Make this Summer Holidays epic with the kids this year!

It’s that time of year again, with six, or more, full whole weeks of Summer Holidays to fill. But don’t worry! We have a list of some cheap things to do with the kids.

The summer holidays are here and it is easy to run out of things to do with the children. Here we have a few ideas to get them up off the sofa and away from the TV screen.

• Do.the.homework.first. Seriously. Get it out of the way, then put it somewhere safe and you can all happily forget about it.
• Make a summer bucket list! Sit down as a group and make a colourful list of things you all want to do from the little (try making cornflake cakes) to the big (trip to the seaside). Put it somewhere visible like on the fridge and never be stuck for ideas again.
• At the start of Summer make sure you check out what is going on in your local area. Many libraries, supermarkets, community centre and churches have notice boards full of activities put on especially for children and families. A lot of them will be FREE or have only a small charge. You can then plan other activities for Summer around these. Alternatively, you can always follow CommunityAd on Social Media:www.twitter.com/CommunityAd/ or www.facebook.com/communityad.kent.3/

  as we post daily about local events going on, both big and small.

• If you are worried about the kids snacking on too much sugar and junk, you could try some healthier alternatives: Frozen fruit such as grapes (make sure to cut them in half for younger ones). Or you could have a go at making some of the favourites yourself; how about some homemade strawberry ice cream. Yes, it will require sugar but you’ll sleep better knowing exactly what has, and hasn’t, gone into their food.
• Still trying to get them interested in fruit? Make a day trip out by going to pick your own at a local orchard. Get them picking their own cherries or strawberries and either keep them for snacks or take them home for some baking. Remember baking with family members when you were young? We thought so. Let them have those memories too.
• Summer Scrapbooks. Get some cheap notebooks and craft things from the shop and give one to each of them. Go one step further and get them throw away cameras for the summer if they haven’t already got one and print off photos they take. They will then have something to do all Summer long, while also creating the perfect memory keeper for years to come.
• Have allotted days off. Remember that they have had a full year of school and sometimes will just want to do nothing. Busy isn’t always best. Sometimes a movie afternoon, with home-made popcorn, duvets brought from upstairs and the curtains closed, is the best family time you could ask for.
• Look up your local transport such as buses and trains. They usually have special offers on over summer. Some even have open top buses or special services over summer going to different attractions than usual. If they aren’t use to it, we can guarantee just going on a bus or train will be exciting for younger children. Why not check our article on Thanet & Medway open bus tours? www.communityad.co.uk/open-top-buses-back-summer

• Be a tourist in your own town! You know all those places and things you always say you would like to go to? That’s what summer is for! Let the kids bring a friend and make it like a school outing, complete with fun packed lunches.
• Are they always moaning for pocket money? How about having a sort out of their bedroom with them, then selling it at a car boot sale? Maybe not the most fun activity, but once they see the returns of their old toys, I’m sure they will be asking about other types of ways they could earn some extra pocket money. You could set an earning goal for them if they want something in particular and trade chores for it.
• Check out the local libraries to see if they are hosting a reading challenge this year, most of them are. Perfect for quieter ones or if the weather isn’t so great. Here’s an example for the Essex one: www.communityad.co.uk/residents-encouraged-to-take-part-in-the-summer-reading-challenge-2018/
• What about on proper horrible weather days? Build a fort! Get as much bedding as possible, maybe some fairy lights or a torch, clothes pegs to hold it all in place. Find a safe place in the house, with tables or high back chair and have fun!
• Can’t go away over Summer? No problem! Set up a camp or festival in your own back garden. Have an ice cream making station, maybe ask dad to do a BBQ, get some music playing, put up a tent with lots of cosy bedding. Extra kudos if you can have a small bonfire to roast marshmallows and tell ghost stories over!

As the sun tans begin to fade and pencil cases begin to litter the seasonal aisles of supermarkets, the new school year will be upon you before you know it.

• Start as you mean to go on, by making sure you are organised before the chaos has even begun. Get a white board to write out what is needed for the next day for each child.
• Get them excited for back to school, ask them about what clubs they want to try this year, or what lessons are they looking forward to.
• Start to temper off as it gets closer to school again so that early nights and mornings aren’t such a shock to the system.

But most importantly, have fun. You only get so many Summers with them as children so spend them making memories, not worries.

Keep up to date with all CommunityAd articles, news and publications by following us on our social media channels: