The six-week summer holiday is finally here! ☀️
While it’s lovely to have extra time together, many parents and carers know the familiar question is never far away: “What shall we do now?”
The good news is that entertaining little ones doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, children under five are often happiest with the simplest activities, especially when they involve play, imagination and plenty of quality time together.
Why not head outdoors for a nature adventure? A walk to the park can become an exciting treasure hunt as children search for flowers, leaves, birds or even the biggest puddle they can find. Sometimes the journey is far more exciting than the destination!
For rainy days, get creative with cardboard boxes, old cereal packets and toilet roll tubes. One minute they’re recycling, the next they’re rockets, castles or pirate ships. Children’s imaginations really are amazing.
Libraries are another fantastic free resource during the holidays. Many offer story times and family activities, and little ones love choosing books to take home and share.
Activity: Nature Paintbrushes
A simple, low-cost activity that combines creativity and outdoor exploration.
What you’ll need:
- Sticks
- Leaves, grass or small flowers
- String, elastic bands or pipe cleaners
- Paint and paper
Instructions:
- Go on a short nature walk and collect a few leaves, pieces of grass and small flowers.
- Attach them to the end of a stick using string or an elastic band.
- Dip your nature paintbrush into paint.
- Experiment with different textures and patterns on paper.
- Talk about the marks each brush makes and compare the results.
Most importantly, try not to put pressure on yourself to fill every minute of every day. Young children don’t need a packed schedule. They need opportunities to play, explore, laugh and spend time with the people they love.
After all, the best summer memories are often made from the simplest moments. ☀️🌈🧸
