The summer holidays can seen to last forever, especially if you need to find something to occupy the kids for the whole time. If you have a garden this can be a great way to spend time during the day but it’s important to make sure your children have a variety of activities to do. Here are some outdoor play ideas for children in the summer:
Mud kitchen
A mud kitchen can be a great investment for any garden as it can be used in all kinds of weather, not just in the summer. Children can spend hours making up different things and it’s a lovely way to get involved with them. Add some cheap accessories such as spoons, cups and bowls and you’ll give your child a really creative way to spend some time.
Play equipment
Even the smallest of gardens usually have some space for children’s play equipment. Although it’s obviously available, you don’t need to go for the biggest piece of play equipment if you don’t have the space for it. Instead, think about a single swing or slide, maybe something you can move about if you need to. These kinds of toys are great for if you don’t live close to the park or only want to play outside for a short amount of time.
Pretend you’re at the beach
It’s not always easy to go to the beach, and that kind of trip can take hours and hours. A sandpit is a great way of bringing to beach to your back garden and as they come in lots of different shapes and sizes. With the addition of buckets and spades your child can have loads of fun making sandcastles at home.
Old school games
Playing in the garden doesn’t have to take up a lot of space and it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Think back to what you used to play and share that with your children. You could play things like hula hoops, hopscotch, catch etc. There are lots of different things you can play with something as simple as a ball and it will keep kids having fun for ages.
Chalks
Chalks are a great thing to play with in the garden and they’re super cheap to buy. You can mark out different games on the patio such as hopscotch or you could spend time colouring in and drawing on large stones if you have some in your garden. Chalks are great for children of all ages too and they can last a long time as long as you don’t leave them out in the rain!
Thinking about winter already? Check out these tips for being an outdoor family in winter.
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