EASY SUMMER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Feeling the pressure to make every day amazing this school holiday, but just don't have the time, energy or funds for multiple big days out? 

There's a lot to be said for teaching our kids to enjoy the simple things in life and finding fun in unexpected places.

Leaving empty days can allow space for spontaneity, but, let's be honest, a day with no plans can also feel like a long stretch of time to fill.

Whether you need to go about your usual errands or have some free time carved out, adding little projects, missions or tasks to your day to day can build into a summer of fun, the easy way.

Read on for some of our favourite easy summer holiday activities for children. Just prep an easy packed lunch and fill up the water bottles, and see where the day takes you.

Scavenger hunt or bingo sheet
This can be as simple or detailed as you like. Draw simple icons of local landmarks, flora and fauna, or even swatches of colours with tick boxes for little ones. For older kids, you could create a local area to help them get to know the neighbourhood. 

Playground adventures
Chances are you've spent enough time in your local playground to know it like the back of your hand, so why not venture a little further and explore some other playgrounds nearby?

You could make it a mission to visit a new one each week, and make a list of the pros and cons of each one or award a score out of 10, so that you can create a ranking by the end of the summer.

Travel a different way
During term time we rely on the car so much as we're always rushing between school, work, clubs and errands but with the school holidays we have a little more time than usual. Which means we can take the bus or train, allowing us to be a passenger on the journey alongside the children, rather than chauffeur. 

Being able to sit on the bus and see the sights from up high, press the bell for your stop and hold your own ticket are small but significant joys for little ones.

It doesn't have to be a long journey, even a short train ride whizzing through your local area will show you familiar sights from a new perspective. And swapping traffic jams and parking stress for public transport can do wonders for your mood and the planet too. 

Love local
We love a litter pick! Not only to care for our planet and improve our neighbourhood but as a great excuse to get out of the house for a little while. 

We have a litter picker and take a bucket to collect rubbish, and simply walk a circuit of streets around our house picking up litter big and small. It's sad just how much litter there is on our streets, but cleaning up our community is a really rewarding way to spend half an hour and it feels great to leave somewhere nicer than how you found it in a short time. 

We host regular family-friendly beach cleans (with story and snack) in the school holidays. Keep an eye on our Events page for details, or join the Kinder Crew below to receive updates direct to your inbox.

Photography project
Set them a brief and let them capture the world their way. It could be spelling out their name using the letters in shop signs or street names, taking shots of flowers in the park, or capturing everything they see in certain colours.

If you've got an old phone or camera in a drawer why not dust it off and charge it up and keep this as a fun activity to fall back on as you go about your day. 

Library days
We love our local libraries! They're so welcoming to children and have a huge selection of children's books and toys plus extra free activities in the school holidays, as well as the Summer Reading Challenge to encourage children to read up to six books over the break. 

Did you know that your library card allows you to borrow books from any library in your county and return to your own local branch. Why not visit a new branch and see what they've got to offer? 

Art class
Pack a sketch pad (or make a simple scrap book by folding and stapling paper) and some pens and pencils, find a comfy spot with a view and set about capturing it in your own unique way. Nobody has to be 'good' at art here, but whether you're frustrated at your skills or really proud of the finished piece letting your child know that grown-ups feel these emotions too can help them realise they're not alone.

Drawing alongside our little ones is not only a really fun and rewarding way to spend some time, it can be a low-stakes way to chat about anything and everything. Let them ask you questions as well as the other way around. 

Car wash
You don't have to go far for this one. Fill a bucket with warm soapy water, give them a sponge and a brush and get to cleaning the car.

You'll probably both get soaked, and the car might not end up that clean after all, but it's a fun sensory activity that will give them a sense of achievement.

Extra points if they help to vacuum all the crumbs, raisins, stickers and other detritus that litters the back seat too. 

Pavement games
Sometimes the classic playground games just can't be beaten. Grab some washable chalk and draw out a classic hopscotch game on the pavement in front of your house or at the playground.

You'll need something small but heavyish (and that doesn't roll or bounce) to throw as a marker. Invite others to join as they pass by and you never know who you might meet. 

Set up a stall
Firstly you need to have a good old clear out and make a pile of books, toys, games and clothes that they've outgrown.

Be prepared for them to suddenly want to play with things they haven't shown an interest in for years. But once they've got that out of their system, you can move on to the next phase.

Next gather some change, draw up a sign and put a small table or blanket out front without blocking the path, and set everything out to sell. Help them to decide how much to charge for different things, and think about what they would like to do with the money. 

Later, anything left over can be donated to a local charity shop, a great place to spend some of their earnings. 

Get crafty
When we do arts and crafts at home, the set up (and clean down) can take longer than the activity. And we often find ourselves getting really caught up in the process, while our little ones lose interest. 

Brass-rubbing is a fun way to take art out of the house: you need some crayons (those broken ones at the bottom of the pencil pot are great for this) and paper and a place to look for some interesting textures. They can make a patchwork of patterns and colours, look for letters or choose their own theme.

Hit the beach
Living on the coast, means the beach is our playground all year round and we love to explore the shoreline whatever the weather. Read our guide to the best Broadstairs beaches here.

We've got a range of children's craft sessions at Kinder Collective this August, from free scrapbook making to a Printing Workshop and Introduction to Crochet. Check out our Events page to book your space now.