Staying at home doesn’t mean you can’t have a summer adventure, especially with the incredible weather we’ve been having here in Glasgow. Although top of most people’s summer holiday wish-list would be a cruise around the Caribbean, Greek Island hopping or Disneyland, not all of us are lucky enough to get away. Staying at home might initially seem boring to the children, but you can use your imagination and do some of the activities below to ensure that you make the most of a summer staycation. The only thing stopping you is your imagination!
You don’t need to go far to experience camping. You can even do it in your own back garden! Pitch a tent, pull out the camping chairs, and roll out the sleeping bags. The children will love it, and what’s more you won’t have to venture far for the loo or to grab something to eat and drink. There’s nothing to stop you from lighting up the barbeque, roasting marshmallows and looking for constellations in the night sky. What’s more, if you have the camping gear, it’s free!
Immerse yourself in a different culture for a day. Choose a country that fascinates you and your children and explore the culture by making decorations, cooking regional food, playing traditional games and leaning fun facts in books from the local library or online.
If your children love to cook or bake, take a look at some interesting and fun recipes and spend some time in the kitchen. This is especially handy for rainy days. You could even head out to the supermarket first and find some unique ingredients to try out.
Children can miss their classmates in the summer, so invite some friends over and recreate a carnival with party games, hot dogs, fries and candy and ask guests to bring a game or food item to keep the costs down. You could even have an outdoor movie in the evening by stringing up a sheet and using a projector.
All you need are some cardboard boxes, blankets, chairs and pillows and you’ll create a fort that the kids will have hours of fun inside. You can even construct tunnels with boxes and rooms with blankets and chairs. If the weather isn’t looking great, then build one indoors!
We’ve had some incredible weather the last few weeks, so cool the kids down by making your own back garden into a mini water park. All you need is a sprinkler, hose and paddling pool!
Arts and crafts are a great way to entertain the kids at home, and create some masterpieces! There are lots of ideas online, including tie-dyeing plain T-shirts, making your own playdough using flour and salt, make beaded bracelets, or you could even get the kids loom weaving.
One of the most simple ways to entertain the kids is to get some coloured chalk for your outdoor area, and even a paintbrush and water to make patterns and pictures – what’s more, you’ll never run out of paper.
Whatever you decide to do this summer, make sure you have fun!