With the Summer holidays almost here, it can be tricky to find lots of things to do to keep little ones busy without spending a fortune. We’ve put together a few ideas you might like to try throughout the summer with your little ones to combine playing, creativity and learning.
Create a bug and wildlife area
Look at building a bug hotel from sticks, leaves, pinecones, cardboard, stones, old pallets and other materials available in the garden. Choose a cool spot, that isn’t in full sun to build your hotel and keep an eye on it over the coming weeks and months to see what wildlife it attracts.
Search for bugs
See what bugs and animals are already in your garden. Can you find any birds, worms, ladybirds, caterpillars, butterflies, bees? Why not plant flowers that attract bees and butterflies to your garden? We have lots of bug approved plants at the garden centre, check them out on your next visit.
Making homemade bird feeders
The tried and tested favourite for smaller birds is a pine cone, smothered in peanut butter and rolled in bird food. But if you’re looking for something different, you could try hollowed out oranges and fill those with bird seed, or use an old milk carton, cut out holes for ledges and fill with seed to hang in trees.
Garden Scavenger Hunt
Set challenges to find something, for example:
– a snail shell
– the smoothest stone
– something pink
– the biggest leaf
– a flower that is scented
This could also be used as inspiration for a treasure hunt, where children have to find the tallest tree for the next clue in the treasure hunt.
Craft Inspiration
– Paint rocks or plant pots
– Leaf rubbings and rubbings of different textured things in the garden
– Use masking tape wrapped with the sticky side on the outside and stick petals and leaves to it to create a pretty bracelet
Water Play
Who doesn’t love splashing when it’s warm? During the Summer, why not create a ramp or racetrack in the garden to race toy cars down into a bucket of water? See which is the fastest car and give them a wash at the same time.
Another idea is get a bucket (or washing bowl) of water and gather leaves, stones, sticks, toys and other bits and bobs to see what floats and sinks in the garden?
We look forward to seeing what activities you get up to over the Summer holidays, feel free to send any photos in to in**@********************re.com