The summer holiday season is upon us and many children have weeks away from school and nursery. How do you keep everyone happy and busy? You may well be going away for a holiday at some stage but not many of us are lucky to go away for the full 6 weeks so there are still plenty of days to fill.

Even full-time at home parents usually have some free day-time when their children are at school or nursery so having the kids around 24/7 for weeks on end can feel exhausting.

We have some suggestions for summer holiday activities so that you won’t have to hear the phrase “I’m bored” and you won’t feel as though you have been run ragged by early September.

Local day camps and kid’s activities

You may still be lucky and still find some places for activities near you.

Call your local leisure centre, library, art gallery, museum or council to ask what children’s events they have planned – you will be amazed at how many free activities there are. Book up whatever you can as any remaining places will go fast. Arrange for your child to go with a friend if they don’t want to go alone.

Child share with a friend

Why not arrange some child sharing with a friend, relative or neighbour; you look after theirs’ one day and they’ll reciprocate on another. You will be a nicer more tolerant parent if you have just a few hours to yourself!

Plan some outings

Don’t leave it until the last minute and find that everyone but you is busy. Call ups some friends and put some dates in the diary. Plan a trip to the beach, to a water park or just to your local park – share picnics and have fun.

Have a night away

You may not be able to go away this summer but why not be spontaneous and head of for just one night? If you are flexible you will still find somewhere to stay - a family room in a youth hostel, a cheap B & B or take your tent to somewhere you haven’t been before.

Swap house with a friend

Have you got a friend or relative who lives in the countryside or would relish a couple of days staying in your house in the city or vice versa? Why not swap home for a couple of days. If you are good friends you can even just leave each other the contents of your fridge to keep it simple.

Give the kid’s a project

How about a big ongoing construction project to keep the kids busy day after day?

Make a shop - out of a huge box; make fruit and veg. out of play doh, make grocery packets out of cut down boxes.

Make a puppet theatre - you’ll need another big box! Fabric off cuts make little curtains and scraps make finger or stick puppets.

Make a den - all good children’s stories have summer holidays filled with den-making... Fulfil those “Famous Five” aspirations with washing line strung from fence posts, the shed, a tree...fling over an old sheet or bedspread, peg down the edges with tent pegs. Perhaps you could buy an old army camouflage from an army surplus store for some real grit.

Press flowers keep a record of all your walks or flowers in the garden. Either use a flower press or simple lay flower heads between sheets of paper underneath a pile of heavy books.

Visit attractions on your doorstep

Sometimes it takes a visitor to make us get out and see what is right on our own doorstep.

Pavement art and games

Kids love hanging out together and as long as they are safe the old notion of “street playing “ is often what they want. Draw hopscotch onto the road pavement with chalk or give them all some chalks to create their own street masterpiece – it’ll all wash off next time it rains.

Open a café

Does this sound a bit ambitious for a summer holiday project?
Raise some money for a local charity by opening your garden or front room up as a café. Arrange some tables and chairs, bake some cakes, borrow some tea cups, make a menu and price list. The kids can be waiters and waitresses. Invite your friends and neighbours! You only have to do it for one day...