With the summer fast approaching, we have been looking for school holiday ideas to keep the kids entertained at home. We usually create a rough plan when it comes to activities. Personally, I find this easier than trying to think of things to do on the spot.
Sometimes we use weekly topics, such as animals, nature, pirates, weather, mini beasts (the theme can be almost anything). We then plan activities, such as art and crafts projects, day trips out, educational activities and play ideas based on these themes. Please visit our Pinterest page for theme ideas.
Another fun way to plan activities is by creating a weekly schedule. The schedule below is one we have used before to keep kids entertained during the holidays. You can even take it a step further and integrate a topic or theme as mentioned above.
Make it Monday
- Do some arts and crafts
- Build a den or fort
- Build something with lego or other form of building blocks / toys
- Try a new puzzle
- Bake or cook a summer recipe
Trip Tuesday
- Visit a local museum, library or park
- Try a nearby zoo, farm or family attraction
- Take a virtual trip with virtual tours and web cams. Click here to view my blog post with some recommended virtual trips
Wild Wednesday
- Spend time outside in the garden or park
- Go on a nature walk, do a scavenger hunt or try hunting for mini beasts
- Try a nature craft, such as making a bird feeder or nature painting
- Look for wildlife and learn about the animals you see.
(We also like taking part in the Big Butterfly Count, which usually takes place in July and August (dates vary each year).
Thinking Thursdays
- Try some hands-on maths or literacy activities
- Try a new science experiment
- Learn a new language
- Research a new topic of interest
Funtime Fridays
- Pick a fun activity, such as swimming, playing a board game, build a fort or reading den or making a picnic.
This summer we are using a jar of ‘fun sticks’, where a different activity is written on each decorated lollipop stick. A stick will be chosen at random with an activity to take part in. We are extending this a bit further and using the fun sticks as a reward for reading or completing some maths / English homework.
Summer school holiday ideas for ‘fun sticks’ include:
- Riding a bike or roller skates
- Baking a treat or cooking something yummy
- Playing a board game or do a jigsaw
- Movie with treats (a movie night or an outdoor cinema projector)
- Having a picnic (either indoors, in the garden or at the park)
- Having their face painted
- Water, sand or messy play
- A drawing challenge
- A garden game
- Building a fort / den
- Creating a show
- A nature craft
- Art & Crafts
- Going swimming
- Going to the park
- Computer time
- Having a disco
- Going on a day trip
- Playdough
- A lego challenge
- Free choice
Please visit our Pinterest page with lots of ideas for fun activities, crafts and learning at home.