As winter turns to spring, the weather starts to improve and the days get longer, it can only mean that Easter is round the corner.  Which means that the kids are off school for 2 weeks!  Not only that, but they are fuelled on chocolate eggs from well-meaning relatives and friends.  So how do you occupy your offspring during this holiday fortnight?  Well, here’s some ideas that don’t involve the TV and don’t cost a fortune:

Go Down on the Farm

It is not unusual nowadays for farms to open (or at least part of it) to the public.  Looking to bring in extra revenue, farms often have shops, cafés or miniature petting zoos that are not expensive.  Near where I live there is a small farm that runs a shop, and you can buy goat and chicken food for 20p a bag.  My son loves to feed the animals and it has a play area too.

Watch a Film at the Cinema

I know that the cinema isn’t always a cheap option, especially with the prices large cinema chains charge now, but if you go on the right days it can work out very cheap.  Some chains show a children’s film on Saturday mornings, with tickets prices as low as £1.  As long as you take your own drinks and snacks instead of buying them in the cinema (although some don’t allow it).

Fun at the Park

Completely free, but coupled up with an ice cream or lolly on the way it still costs less than £2 per child.  Plus there are often lots of parks to choose from, so going somewhere slightly further afield you don’t normally go to will make it feel a little more special.

Have a Picnic

If you live close enough to the countryside, just packing a picnic and finding a sunny hill where the kids can run around a bit is enough to make the day interesting.  And if the weather turns bad, an indoor picnic is still a novelty.

Finger Painting

For less than a fiver, a pad of paper and some cheap paints can entertain younger kids for hours.  Make it interesting by asking them to paint certain things like their favourite fruit, or animals that begin with C, and see how many they can do.  Even better, put them in the garden and there’s even less mess to clear up!

Supervised Cooking

I believe that children should be introduced to cooking and food education as young as possible.  Also, kids love to get messy in the kitchen.  Simple recipes like fairy cakes or jam tarts mean they can get involved, plus it’s fairly safe (as long as you have your grown up helpers to do the “hot hot hot” tasks) and they can eat the results.  Try varying it with savoury recipes like cheese straws, or even just making their own sandwich for lunch.

Take a Walk/Bike Ride

Weather permitting, if you live in a relatively safe area, you can go for a walk near your house.  Choose a direction you don’t often go in, or vary the route so it is different to how you would drive it.  If the route is safe enough, add a little nature trail to the journey, and ask the kids to find leaves, twigs, flowers, etc.  Even if it does rain, a little bit of puddle jumping never hurt!

Play a Board Game

The variety of board games is incredible.  They can encourage fair play, sportsmanship and even co-operation and teamwork.  Simple games like Snakes and Ladders or Ludo will often occupy younger children, whereas older ones may prefer Scrabble or Monopoly, or one of the many versions now available.  Amazon UK have a great range of board games which should suit every kid.

No related posts.