Summer activities!
Written by Claire Burgess, Family Consultant
The summer can feel like an endless time for parents and trying to think of things to keep children entertained without everything costing the earth.
We can’t guarantee the weather (although July this year has been quite something!) and so we need to have options for both indoor and outdoor activities.
For our very small babies who are not yet mobile, nothing can beat lying underneath the trees in the shade watching the branches and leaves move in the breeze. Try lying next to your baby, watching and listening to the same things – use this to talk to them about the sounds and sights. If you have a garden where you can do this, then hanging some mobiles or even pieces of fabric from the branches can make for another sensory experience. Old CDs or DVDs hanging from the tree can make for a natural light show and the reflections will really capture your baby’s attention.
Simple, yet effective! Paintbrushes, a pot of water and the patio/decking or wall of the house. Let the children experiment with different sized brushes and rollers – the water will dry and so it is a continual new page for them to paint on!
Paddling pools** can multitask!
They are perfect to double up as a big bath for the dolls – get out the babies and bubbles, towels and flannels/sponges, old toothbrushes etc. This gives children the opportunity to explore the social and emotional side of learning, whilst teaching about self care and what we do to look after ourselves.
They can become an underwater scene with toy animals and why not add extra things such as smooth pebbles (be careful though as you don’t want to tear the paddling pool) which can add to the adventure.
Freeze water in different containers – old yogurt pots, icecream tubs, shaped ice cube trays and then add these to the paddling pool to make your own icebergs!
On those wet days when you have to stay at home, bring the paddling pool inside – no water needed – and could be a perfect place for some sensory place such as painting, shaving foam play etc.
**Remember that paddling pools should be emptied of water every night and that children are supervised at all times when they are around water.
Ice, always the perfect activity on a hot day! Create your own Ice Age - put dinosaurs or small world toys into containers with water, freeze and then place on a tray or surface for the children to try and work out how to get the toys out of the ice – supply them with various utensils (age appropriate) to break through. This not only keeps children entertained for hours but is a perfect activity for developing problem solving abilities alongside learning some science from the melting process.
Creating picnics outdoors (or indoors!). Get children involved in preparing their own picnic from cutting the sandwiches to baking the cakes etc. Cooking is an excellent way to learn about so many things from weighing and measuring to looking at the cooking process. Picnics don’t have to only be outdoors activities – why not create a den, imagine you are in an exciting new place and eat your picnic in your den – have a mini adventure in your sitting room!
For older children try to have a project which they can focus on over a period of weeks. For example, if you are planning a holiday abroad get your children to do some research on the country or area that you are visiting. Could they look at a topic that is of particular interest at the time and then maybe ask some friends or family to come around so that the children can present what they have researched and learnt – this doesn’t always need to mean that they are on the ipad or computer – you could arrange a visit to the library so that they can use the reference books there!
These are just a few ideas, but you will find an infinite number on social media to try - we share different activities every day on our Instagram account @bespokefamily and so, if you haven’t already, come and see what you can find!
While you are here you might be interested in our video guides (webinars) on various topics including behaviour, sleep, play, toilet training and more - click here.
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