With the summer holidays in full swing, it can be hard to think of new ways to entertain your kids each day. When you’ve exhausted going to the local park, you may start looking for activities that you can do at home. We’re going to talk you through some of our favourite, simple homemade activities that you can do with your kids this summer!
Cool down in the summer heat
With temperatures reaching over 30 degrees this summer, we’ve found ourselves reaching for icy refreshments to cool ourselves down. Although it’s very easy to pop to the local shop to buy ice lollies, the costs can start adding up, especially when you’re buying them for the whole family.
Making your own lollies is easy, and can be a fun way for kids to get creative with flavourings. First you’ll need to find a mould; these can be purchased ready-made online or in any homeware shops, or you can make your own using small plastic cups. For a simple lolly, fill it with your favourite juice, pop a wooden stick in each mould, and place in the freezer. Experiment with mixing flavours, or create a rainbow lolly by filling the moulds a quarter way with one flavour juice, pop them in the freezer until it begins to solidify, then fill with another flavour, and repeat this process until the moulds are full.
Or why not try making your own lemonade, and create a tasty and refreshing alternative to the shop-bought version. It can be made using 3 household ingredients – lemons, sugar and water. Your kids will be able to get involved with juicing the lemons whilst assistance may be needed to create the sugar syrup, which needs to be heated in a saucepan. Set up an old fashioned lemonade stall for your neighbours and passers-by, who may also appreciate a cool refreshment on a hot summer’s day!
Let your creative juices flow
If your kids have a creative streak, or just want an excuse to play around (and maybe you do too!), homemade air dry clay can be fun to experiment with. It’s made from store cupboard ingredients – baking soda, corn flour, and water. You can add food colouring to the mix to give the clay a bright, bold colour; or leave it white, and decorate your creations with paint once the clay has dried. Let yours and your kids’ imaginations run wild by making make-believe creatives, family figurines, or even more practical household items like trinket bowls and mugs!
Making and baking
We love activities that involve food, not only do kids love getting their hands dirty, but they get to learn some essential skills and feed themselves! Baking cupcakes is of course a favourite activity, especially getting to decorate the cakes (and eating them!). But when you want to create a less sugary snack, savoury baking can be simple too – cheese straws using shop bought pastry is an easy recipe for kids to do themselves (with a little assistance!).
Fruit salads are another great option that encourages kids to get creative with putting together different ingredients whilst encouraging them to eat healthily. Our fruit boxes are great for giving you a selection of fresh fruit to use!
What are your favourite summer activities to do at home? Show us your favourite creations, or share your top tips for entertaining kids this summer!