- Friday 01 July 2022
Happy Summer Holidays! We can’t believe the school year is over already, can you?
We understand that when children are on summer holidays, sometimes it can be a little overwhelming to know how to keep them occupied. So, we’ve put together some activities (don’t worry – there are some educational ones, too) to keep your child busy during the summer months.
A bit obvious perhaps … but make use of the great outdoors.
We know this one can be weather permitting but getting outside during the summer is so important.
Not sure about what to do when you get outside? Here are some ideas to help:
- Grow fresh herbs in containers
Use old Tupperware, coffee jars, milk cartons, jam jars, plastic cups or any other container you find around the house to plant your seeds and keep them on the windowsill outside (just make sure they have some shelter). Water every few days and watch them blossom! An easy herb to keep that we recommend is basil.
- Go for a nature walk
We understand that this can be difficult if you live in a city or built-up area. Even if you live close to a park, make sure to get outside when the weather is bright. A walk outside in nature will boost your mood and get your heart rate up; make sure to keep your earphones out to hear all the lovely sounds of nature.
- Grow your own fruit and vegetables
This is a great project to keep children occupied if you have the outdoor space. We understand this one is not for everyone, but if you do have the opportunity to plant your own fruit and vegetables, it is a great hobby for children to enjoy. Seeds can be extracted from fruit and vegetables bought in the supermarket or, alternatively, seeds can be bought from either your local garden centre or online. If you’re stuck for space, we recommend growing plants such as strawberries or herbs in hanging baskets or buckets.
- Have a picnic
Picnics are fun, especially when the weather is nice and sunny. Why not take a trip to the beach or local park and pack some snacks for a picnic? Write a list of your favourite snacks, take a trip to the supermarket and you’re all set. (P.S. Don’t forget the picnic blanket!)
For Those Rainy Days:
We understand not every day is going to be blue skies and warm weather, so we’ve also put together some ideas for those rainy days (that don’t include playing video games).
- Build a fort
We loved this when we were children: the excitement of grabbing every pillow and cushion you could find in the house, accompanied by every available sheet, blanket and duvet, to build the biggest fort possible!
- Have a movie day
Have a movie marathon; enjoy your favourite flicks and get some snacks. Get cosy and enjoy the day with some feel-good films – we really can’t think of a better way to spend a rainy day.
- Make a time capsule
Making a time capsule is not only fun, but also educational. We recommend teaching your children about previous time capsules created during impactful times in history, including big milestones. By doing so, it gives children a better understanding of why they are creating one and gets them excited to create one that their future family members can read.
Some Educational Activities
Incorporating educational activities into children’s daily lives is something that is so important as it teaches them that education is not just limited to the classroom. We’ve put together some educational activities we think would work during the summer holidays to get your child involved and engaged, even when they are out of the classroom environment.
For younger children:
- Identifying colours
This can be done through activities such as finger painting. Grab a range of coloured paints and a canvas (an apron would also be useful as it can get a little messy). Allow children to experiment with different primary colours to create secondary colours.
- Developing counting skills
An old-school classic – counters. Grab some counters (or Lego blocks) and encourage your child to count, take some counters away and add some to develop addition and subtraction skills. Pair colours together giving them equal value and mix the colours up so your child can add separate cubes together (e.g. blue = 2; yellow = 1; yellow + blue cubes = 3)
For older children:
For older children, it may be tempting to leave them to their own devices, to watch TV or play video games, but it is equally as important to have them participate in educational activities as it is for younger children. We’ve pieced together some ideas that we think will keep your older children engaged and away from technology.
- Create a comic book
Get some paper, fold it in half and keep adding pages to create your own comic book. Encourage imaginative thinking to create sketches to go with the storyline. Have fun with this and rest assured knowing that this is also educational as it encourages children to think creatively, sequence ideas and form coherent storylines.
- Cook a meal for themselves
Encourage your child to cook a meal for themselves. It doesn’t have to be a complicated or difficult meal, but every time they make something, encourage them to make something new the next time to broaden their horizons with trying new foods and expanding their practical skills.
- Learn the basics of another language
This doesn’t have to be difficult; in fact, it can be really fun. Get your child to choose a language they would like to learn. Use a dictionary to search words in English and find the equivalent word in the language of your choice. Alternatively, you can use apps such as Duolingo, which offers free learning, designed to be downloaded on devices to use on the go, encouraging individuals to pick up new skills rather than playing a game.
We hope you took some inspiration from these ideas. Make sure to take a photo and tag us on Instagram @primedireland when you complete these over the summer! We’d love to see.