting your kids have a sweeter treat.
Older children can thread popcorn onto shirring elastic with a needle.
6. Sand Sculptures
7. Collect and Decorate Pebbles
They make great paper weights and little room ornaments.
8. Simple Mask Making
9. Make a Crazy Bug
We used a popsicle/lollipop stick to form the body of this crazy bug - invent your own species, discuss their habitat, are they dangerous, what do they eat?
10. Beach Combing
We collected all these pieces of colored wood, plastic and string on the beautiful West Coast of Ireland a couple of years back - it was really relaxing making modern art pictures on the ground by arranging the shapes and colors - it's true, one man's junk is another man's treasure.