Tips and tricks to engage the kids over the summer holidays.

- July 28, 2020

Yes, summer is upon us and with very little notice it would seem; or maybe that’s just me! What with all the time spent at home over the past months juggling working from home and finding creative ways to engage the kids as well as trying to keep up with being newly appointed teachers😊. It's unsurprising that many parents have not actually had time for self.

So now that we have officially entered into the holidays, with little or time to plan a break away or even a staycation (I hate buzz words😏) given the uncertainty of the current climate, what do we do with the kids?

Unless you intend to con them into thinking school is still on, so they continue to do copious amounts of schoolwork

( this is definitely something I would do 😉), here are a few ideas you may want to try and some websites that could be useful.

credit: Dani Rendina (unsplash)

1. Writing stories or poetry

If your offspring are literary geniuses in the making you could encourage them write down ideas and instances from day to day activities, fun facts or draw upon anecdotes from lockdown. If they really have a knack for writing these could easily be turned in a published book!

2. Arts and Crafts

Paint and draw ideas are great and especially useful for the younger children who will also enjoy cut and paste activities.

Learn a craft with a beginners kit! Many ideas to be found online.

3. Have a competition

Create your own bake off competition and turn sibling rivalry on its head! Kids can present to family and friends etc. ( especially useful for larger families with older children and teens).

4. Do research

If your children are especially academic, give them small to medium scale research tasks. Quite useful for older children and teens and something to do on the internet other than Social Media for weeks on end! Play upon their strengths and interests and have a goal in mind! What is its purpose? Don’t just give pointless tasks. Make it fun and interesting. For example, starting a family tree, how to make … or build…? Again, an idea for a competition, or presentation. Give a prize/ prizes. Make sure they know you are interested in the end result.

5. Plan a garden concert/ performance

We have been denied the opportunity to go to social events for so long and if you are anything like me, even though we can now participate in some social activities, you will definitely not be rushing out anytime too soon 😊. So, make use of that beautiful garden! get the kids to plan a concert or play.(they can entertain you for a change!) Get dressed up and invite the neighbours round for a socially distanced afternoon of fun!