The 6 weeks summer holidays are fast approaching and I am starting to get a little concerned about how I am going to entertain a 5 yr old and two 3 yr olds for 6 solid weeks. Don’t get me wrong, I love playing and being with my kids, but I need to have a plan, or all hell will break loose (and that will not be a pleasant site).

I thought I’d write a list of all the ideas I have, for play and craft etc, to do throughout the holidays:

Outdoor activities

1. Fly a kite
2. Do a sports day (maybe with friends too)
3. Go for a walk
4. Go on a nature walk
5. Jump in puddles (on a rainy day)
6. Do a scavenger hunt
7. Go Geocaching
8. Ride bikes
9. Ride scooters
10. Make a good den in the garden
11. Go to the beach
12. Paddling pool fun
13. Water play
14. Bubbles
15. Have a picnic
16. Ball games
17. Make a map of our walk to school/park etc
18. Visit a farm
19. Feed the ducks
20. Go to the park

Indoor activities

1. Painting
2. Junk modelling
3. Crafts
4. Make boats then sail them
5. Make up stories/story telling
6. Make a puppet theatre
7. Do a puppet show
8. Make scrapbooks about your holiday or day out
9. Play skittles
10. Cooking
11. Playdoh
12. Lego
13. Create a photo journal
14. Movie afternoon
15. Visit the library
16. Make a map of our house
17. Puzzles
18. Dressing up and pretend play
19. Play shops
20. Play hospitals
21. Paint stones
22. Crafts with shells collected on a beach
23. Read stories together
24. Board games
25. Tea party

This is my list so far. I will probably add to it as I think of more things, but it is a start and I believe it helps to give me a focus. I need focus in order to maintain some kind of sanity.

A lot of the time children need to be kept occupied and stimulated. I personally find their behaviour is so much better when we are out, or when we are all engaged in an activity. Some activities may seem like an effort, but, for me it is always worth it, to see the children have fun, learn and behave well. Effort usually pays off in the end.

And, I get to play too (always a bonus, big kid at heart)!