Abigail Malbon
Looking for fun things to do with the kids this summer? We've put together a list of the best activities to keep them busy at home following the coronavirus pandemic
Summer holidays are upon us! But many parents are left struggling with ideas to keep their kids busy after they exhausted all their fun entertainment during the coronavirus lockdown.
Are you looking for things to do to keep the little cherubs busy? From puzzles and crafts to new languages and music, we've rounded up some activities to help occupy every member of your family in the coming weeks. Check out the list for inspiration…
Bake!
Now’s the perfect time to teach them how to bake. Start with a simple cupcake kit, or get experimental and try your hand at a loaf of bread.
Pink cupcake kit, £9.60, Meri Meri
Get active
This will definitely keep everyone active and entertained over the summer. The FourFit Mini 2 fitness band tracks activity, steps, heart rate, lung health, blood pressure and sleep. Your family will be begging you to go on walks by the end of it!
FourFit Mini 2, £29.99, FourFit
Colour
Steven Skinner, a talented illustrator, has created some joyous, royal-themed colouring-in sketches in partnership with HELLO!, and they're sure to keep kids and adults alike entertained! Find them here.
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MORE: 6 best new Xbox One games for kids in 2020 – keep children entertained and happy in isolation
Play some puzzles
Introduce your family to the world of jigsaws. Not only will they keep their brains busy, they’ll help you out with the bits you’re stuck on yourself!
Schmidt Jigsaw, £6.99, Amazon
Download Disney+
While you might not want to put your kids in front of a TV for hours on end, we all know the magic that comes from a great Disney film. Introduce them to some old favourites and new classics with streaming service Disney+, which has hundreds of films and TV shows to choose from.
Have reading time
A great book will keep your family entertained for a while, and is a great way to encourage individual learning. Start with the classics until they find what they love.
The Beast of Buckingham Palace, £7, Amazon
MORE: These are the UK’s favourite children’s books
Keep in touch with the family
Now’s the perfect time to get them to FaceTime the grandparents. You can also chat to their friends, too!
Cuddly Readers pillow stand, £20.80, Amazon
MORE: Paddling pools to give the kids a quarantine to remember
Embrace their artistic side
Whether your family members are artistic or still getting to grips with a paintbrush, use this time to hone their skills. Invest in some tools (not forgetting a mat to protect the surface) and let them unleash their talents.
Crayola Inspiration Art Case, £24.99, Amazon
READ: 24 things to do when self-isolating at home
Learn a new skill
Whether that’s a language, the basics of cooking or some (outdoor!) ball skills, now’s the perfect time to set them a challenge for the coming weeks.
Learn Spanish for kids, £16, Amazon
Buy a new board game
Embrace family time with a board game you can all enjoy. Amazon has plenty to choose from, but we’d recommend avoiding anything too competitive; now is not the time to be arguing!
Articulate, £28.73, Amazon
MORE: 11 family-friendly board games to play during lockdown: Cluedo, trivia and more
Set up a scavenger hunt
Pinterest has plenty of great ideas for setting this up, and we guarantee family members of all ages will enjoy the search.
Learn to draw Disney characters
This will keep the little ones busy for hours! The Disney Destination of Imagination is a new section on the Disney shop's website, which offers free activities for children. There's something for everyone, with downloadable colouring sheets and 'learn to draw' booklets of your favourite characters, plus print-your-own Disney board games and trivia on movies like Star Wars and Frozen. Exercise sheets and storytelling sections are coming soon too. Visit shopdisney.co.uk/events-and-activities
Get into cycling
Taking the kids for a bike ride is a great way to burn off energy, see your local area and spend some quality time together. If you're in the market for a new bike, online stores like Halfords and Decathlon have a great range of both adult and children's bikes for sale. Get the kids kitted out with some cool helmets and bells and you're ready to go.
PedalPro Childrens Wicker Bike Basket, £13.99, Amazon
Learn some circus skills!
Children love pretending they're in the circus and having a go at some fun balancing tricks, so this bright plate spinning set should keep them busy for while. It comes with a two-piece stick which can be detached in the middle for shortening, and the whole kit fits into the accompanying bag - just the thing to take to the park for some family fun.
Flames 'N' Games Spinning Plates Set, £11.99, Amazon
Raise your own butterflies
The kids will love this! Insect Lore's Butterfly Garden comes with its own mesh habitat and caterpillars. The children can enjoy watching the metamorphosis process as the caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies, which they can then release outside. The whole cycle takes between three to five weeks to complete.
Butterfly garden, £20, Amazon
Battle it out, Marvel style!
Marvel fans will love this brand new Marvel Battleworld Mega Pack, which lets you collect your favourite hero, rescue your friends, and win battles to defeat the evil Thanos. This collectible adventure game will go down a hit with both kiddies and adults alike, and you can play either solo or team-based. Oooh!
Marvel Battleworld Mega Pack, £17.99, Smyths Toys
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