5 Easy Ways To Entertain Kids During Summer Holidays

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We are about halfway through the summer holidays here in the UK, and I have to say that it’s usually around this time that I start trying to think of cheap, easy ways to entertain the kids. As it stands, we’ve already done all the ‘big’, exciting things that we had planned. The kids have had two camping holidays and pretty much had a brilliant few weeks of summer holidays already. They’ve seen lots of family, been to fun attractions all over the country, and basically been spoiled rotten by everyone.

Now they’re back home and the Mr has sadly gone back to work, it falls to me to find cheap, entertaining ways to keep them busy so that they remain happy and occupied, and I can still continue to work from home. I really hate that mum guilt feeling that I get when I just put them in front of the TV, and I know loads of other parents feel the exact same way. They want to make sure their kids are happy, but I also need to know that they’re entertained for a little while so I can get stuff done. 

If this sounds like you, I advise you to keep reading! I’ve put together this list of easy ways to entertain the kids during the summer holidays which are all quick to set up and will keep the kids happy just long enough for you to crack out some housework, plan your finances, have a hot cuppa, or even just relax and have a rest.

Set up a home dance party

1. If you’re lucky enough to own a Nintendo Switch, you need to buy Just Dance 2021! Yes, there’s an initial expense, but it’s well worth it. Just Dance has kept my kids happy for hours since we first bought it a few months back and it has definitely gotten us out of a few tantrums and bored children on rainy days. Even the littlest one, who’s only 3 years old, absolutely loves playing Just Dance 2021 with his brother. There are popular songs, throwback songs, and even songs that toddlers and younger children will love, such as songs from Frozen. You can choose to subscribe for a small fee – I think it’s around £3 for a month – which is a great idea if you want to make the most of the game during the summer holidays, but it isn’t necessary.
2. YouTube is another way to get a kid’s dance party started. You can find premade children’s playlists which are great to dance and sing along to. YouTube has the advantage of showing music videos for the songs as well, which means children can copy the dance moves. You can of course always search on YouTube for children’s dance lessons, this way they can learn from a dance teacher and put a dance together with a song.
3. Spotify/Amazon Music is another way to listen to child friendly music – it’s even better if you can connect it to a smart speaker, like an Alexa. Amazon Music is available for free if you’re an Amazon Prime member, so it’s definitely worth taking advantage of if you’re able to. Spotify has loads of great kid friendly playlists too.

Create a nature scavenger hunt

Getting outside for daily walks is basically the only way to stay sane in the summer holidays. A good scavenger hunt is a fun way to encourage the whole family to step outside and enjoy nature. Having a scavenger hunt to keep younger children busy is also a great way to deal with the dreaded toddler walking speed. Use this free printable Nature Scavenger Hunt and tock off the items as you see them. 

Get messy with gloop

If you’re not a fan of messy play, you may want to skip this suggestion. Although messy, gloop is a fantastic sensory play experience for toddlers and older children alike. Gloop is made by slowly adding a cup of cold water to two cups of cornflour; you can then add some food colouring to really liven things up. Gloop may get messy, but as soon as it dries, it’s really easy to clean up as it just wipes off surfaces and skin. 

No mess painting using water

Painting with water is a brilliant way of entertaining big kids and toddlers during the summer holidays. Ideally, you want to have a garden with some sort of wall, fence or paving. Don’t worry if you don’t have access to this though, as you can also use something like a chalkboard or a large piece of cardboard. Painting with water is, as the name suggests, simply using a pot of water rather than paint and creating fun designs. You can make this more interesting for bigger kids by using the water and paintbrush to play games such as Pictionary, Naughts and Crosses, and Hangman.

Start a summer garden project

Again, this would be most suited for those who have a garden, however, that doesn’t mean you can’t still start a summer garden project! If you don’t have a garden, all you need is a flower pot, some soil, and a windowsill! Creating a summer garden project journal with your children is an interactive way of keeping track of any changes to your plants as they grow. You can take measurements, make observations about your new plants, and even have a tasting journal if you grow your own food!