| Spending some quality time with your child or children | | | | fun. Starting out, your child will most likely be happy |
| is invaluable when they are young, although it is not | | | | with simply a bucket of soil and a trowel, although as |
| always easy to come up with fresh ideas on | | | | they get older and more adventurous vegetable |
| activities to keep both you and them occupied. We | | | | seeds are a great option and are very easy to get |
| have tried to provide some ideas below on activities | | | | growing. Not only do children get the satisfaction of |
| to do inside and outside the home. These are aimed | | | | nurturing their own plants, they (hopefully!) will get to |
| at children under the age of 5, although the list is by | | | | eat any produce they make. Also if they manage to |
| no means exhaustive: | | | | grow their own flowers, they make a great present |
| Indoor Activities | | | | for Mum. When doing gardening look out for bugs |
| Art and Craft | | | | which will almost certainly keep your child entertained. |
| While this is not suitable for very young children, as | | | | Regular bug hunts with a magnifying glass and bug |
| your child gets older and their concentration grows, | | | | catcher (margarine or yoghurt pot!) are a definite hit |
| they will love to experiment creatively. Such activities | | | | with our own children. |
| can range from simple drawing and colouring, to | | | | Kiting |
| modelling with clay or plastercine, and there are a | | | | This is a great activity for a windy day, but needs to |
| great variety of modelling kits available which come | | | | be done in a wide open area. Kites range in price |
| with all sorts of cutters and moulding implements. | | | | from a few pounds to a few hundred pounds, or if |
| Painting is another option which is great for teaching | | | | you are feeling adventurous you may like to make |
| your child about mixing colours and is versatile in its | | | | your own - click here for a great site detailing |
| uses (e.g. finger painting, printing with hands, feet, | | | | designs. Also, look out for kite exhibitions where |
| leaves etc., blowing paint onto paper through straws, | | | | enthusiasts show off their kite creations - anything |
| decorating pots, boxes etc.). In addition, your child will | | | | from well known characters to huge fish and |
| love gluing and sticking, whether making a picture | | | | dragons, which will certainly capture your child's |
| (e.g. with glitter, sweet wrappers, old XMas/birthday | | | | interest and imagination. |
| cards) or building your own creations out of recycling | | | | Library |
| waste (e.g. cardboard, cartons, newspaper, toilet rolls | | | | Trips to the local library can be done any day of the |
| etc). Click here for some ideas on things to make. | | | | week and they often run book clubs and other |
| The great thing is that these are all relatively | | | | activities for children of all ages for free. Not only |
| inexpensive activities, although some, if not all will be | | | | that but they are a great source of reading material |
| messy so it is important to prepare your surroundings | | | | for children's thirst for new stories and you are |
| and use appropriate aprons or tabards to protect | | | | normally able to take ~20 books per child, which will |
| your child's clothing. | | | | provide great bedtime reading fodder. You will of |
| Cooking | | | | course need to join your child to a local library, but |
| Children love to cook, whether it be just helping or | | | | this generally only requires filling in a quick form and |
| watching you, or getting more involved depending on | | | | providing proof of identity. |
| how brave you are feeling! There is no need to | | | | Museums |
| make anything longwinded or complicated as your | | | | These may not immediately appear as the best place |
| child's attention span will still be fairly short. Biscuits or | | | | to take a child, however museums are becoming |
| cakes are a good starter and there are no end of | | | | much more interactive in an attempt to appeal more |
| cookery books and online recipes to show you how | | | | to both children and adults. You will often find an |
| to make them. Alternatively, most supermarkets sell | | | | array of buttons, lights and more hands-on |
| a range of ready-made packet mixes which are very | | | | experiences to keep children occupied....and you never |
| easy and quick to prepare. The chances are that | | | | know, your child may learn something in the process! |
| they may not look the most attractive or edible of | | | | Parks/Woods |
| creations once your child has given a helping hand, | | | | Taking your child to the local park is great for letting |
| but you'll still have fun eating them! | | | | them have a runaround, and not only is it free, but |
| Games | | | | there is plenty of open space to avoid crowds. This |
| Simple board, card or dice games can be great fun | | | | makes them ideal places for having a kick around |
| for you and your child to play, and although your child | | | | with a football or playing bat and ball, which is very |
| may not fully understand the aims or instructions, | | | | useful if you do not have a big garden. Most parks |
| they can pick up some useful basic skills such as | | | | also have their own children's facilities such as swings, |
| counting, hand-eye coordination, analysing options and | | | | slides and roundabouts. Alternatively, you may like |
| taking turns. There are plenty of reasonably priced | | | | simply to take your child exploring for wildlife in |
| games to choose from nowadays, but it is best to | | | | nearby woods - children love collecting leaves, pine |
| go for ones which are short in duration and have | | | | cones or similar that they can show their friends at |
| sturdy components that will last. Most suitable for this | | | | nursery. If it's a particularly rainy day your child may |
| age group are games which test memory, matching | | | | simply love nothing better than puddle jumping, but |
| and sorting skills, reaction skills and mental/physical | | | | not before dressing up in waterproofs and wellies! |
| skills. Also don't forget simple jigsaw puzzles. | | | | Seaside |
| Reading | | | | If you are lucky enough to live near the sea or go to |
| There is no simpler 'quiet-time' activity that you can | | | | the seaside on holiday, there are several activities |
| do indoors than read to or with your child. Reading is | | | | beyond just paddling and sand castle building to keep |
| so important for your child's development and can | | | | yourself and your child amused. Rock pooling requires |
| never start from too early an age. If your child is | | | | only a bucket (or a net if you want to catch fish) |
| very young they will love simply flicking through | | | | and some appropriate footwear. It is however |
| pages and pictures, and a number of board books | | | | important that everything is returned to where it |
| are available which are easy for babies and young | | | | came from, including rocks and stones. Another idea |
| children to manage. For older children there are simply | | | | is crab fishing, which is a great activity once the |
| hundreds of story books and educational books to | | | | weather gets warm enough to sit out, and of course |
| cater for every age, taste and interest, and while | | | | if you have somewhere nearby to go crabbing. All |
| your child may be too young to be able to read the | | | | you need is a cheap bucket, a crab line, and some |
| books themselves, they will pick up valuable | | | | bait - bacon scraps usually work fairly well or |
| understanding about words and sounds from listening | | | | alternatively any odd bits of fish. Not only are both |
| to you read. If you cannot afford a large range of | | | | these activities great fun, but your child will also |
| books, visiting your local library is a great alternative. | | | | benefit educationally by being able to study creatures |
| Outdoor Activities | | | | close up and learn about their natural habitats. |
| Aquariums | | | | Persuading your child to release their catch back into |
| Most areas will have some form of public exhibition | | | | the water is the hard part, as they will no doubt |
| of live aquatic plants and animals (e.g. Blue Reef | | | | want to keep them as pets! When visiting a beach it |
| Aquariums or Sea Life Centres etc). These can be | | | | is important to follow safety guidelines and respect |
| very restful places for a young child, and the multiple | | | | the natural surroundings, we would also recommend |
| colours, shapes and movements of creatures in the | | | | visiting Blue Flag listed beaches as they are regarded |
| tanks will be very captivating for them, not to | | | | as being the safest and cleanest, and generally have |
| mention educational. Dependent on the location, there | | | | good facilities for families. |
| is normally an entrance fee for those above a certain | | | | Soft Play Areas |
| age (usually 3 years), although some places offer an | | | | Indoor play areas come in all shapes and sizes, and |
| annual membership which allows unlimited entrance | | | | are usually found either as part of a hotel/pub/leisure |
| and is usually very cost-effective compared to | | | | centre or as a separate entity. The great thing about |
| pay-as-you-go admission rates. Please click here for a | | | | these places is that they usually have designated |
| list of aquariums and sealife centres. | | | | areas to cater for very young children as well as |
| Cinema/Theatre | | | | toddlers and older children, and the fact that the |
| Although not suitable for very small children, these | | | | whole area is soft and padded means there is little |
| are definitely worthwhile experiences for your child as | | | | risk of any serious injuries through play. It is ideal for |
| soon as they become more communicative and | | | | allowing your child to work off a bit of excess |
| interactive. There are plenty of films to see at the | | | | energy without having to be outside, which is a |
| cinema although it is important to ensure that the film | | | | bonus when all it does is rain! There are also usually |
| is suitable for your child's age group, as anything even | | | | eating, drinking, and baby facilities available, and |
| remotely frightening or violent will have much more | | | | regular toddler or baby mornings are often held which |
| of an impact on the big screen. Most films normally | | | | may include reduced admission rates or a free drink |
| last for about 1.5 to 2 hours which may outrun your | | | | etc. During holiday times or busy periods, play may |
| child's attention span, so be prepared to miss the | | | | be restricted to an hour or so only. |
| ending! Look out for offers at certain cinema chains | | | | Swimming |
| for cheap admission rates for children at weekends. | | | | Even if your child is not an accomplished swimmer |
| With regard to theatres, there are a good number of | | | | they will almost certainly love the opportunity to |
| shows which are aimed specifically at children, | | | | splash around in a local pool - it is a good way of |
| including sing-along performances, comedy acts and | | | | introducing your child to water, but it will require total |
| pantomimes, and also stage productions of their | | | | supervision and support from you at all times. Arm |
| favourite television shows. The great thing is that | | | | bands and floats are an essential purchase for |
| you can usually book well in advance of the show, | | | | children that can't swim and will boost their |
| and early reservation will allow you a better choice of | | | | confidence in learning to swim properly. A child's liking |
| seat. However, theatre bookings are normally quite | | | | for water and ability to swim will open up a whole |
| pricey and the shows can be long, although they do | | | | range of water sport activities as they get older. |
| usually break for an interval. In addition, dependent on | | | | There are a range of pools available - open air, |
| the position of your seats the performance may be | | | | indoor, lido, and activity pools to suit all tastes. Please |
| difficult to see or hear, and particularly if you find | | | | click here to find your nearest swimming pool. |
| yourselves surrounded by other children. | | | | Zoos/Wildlife Centres/Farms |
| Cycling | | | | Children of any age are fascinated by animals, and so |
| If your child is not old enough to cycle on their own | | | | trips to local wildlife parks or farms will not be |
| then they can be carried along in a suitable child seat | | | | wasted. Most of these places can be travelled around |
| or trailer (for added comfort) on the back of your | | | | on foot, although safari parks normally need to driven |
| bike. Once they get their first bike and stabilisers | | | | round, and while these are great chances to get up |
| then taking them to a nearby park is a fun way of | | | | close to some of your child's favourite wild animals, |
| teaching them to cycle. When they become more | | | | there is always the chance that you may go home |
| confident on their bike then may like to go out | | | | missing a vital part of your car! There are normally |
| cycling with you. It is worth taking the time to look | | | | good facilities for babies and children, and many zoos |
| for cycle tracks and cycle paths that are safe and | | | | and wildlife centres have pet areas and designated |
| free from traffic, and it is important to ensure that | | | | times when children can help feed or handle some of |
| both of you are wearing a properly fitting cycle | | | | the animals. Some of the farms also sell food pellets |
| helmet, along with some form of reflective gear if | | | | so that your child can feed the animals as they |
| visibility or light is poor. | | | | wander round. Click here to find your nearest wildlife |
| Gardening | | | | centre or activity farm. |
| Teaching your child to be green-figured can be great | | | | |