12 fun at-home activities for the summer holidays

The summer holidays are a great time for everyone to have a rest from the routine and activities that fill up our days during the school term. But while we all appreciate the chance to take our foot off the gas, some structure and forward planning can be useful when it comes to keeping everyone happy during the six weeks at home.

‘I’m bored’ is a familiar phrase for parents during the school holidays. While the weather should allow for plenty of park or beach trips, it’s good to have some easy, at-home activities tucked up your sleeve for the wet days or when you don’t want to spend any money.

If you’re in need of inspiration, we’ve compiled a list of fun indoor and outdoor activities the whole family can try this summer. You could even turn them into a list and tick them off once you’ve done them.

1) Make a bug hotel

Our gardens are full of creepy crawlies living under logs and stones. They need somewhere safe to hide so why not help them by building a bug hotel? This structure can be made from materials you have at home already such as cardboard, old bricks, plant pots, wood, hay and rocks. Choose a quiet place in the garden to keep it and then encourage your children to write a list, or draw pictures, of all of the beasties you see using the hotel.

2) Build an obstacle course

If you’re not heading out to the park but still need to burn some energy, an obstacle course can be a great garden activity for children of all ages. You can set one up indoors too, if you’re feeling brave. Create an indoor obstacle course where children crawl under a dining table, balance along a line of masking tape, and throw three soft toys into a laundry basket before racing to the finish. Use furniture, sports equipment and whatever else you can find to create different challenges that everyone can do. If you want to make it competitive you can time everyone to complete the course.

3) Set yourself a reading challenge

Six weeks is a long time so it’s the perfect time to read some new books, or revisit your favourites. You could challenge children to read a book featuring all of their favourite insects and reward them with a Bug Explorer certificate (that you designed together!) or insect-themed sticker pack when they finish.

4) Have a kitchen disco

If you’ve still got a few hours to go until bedtime and the kids have energy left to burn, then one of our favourite activities is a kitchen disco. Take turns to pick your favourite songs and show off your slick dance moves. We’re sure belting out some Disney hits will lift anyone’s mood and ensure a good night’s sleep for all.

5) Have a picnic in the garden

Eating outside is not only fun, but it also moves the mess of mealtimes out of the kitchen which is always a bonus. Set up a picnic rug and take your food outside to enjoy while listening to the birds and bees. Ask the children to help set it all up, and maybe bring some of their favourite cuddly toys along to join in too.

6) Bake some treats

Baking is always a hit with young children, and it’s a great activity at any time of year. Whether you’ve chosen something savoury or sweet to make, children love getting involved with the weighing, measuring and mixing of ingredients. Involving them in the whole process from following the recipe to putting the mixture in the oven, will help their reading and motor skills. And once it’s cooked, you will all have something delicious to eat during your garden picnic.

7) Build a den

When everyone needs a bit of space from each other, creating a den can be a good option. You can build one out of anything, from cardboard boxes to sofa cushions and blankets. There are also some very reasonably priced den building kits available such as this one from The Works which can be used over and over again and is easy to store. Children can take their toys, a torch, some snacks and books in there and have hours of fun.

8) Make a fairy garden

A fairy garden is another thing you can build in your garden from natural materials and other crafty bits you have in the house. You can help your children create a colourful door and a pretty garden with petals and other bits they find outside. It doesn’t need to cost any money but it’s fantastic for their imaginations and is something they can keep coming back to, and adding to for the whole summer.

9) Enjoy some water play

Even if it’s not hot enough to actually get in a paddling pool or run through a sprinkler, children still love to get wet with their toys. This could involve anything from playing with animal or dinosaur figures, to using cups and other kitchen utensils to practice emptying and filling. Whether it’s a paddling pool or a washing up bowl, splashing around in or next to water can keep little ones busy for hours.

Just remember that children of all ages should never be left unattended near or in water.

10) Learn new card games

There’s a card game to suit kids of all ages, from simple Snap to more complicated games for older children. The summer holidays are a great time to learn a few new games as a family. This kind of play helps develop children’s social and communication skills as well as memory and problem solving and it’s fun!

11) Painting

Painting is another great activity that you can do indoors or outside during the holidays. Paper, rocks, ceramics or cardboard are just some of the things which can be brightened up with a bit (or a lot!) of paint. Children will love getting messy and being creative, and you might even be able to supervise while drinking a cup of tea.

12) Try outdoor yoga

Juggling work or other commitments with childcare during the holidays can be stressful and tiring. To counteract this, you could find a peaceful moment to all go into the garden to do some yoga poses and stretches to unwind and just breathe. Children will love showing off how flexible they are compared to the grown-ups and you can all have some fun trying to do the positions. This is a brilliant activity for the mind and body.