For a summer in Britain, it hasn’t been a bad one so far, things are open, people can travel around more and without trying to jinx it… we haven’t had the worst weather.
We are around the halfway point of the school summer holidays and like a lot of families you may be running out of ideas on what to do with your children.
You’ve done the water parks, the endless walks (even though they are nice) and the going to the beach (also fun), but by now you will probably be looking for something new to do.
If you are lucky enough to get abroad this summer then, you may have a week or two more covered, but for those UK bound, check out the ideas below on how to keep your kids entertained this summer.
Why is it important to keep your child active and engaged?
It sounds like there would be an obvious answer but there is more to it. Keeping your child physically active reduces the risk of them becoming physically unhealthy and can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, helps to promote healthy bone and muscle growth and can help them sleep better at night. But it is not just the physical side of things that are important. Keeping active also can help increase their mental health and their outlook on life. Whether this be by doing new activities every day or trying something new, children being active is extremely important to their upbringing.
It has been concluded that moderate to vigorous exercise can reduce the risk of depression and poor mental health later in life, releases endorphins that make your child feel good and helps to improve motor skills. By getting involved in regular exercise with your child you can have fun together, connect and stay healthy together.
The best thing about it… you don’t necessarily need a club or have to pay to do this, you just need a ball and park.
It is also not just exercise that keeps kids ‘active’ but activities such as music, art and being part of something engaging can help to keep your child healthy and engaged.
What kind of things are there to do?
Though this is a pretty standard question where you would expect a standard answer, I am afraid to say… there isn’t one. This is all dependent on what you and your child are interested in. Afterall, there’s no point in signing them up for a football camp if they have no interest in it!
Speak to your child, what do they like? Do they or you want to get involved with fundraising for a cause you support? Do you both want to do something full on or more relaxed? What inspires them? What do they want to do? These are the best places to start, get some background and then tailor your search.
How do I find out what is happening near me?
Around your local area you can visit websites like MeetUp to find local events, groups and activities that are suitable for you and your children to get involved with. There are activities from art classes to sports days.
Another option, if you are on it, try Facebook. Love it or loathe it, it can be useful. There is an events tab where you can search events in your area. Here people and organisations post what they have coming up. You will see local police and fire station open days, activity days at parks and music events that can really open their eyes, get them involved and inspire them.
How much will it cost?
Again, this varies from activity to activity, your location and what you want to spend on the days out.
Typically you will see a sports day with a football club cost around £25-£30 a day and will see an entrance fee for a local activity day of around £5. The more elaborate, time consuming, or in need of specialist health and safety regulations the activity is, you can expect the price to increase.
But don’t fear, good days out and activities don’t always have to cost the earth, or anything at all!
What can I do if I can’t afford to do things with my children?
The cost of living is hitting most people in the UK hard and things like days out are at risk of disappearing for a lot of families. As purse strings tighten, what would have seemed like a normal thing to do 6 months ago is now verging on becoming a frivolous act!
A lot of families are saving their hard-earned cash to go for one big day or a holiday and are filling their other time with their children doing free activities.
A good list of free things to with your children are:
- Go to a museum
- Visit the beach
- Indulge in some arts and crafts at your home
- Fundraise for a charity
- Get in touch with nature
These are just a few ideas that we loved, but there are plenty more that be found on Kidadl and on Money Saving Central.
Whatever you choose to do with your children, you know they will appreciate it, have fun with you and want to do more. It doesn’t have to cost money and it doesn’t have to be anything over the top.
Spending time with family is the most important memorable part of it, and this summer you and your family can make your favourite memories together, whatever you end up doing.
Even spending time in your garden together, reading together, going for a walk or cooking together can make this summer memorable and fun for all of the family.
