Staycations have come and gone, the weather’s unpredictable, and you’ve exhausted your well of ideas as the Chief Entertainment Officer of your family. But, your little ones are still buzzing with energy. What’s a parent to do?
The creative minds behind the Little People, Big Adventures Explorer Cards (Laura Dean of Little People, Big Adventures, and Laura Bannister of The Holiday in a Box Co) have put their heads together to come up with five fun activities to keep the youngsters busy & entertained… and to give you a rest from the demands of constantly curious little explorers!
Big ideas for little people
Become a news reporter
Perfect towards the end of the holidays, this activity will see youngsters writing and drawing some of the best things they’ve been up to recently. Like all the best ideas, it’s easy to adapt for children of all ages, as you can make it as straightforward or as complex as is right for them. Get older children involved in taking and choosing photographs, and maybe even invent some problems for them to answer in their very own “Agony Aunt” column (“My boss is winding me up – what should I do?”. You may be surprised with their perspectives!). Once they’re done, they might like to send a copy to their grandparents or another relative, who’d love to hear all about what they’ve been up to.
Hone Your Survival Skills
Bear Grylls, eat your heart out. No matter the weather, there’s a survival skills challenge for you. Sunny days and rural locations are perfect for exploring the woods to set up camp using whatever sticks, leaves, moss and stones you might find, whilst dens made of blankets and torches are cosy rainy-day alternatives. Otherwise, a Desert-Island challenge might be just the thing: challenge your children to find the 5 items they would want with them if they were stranded on a desert island, and let them impress you with their resourcefulness!
Grow a vegetable garden
There are lots of low-effort vegetables that can be grown from seed in containers as small as yoghurt pots (or, ideally, compostable alternatives). Peas and cress are very easy for beginners, and provide a great launchpad into talking about the environment and healthy food. Give them a pencil and a notebook to record their plant’s progress, and the artistic among them will enjoy drawing a diagram as it germinates and grows, whilst the mathematically-inclined might be keen to get the tape measure out and record its growth.
Host a Festival
Neighbours and/or cousins? Check. Mum or Dad on the BBQ? Check. Freezers full of froyo ice lollies? We hope so 😉 With a few more sunny weekends left, why not task your children with helping you host a garden ‘festival’. Your mini party planning committee will help you decide on the theme, create some exclusive tickets, choose the music and help make the snacks. If you’re a particularly crafty bunch, you could even tie-dye some festival T-shirts, or make some friendship bracelets to serve as wristbands. You could even let them camp in the garden after the revels, to really complete the experience.
Explore Foreign Countries
It might sound like a long shot at the moment, but companies like The Holiday in a Box Co. are dedicated to giving families everything they need to help them holiday from home. Your adventures will see you learning about new cultures, trying new foods, listening to exciting stories and making lots of crafts along the way, too. Plus, once you’re suitably inspired, you’ll be able to turn to Little People, Big Adventures to help you book the real thing!
