When the summer holidays roll around, it is easy to start getting worried about how much entertaining the kids will end up costing. And let’s face it; we already manage to spend plenty when they’re at school anyway! But fear not, because if you go into the holidays with a budget and a plan, you can still have plenty of family fun this summer. We’ve got a few examples for you to get your creative juices pumping.
Camping
While camping may not be the activity of choice for some, many kids would be over the moon if they heard they were spending a few nights under the stars. The great part about camping is that you can spend as much or little as you please. A basic pitch won’t cost you an arm and a leg, and even getting a spot with electricity won’t cost too much more. Bring your own food with you if you want to keep the costs down; it also means you can have fun cooking on a campfire or barbeque.
Street Party
Chances are you aren’t the only one with the predicament of what to do to keep your kids happy this summer. Join forces with your neighbours to host a street party; this way you can split any cost between you. A street party can be whatever you want it to be: a massive barbeque with each house cooking their own speciality, the biggest water fight ever, or lots of different stalls with food, games, and face paints.
Cookery Sessions
We all know that our kids love to eat, so we may as well get them helping out in the kitchen during their time off school. Cookies and cakes are fun to make, and are equally rewarding in taste. However you could also prepare pasta salads, homemade lemonade, and ice lollies with your kids for an enjoyable afternoon.
Boat Race
Arranging a boat race for the kids is a great idea if you want to keep them busy working on something productive (rather than sleeping in followed by watching cartoons all day). Lollipop sticks are relatively cheap to buy in bulk, but you could set the challenge of making a toy boat out of materials around the home and garden. At the end of the summer holidays, you could spend a day at the lake, or park, and see which boat worked the best!
About the author: Bella Winterfold is a freelance writer with a special interest in gas and electricity.
