A gentle collection of seasonal ideas, little celebrations and simple pleasures to dip into throughout July if they appeal to you. No pressure. No expectations. Just possibilities.

July feels like standing on the edge of summer with your toes in the sand and an ice cream melting faster than you can eat it. School plays are being rehearsed, teachers are counting down the days, and families are preparing for the long-awaited summer holidays.

Whether you’re still juggling packed lunches and sports days or already enjoying slower mornings and later bedtimes, July offers plenty of opportunities to notice the season and make memories along the way.

Here are a few things you could do this month.

Celebrate the End of the School Year

For many families, July marks the end of another school year.

You could:

• Write thank-you cards for teachers, teaching assistants and support staff.
• Create a memory jar filled with favourite moments from the school year.
• Take a photograph on the last day of term.
• Compare it with the first day photo from September.
• Celebrate surviving another year of packed lunches and homework.
• Mark the start of the holidays with a family tradition.

Make the Most of the Long Evenings

July evenings seem to stretch forever.

You could:

• Eat dinner outside.
• Watch the sunset from somewhere special.
• Take an evening walk by the sea or through the woods.
• Enjoy a garden picnic.
• Stay up late enough to spot the first stars appearing.
• Play outdoor games after dinner.

Enjoy Wimbledon

The strawberries and cream season arrives once again.

You could:

• Watch a match together.
• Hold your own family tennis tournament.
• Eat strawberries and cream.
• Make paper plate tennis rackets for younger children.
• Learn about the history of Wimbledon.

Watch the Tour de France

Even if cycling isn’t usually your thing, the scenery alone is worth watching.

You could:

• Follow the route on a map.
• Learn about the different jerseys.
• Hold your own family bike ride challenge.
• Decorate bicycles with ribbons and streamers.

Celebrate World Chocolate Day – 7 July

An important date for many households.

You could:

• Bake chocolate brownies. Try our The Ultimate Kinder Bueno Brownies: Irresistibly Gooey and Delicious
• Hold a chocolate taste test.
• Make hot chocolate ice lollies.
• Try a chocolate-themed scavenger hunt.

Mark World Emoji Day – 17 July

You could:

• Create emoji crafts.
• Design your own family emojis.
• Write stories using only emojis as prompts.
• Play emoji charades.

Celebrate International Chess Day – 20 July

Perfect for families embracing quieter activities.

You could:

• Learn the rules of chess together.
• Hold a family tournament.
• Create giant outdoor chess pieces with chalk.
• Explore famous chess players and matches.

Explore Nature

July is one of the best months to get outdoors.

You could:

• Go butterfly spotting.
• Join in with the Big Butterfly Count.
• Listen for bees buzzing in the garden.
• Press flowers for crafts later in the year.
• Create nature mandalas.
• Learn the names of local wildflowers.
• Go cloud watching.

Visit a Pick Your Own Farm

July is peak berry season.

You could pick:

• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Gooseberries
• Cherries
• Blackcurrants

Then enjoy turning your haul into crumbles, jams and desserts.

Look Out for Sunflowers

Sunflowers begin appearing across the country during July.

You could:

• Visit a sunflower field.
• Grow your own.
• Measure your sunflower every week.
• Paint or draw sunflowers inspired by famous artworks. Check out our Intricate Sunflower Colouring Page • Free Printable for Relaxation.
• Check out our Sunflower crafts.

Celebrate National Picnic Month

Picnics don’t need to be elaborate.

You could:

• Take breakfast outdoors.
• Pack lunch for the local park.
• Have an indoor picnic if the weather refuses to cooperate.
• Try a themed picnic with food from another country.

Get Creative

Summer crafts are often the simplest.

You could:

• Paint pebbles. Simple Rock Painting Ideas for Kids: Fun and Creative Crafts for Little Artists
• Make sun catchers.
• Create tie-dye t-shirts.
• Try ice painting.
• Make bubble snakes.
• Build fairy gardens.
• Create leaf prints.

Cool Down on Hot Days

If July decides to bring a heatwave, you could:

• Set up a paddling pool.
• Freeze toys or flowers in ice blocks for sensory play.
• Have a water balloon fight.
• Make homemade ice lollies.
• Create an obstacle course involving water challenges.

Watch for the Perseids

The Perseid meteor shower begins in late July and continues through August.

You could:

• Stay up late with blankets and hot drinks.
• Learn about constellations.
• Use a stargazing app to identify planets.
• Count shooting stars.

Celebrate International Friendship Day – 30 July

You could:

• Write letters to friends.
• Make friendship bracelets.
• Deliver surprise treats to neighbours.
• Organise a playdate or family get together.

Read Outside

Books somehow feel different outdoors.

You could:

• Create an outdoor reading nook.
• Visit your local library for holiday reads.
• Listen to an audiobook in the garden.
• Read under a tree.

Say Yes to Small Adventures

Summer doesn’t have to mean expensive days out or packed schedules.

You could:

• Catch an early morning sunrise.
• Explore somewhere new in your local area.
• Follow a path simply to see where it leads.
• Have dessert before dinner.
• Stay in your pyjamas until lunchtime.
• Watch the clouds drift overhead.

And Finally…

Remember this is a could-do list, not a should-do list.

Some Julys are filled with adventures and day trips. Others are slower and quieter.

Both are enough.

Pick the ideas that make you smile, ignore the ones that don’t and leave plenty of room for the unexpected moments that often become the memories we treasure most.

What could you do this July?

In case you share my way of thinking, for me summer means unhurried, spontaneous time spent outdoors – it is about open air, kids going to bed very tired, and those tiniest moments that somehow turn out to be the happiest ones. So, in case you plan to take the challenge of converting your digital hours into outdoor hours, here are some of the best outdoor summer activities for families who love being outside, really.

Beach Days That Feel Like Real Vacations 

You don’t always have to travel overseas to make your children feel a “holiday.” A mere visit to the British coast can be just as enchanting – provided you really get into it. Be sure to pack a windbreak, plenty of snacks and also some change of clothes (one of you likely gets wet).  Let your children build the most disgusting sandcastles, dive into freezing water, and go shell hunting like little treasure hunters. Insider tip: Always carry a big blanket and a cup of tea with you. There is a unique allure of sitting wrapped up as the kids run wildly along the beach.

Nature Walks  

Let’s be real – “family walks” doesn’t sound like a great deal for children. However, if you make it a mini adventure, things will totally change. Instead of making it a concern of measuring the distance, why not make it a discovery:- Find butterflies, birds, or animal tracks- Gathering cool leaves or stones- Organizing a hunt for the items. Hiking in the woods, nature reserves or even your local parks can be like completely different worlds when you slow down and let the children guide you. And yes, you will get home twice as late as expected but that is pretty much the point.

Picnics That Convert To Full-Day Excursions 

A picnic is more than just an outdoor meal – it is happening. Opt for a location that offers a chance for walking or running around a spacious area: a large park, a riverside area, or even the countryside. You can take out a football, a frisbee, and make a kite as in case of leaving a quick lunch will turn into an all-day party. The key? Make the food simple but fun: 

• Sandwiches cut into shapes
• Fresh fruit and easy snacks
• A little treat (because summer rules are different)

Besides, you know what the best part is? A slightly messy picnic tends to be more memorable than a perfect one.

Camping & Caravan Escapes

In fact, it quite possibly points to one that is more responsible for capturing the essence of summer than anything else. And that is packing up your things, loading up your car, and setting off for the great outdoors, exclusively with a tent or a caravan (that is now your new home) as your only companions. Either a full-fledged campsite or a more secluded country pitch, children definitely relish the novelty of it all, sleeping in another place, waking up to the chirping of birds and having the liberty to explore. 

Caravan holidays, that is especially, work wonderfully well for families. You get the excitement of getting out and about without actually giving up on the comforts, which, let’s face it, is something that matters more than we admit. Before you set out, you really should consider the practicalities as well. 

A lot of families just can’t bring themselves to go without first making sure they have the right caravan insurance in place. It’s one of those simple but smart steps that enable you to totally chill and make the most of your trip once you get on the road. After that, it’s simply soaking up the great atmosphere: marshmallow roasting, spinning somewhat ridiculous yarns, and seeing the kids doze off in that kind of deep sleep that happens only after a day filled with fresh air.

Exploring Nature & Mini Safaris for Kids 

Kids have an instinctive interest in animals and summer is an excellent time to nurture that. There’s no need to get anything elaborate. Just go to a green place and let them have freedom to explore: 

• Look out for ducks, swans, or fish in ponds
• Watch bees and butterflies in wildflower areas
• Spot squirrels darting through trees

Why not take a notebook with you or let them click some photos? This way, you turn a simple walk into a real mission. Also, the great thing is that it teaches them patience and observation skills without them even realising it!

Garden Days That Feel Surprisingly Special 

Many fabulous summer gem memories don’t require travel to spots at all. A straightforward garden day, after all, has the potential to change into a reality of enchantment only by unleashing the power of one’s imagination. How about: – 

• Setting up a paddling pool or a water play area 
• Creating a den using blankets and chairs 
• Going for a mini garden campout with snacks and after-story behaviour 

It’s simple, cheap, and most of the time just what everyone is longing for after a hectic week.

Cycling Adventures for Every Member of the Family 

Bike rides are an excellent form of family entertainment that can keep up with your family’s pace of growth really well. Going for a bike ride with little ones might just be taking a very slow – almost idle – round of the park. However, for a mere bigger kiddie, the same thing could mean at least a couple of hours of cycling each day along the exhilarating outdoor tracks, coverage of a considerably longer distance, etc.

Think about an easy path ending with a place, a cafe, a park, a beautiful natural spot, for example and it already becomes more meaningful. Simply keep in mind: tasty treats and breaks are incredibly important. All the time. Also, don’t be shocked if the trip actually turns out to be more important than the place you are going to. Little side-trips, races, and just one more loop usually become the best moments of the day.

Enjoying the Long Summer Evenings 

One of the most delightful aspects of summer in the UK is that the evenings become very long. Rather than getting ready to sleep in the house, make good use of that wonderful light of the late afternoon: There’s something quite magical about finishing the day outside – it makes time feel like it’s going really slowly, but in a very nice way!

Conclusion

Remember your family summer memories and more often than not, those big and expensive days would hardly be the ones that you recall most vividly. That is because it is usually the little, slightly messy and happiness-packed moments that make the biggest impression on us: The beauty of outdoor family living is that it simply doesn’t force you to make everything perfect. It only calls for being real. So grab your snacks, your sunblock and on the way out, don’t forget to shut the door. In many cases, the greatest summer days are the ones when you just relax and hardly plan at all.

In this step-by-step guide, I’ll show you how to turn a plain candle into a beautiful sunflower centrepiece. This is a lovely craft for an afternoon of creativity and also makes a thoughtful handmade gift.

You Will Need:

• Plain pillar candle (white or cream works best for vibrant colours)
• Acrylic paint pens (yellow, brown, green, and black) – I am a big fan of Ohuhu
• Pencil (optional, for sketching the outline)
• Ruler (if you want to measure spacing)
• Scrap paper or cardboard to protect your work surface

This post contains affiliate links. If you make any purchases after clicking one of these links, I will make a small commission (hopefully enough to keep me in tea all year) – at no extra cost to you! This allows me to keep creating and sharing free tutorials and content for you. Thank you!

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Safety Tip: Never leave lit candles unattended. I have burnmed these candles, but you need to make a choice as wether these are decorative or for use.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare Your Candle

Wipe the candle with a dry, lint-free cloth to remove any dust or oils. This helps the paint adhere better. If the candle has a glossy finish, you can gently rub it with fine sandpaper to give it a bit more grip (totally optional).

2. Sketch Your Sunflower Design

Using a pencil, lightly sketch where you want your sunflowers. You can do one large sunflower as the focal point or a few smaller ones scattered around the candle. Keep in mind how the design will wrap around the curved surface.

3. Add the Centre of the Sunflower

With your brown acrylic paint pen, draw a small circle for the sunflower’s centre. Fill it in completely. Then, using your black pen, add tiny dots inside the circle to give it texture and depth.

4. Draw the Petals

Take your yellow paint pen and draw long, narrow petals radiating out from the centre. Sunflower petals overlap, so don’t be afraid to layer some behind others. For extra detail, use a slightly darker yellow or orange pen to add lines down the middle of each petal.

5. Add the Leaves and Stems

Using your green pen, draw leaves and stems around your sunflower. Add veins to the leaves for more detail. If you’re adding multiple sunflowers, connect them with stems to create a natural flow.

6. Add Final Details

Go over any lines that need sharpening, and use the black pen to add subtle shadows or outline parts of the petals to make them pop. Little white dots or highlights on the petals can make them look even more vibrant.

7. Let the Paint Dry

Leave the candle in a safe, dust-free place for at least an hour (check your paint pen instructions – some dry faster). Avoid touching the painted areas until fully dry.

Displaying Your Sunflower Candle

Place your finished candle on a mantelpiece, as a table centrepiece, or in a decorative lantern. They make perfect handmade gifts for birthdays, housewarmings, or simply to brighten someone’s day.

If you love candle crafts, you might also like:

• Tea Cup Candles
• Candle Making for Beginners
• Ferm Living Inspired DIY Advent Candle

Tip for Gifting: Wrap your sunflower candle in clear cellophane, tie with raffia or a bright yellow ribbon, and add a handmade tag for that extra personal touch.

Here are our favourite late summer activity ideas, perfect for kids (and grown-ups) to soak up the last of the summer warmth and rhythm.

1. Press Flowers and Leaves

Capture nature’s fading beauty by collecting and pressing flowers and leaves. Use them for crafts, cards, or as part of a nature journal. Try it with hydrangeas, ferns, or leaves just starting to turn.

2. Collect Seeds

Nature’s seed cycle is in full swing. Gather seeds from sunflowers, poppies, or vegetables you’ve grown. Dry them out and save them for next spring’s planting—or make simple seed packets as gifts.

3. Go Foraging for Blackberries

Blackberries are a late summer treasure. Head to a local footpath or hedgerow with a basket and fill it with juicy berries. Make pies, smoothies, or even homemade blackberry cordial.

4. Embrace the Harvest

Whether it’s apples, plums, or garden veg—celebrate the seasonal harvest. Go apple picking or cook together using what you’ve gathered. Try making crumbles, stewed fruits, or dried apple rings.

5. Look for Bats at Dusk

Warm summer nights are perfect for bat spotting. Head out at dusk and look to the skies—bats often appear in gardens, parks, or near water. It’s a great way to introduce kids to nocturnal wildlife.

6. Go Rock Pooling

Visit the coast and explore tide pools. You might spot crabs, sea anemones, or little fish. Bring a bucket, magnifying glass, and plenty of curiosity! We have a free rock pooling scavenger hunt printable.

7. Make Rose Petal Jam

Got fragrant roses in the garden? Use the petals to make a delicate rose petal jam. It’s a lovely way to preserve floral scents and makes a sweet addition to toast or gifts.

8. Make Oak Gall Ink

Find oak leaves with round galls and try your hand at making natural ink—a fun and historical activity! This is a great science-meets-art project for older kids.

9. Collect and Press Seaweed

Next time you’re by the sea, gather flat seaweed types like bladderwrack or kelp and press them between sheets of paper for use in ocean-themed art or nature journals.

10. Look Out for Painted Lady Butterflies

Keep an eye out for these beautiful migratory butterflies in late summer as they travel north. Track sightings in your garden or create a butterfly-spotting log.

11. Turn Sunflowers into Bird Feeders

Let your sunflowers dry out, then hang the heads up for birds to feast on. You can also spread peanut butter on pinecones and roll them in seeds for DIY feeders.

12. Forage Meadowsweet

Meadowsweet is a late summer wildflower with a sweet, almond-like scent. It can be used in syrups or teas (always forage responsibly and double-check identification).

More Ideas for Late Summer Fun

Here are some bonus ideas to extend your seasonal adventures:

Create a Late Summer Nature Table

Gather natural treasures from your walks—acorns, feathers, petals, and stones—and display them as a seasonal centrepiece.

Have a Sunset Picnic

Make the most of long evenings with a simple outdoor meal. Bring lanterns, a blanket, and your favourite snacks.

Nature-Inspired Art

Use leaves as stamps, make pebble art, or use your pressed flowers in sun catchers. Let nature inspire creativity.

Start a Nature Journal

Encourage kids to record what they see, smell, and hear. Sketch plants, press leaves, or jot down wildlife sightings—it’s a great way to build observation skills.

Related Crafts & Tutorials from the Blog

Here are some activities from the site that pair perfectly with these late summer themes:

• Paper Sunflower Craft
• How to Make a Hanging Teacup Bird Feeder
• Paper Plate Sunflower Weaving Tutorial • Fun and Easy Craft for Kids
• Apple printing and apple eating!
• Paper Plate Sunflower Weaving Tutorial • Fun and Easy Craft for Kids
• Quinoa Apple Cake • A Fun and Healthy Recipe for Cooking with Kids

Pin & Print!

We’ve made this list into a printable version you can pop on your fridge or pack in your nature bag. Don’t forget to pin the image to your Late Summer board and follow us for more seasonal inspiration.

Late summer is fleeting—but with a bit of planning and presence, it can be one of the most meaningful times of the year. Which of these activities will you try first?

Let me know in the comments or tag your adventures on Instagram with @muminthemadhouse!

I commissioned one of my favourite illustrators Leslieanne from Leslieanne Made It to design these summer colouring bookmarks for you and they are totally adorable and perfect for kids and adults alike.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make any purchases after clicking one of these links, I will make a small commission (hopefully enough to keep me in tea all year) – at no extra cost to you! This allows me to keep creating and sharing free tutorials and content for you. Thank you!

I always print my printables directly onto 160 gsm cardstock using my Epson Ecotank Printer rather than regular paper, this way they are a little more durable and the pens do not bleed through to the other side. However, if you do not have a home printer then just pop to a library and use theirs.

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I took these on holiday with us and really enjoyed switching off and colouring them in.

Free Summer Colouring Bookmarks

Not only are they a fun free printable to colour, they are great for promoting reading. Why not give a bookmark and book to colour in.  Simply mat the uncoloured bookmark on to cardstock and add a ribbon and then give it out for the recipient to colour.

Supplies:

• White Cardstock
• Scissors or paper trimmer
• Colouring supplies of your choice (we used a selection of watercolour paints, pencils and pens)
• FREE Printable DIY Colouring Page Bookmarks

You can never have enough bookmarks, or I certainly can’t.  You will find them in my reading books, cookbooks, dairy and any books I am using for study too.

I love having a colouring bookmark in my study books as I can have a little colour in when I am thinking or procrastinating!

Download your Free Summer Colouring Bookmarks

Note: These prints and designs are copyrighted and for personal use only, please!

These bookmarks are perfect, no matter what your skill level is. We would love to see your versions of the Love Books colouring bookmarks, so please do share them with us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

Other Free Bookmarks to Colour and Make

• Love Books Free Colouring Bookmarks
• Geometric DIY Colouring Page Bookmarks
• Winter Colouring Bookmarks
• Monster Big Nosed Bookmarks
• Heart bookmarks
• Recycled Art Bookmarks

Colouring Supplies:

I am often asked what products I use and I am a big advocate of using the best supplies you can afford.  It is really frustrating to use pencils that keep snapping or refuse to blend well, oh and don’t get me started on pens that bleed through the paper.  I always buy the best quality I can afford, not just for me but for my kids too.  I want colouring to be a joyful experience.  These are mine and the

These are mine and the MiniMad’s suggestions to you.  Our tried and tested favourites.  When I first started colouring I just pinched the boy’s products, which is why adult colouring is so accessible and over the period of a year I now have my own supplies!

From quirky celebration days to national festivals and seasonal adventures, here are some brilliant ways to make memories this August.

Special Days & Celebrations

1st August – Yorkshire Day

Celebrate all things Yorkshire! Try traditional treats such as Yorkshire puddings or Yorkshire parkin, tea tasting, or a flat cap selfie session.

4th August – National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

Bake together or create your own cookie sundae bar with toppings and scoops.

8th August – International Cat Day

Make cat-themed crafts or read your favourite feline books. Got a cat? Plan a mini pamper session for your furry friend.

12th August – World Elephant Day

Learn about elephants and conservation with a craft or a nature documentary.

15th August – National Relaxation Day

Host a family spa day. Try DIY bath melts or bath oils, and finish with a reading corner.

19th August – World Photography Day

Give each family member a camera or phone and go on a photo scavenger hunt.

30th August – International Whale Shark Day

Explore ocean life through crafts, books, or an aquarium trip.

Festivals, Events & Adventures

Edinburgh Festival Fringe (1–25 August 2025)

Catch a family-friendly show, or create your own living-room performance at home.

Notting Hill Carnival (24–25 August 2025)

Make your own masks, dance to steel drums, or try Caribbean food recipes.

Summer Reading Challenge

Still going strong! Visit your local library and encourage the kids to finish their challenge. We have some fab bookmarks to download.

Perseid Meteor Shower (peaks 11–13 August)

Stay up late for a magical stargazing evening. Bring blankets, hot chocolate, and wish on shooting stars.

Local Fêtes & Flower Shows

Visit a nearby village fête, county show, or allotment contest. Look for face painting, crafts, and cake stalls.

Things to Try This August

• Create a DIY obstacle course in the garden or park.
• Try water balloon painting or sponge targets for a fun splashy game.
• Make pressed flower bookmarks – lovely for gifts or memory keeping.
• Go on a bee or butterfly walk and record what you spot.
• Host a backyard movie night – fairy lights + popcorn = magic.
• Pack a teddy bear picnic – dress up your cuddly crew!
• Try a no-spend day – visit the library, explore nature, or craft from your stash.
• Visit a pick-your-own farm for late-summer berries or sunflowers.
• Start a family time capsule – fill it with drawings, notes, or mementos to open next August.

Crafts to Match the Month

Get hands-on with creative makes that are perfect for summer:

• Tissue Confetti Photo Frame – great for summer memories.
• DIY Vanilla & Peppermint Lip Scrub – for your relaxation day.
• DIY Star Wars Soaps – for bath time fun.
• Magnetic Pin Bowl – great for budding sewists.
• Fingerprint Mugs – perfect for handmade gifts or keepsakes.

Final Thought

August doesn’t have to be packed to be meaningful. Whether you do one activity or many, let this Could Do List offer gentle inspiration for sunny days, rainy afternoons, and everything in between.

Don’t forget to download your free printable tick list below and keep it on the fridge or in your planner.

Looking for more monthly inspiration?

Explore our full archive of Could-Do Lists and seasonal crafts.

From quirky celebration days to easy crafts, seasonal makes, and summer festivals, here’s how to make the most of July.

Download your Free Printable “Could Do” July Tick List

Looking for fun and flexible ways to enjoy July with your family? This “Could Do” List is packed with simple, seasonal inspiration to help you make memories — without the pressure to do it all.

From quirky celebration days and outdoor play ideas to creative crafts and quiet moments, this list is perfect for:

• School holiday fun
• Rainy-day boredom busters
• Screen-free time
• Easy summer planning

Includes a free printable version with tick boxes so you can track your favourites throughout the month.

Download the Printable

Special Days to Celebrate

1st July – International Joke Day

Kick off the month with laughter! Tell your favourite jokes around the dinner table, or create a DIY family joke book.

4th July – American Independence Day

Get inspired by red, white and blue. Try themed food, a USA map challenge, or explore American inventions and landmarks.

7th July – World Chocolate Day

Treat yourselves with our homemade failsafe chocolate fairy cakes or chocolate microwave sponge. Or try our DIY Bath Melts That Foam for a choc-themed pamper night!

14th July – Bastille Day (France)

Celebrate with a French-inspired picnic or try your hand at making simple crêpes at home. We also have some fab Paris colouring pages to download for Free!

15th July – St Swithin’s Day

Legend says if it rains today, it’ll rain for 40 days. Why not start a family weather diary or craft your own rain gauge?

17th July – World Emoji Day

Draw your day in emojis, design your own with felt or card, or even try a DIY emoji-inspired marbled coaster.

30th July – International Day of Friendship

Craft button bracelets or write kind notes for friends and neighbours. A little gesture goes a long way.

Things to Try This July

• Set up a DIY garden water park with buckets, sponges, and sprinklers.
• Make your own frozen treats like fruit smoothie ice lollies or juice popsicles.
• Start a nature journal – collect pressed flowers, draw birds, or sketch what you see.
• Host a garden campout or make a cosy indoor blanket fort for story time.
• Try sunprint art using leaves, feathers or toys and light-sensitive paper.
• Make a Summer Bucket List – everyone adds ideas, then draw one each week.
• Add screen-free hours daily with games, crafts, or outdoor time.
• Visit a local county show – enjoy animals, craft stalls, vintage tractors, and games.

Festivals & Seasonal Events

Wimbledon Finals (early July)

Celebrate with strawberries and cream or a balloon “tennis” match in the garden.

Festival of Archaeology (13–28 July 2025)

Explore local history or create a mini archaeological dig using a sandbox or rice tray and toy “artifacts.”

School Fetes and Summer Fayres

Support your local events. Let the kids try the tombola, games, or win a prize at the coconut shy!

Creative Crafts to Make

Looking for rainy day projects or crafty afternoons? Try one of these popular makes:

• DIY Cord Tacos – Keep headphones and chargers tidy for travel or school.
• Tissue Confetti Photo Frame – Perfect for displaying summer snaps.
• DIY Star Wars Melt & Pour Soaps – A fun project for sci-fi fans.
• Magnetic Pin Bowl – Great for tweens or beginner sewers.
• DIY Butterfly & Flower Fingerprint Mugs – Beautiful personalised keepsakes.

Reading & Quiet Time

• Take part in your local Summer Reading Challenge.
• Host a read-aloud picnic in the garden or under a blanket fort.
• Create a DIY book nook with fairy lights, beanbags, and a “no grown-ups unless invited” rule.

A Month of Simple Joys

This July, don’t feel pressured to fill every moment — sometimes the best memories are made in slow, quiet pockets of time. Whether you try one idea or all of them, the joy is in doing things together.

Let this Could Do List help you make the most of long days, warm weather, and family time.

Beat the heat with this fun hands-on frozen flowers sensory ice play – I know that when it comes to keeping kids occupied water is often the key and these beautiful nature ice cubes are a beautiful STEM sensory invitation to play whilst the children play with they will be exercising their fine motor controls and dexterity. Plus you can add a little science into the mix too depending on the age of the kids. Preschoolers are naturally inquisitive so this is a brilliant age for this activity

We have made ice treasures before where I froze small toys such as LEGO Minifigures, plastic animals and mini dinosaurs in yoghurt pots, which goes to show that you can use what you have and don’t need any special materials. I would think twice about using glitter, beads or sequins as kids do tend to put ice in their mouths and it is better to be safe.

Top Tip: Use food colouring to colour some of the water, this is taste-safe and a fun way to make colorful ice cubes

Frozen lowers sensory ice play doesn’t just have to be a summer activity (although it is perfect for warm days in the backyard or garden), why not free pinecones or other seasonal nature items and make it an all-year-round water or sensory table activity? I would just say that this can get a little messy, so if you are doing inside pop a couple of towels on the floor, alternately you could even introduce it to bath time!

You can freeze any flower type, but why not make an adventure from collecting them too and use seasonal ones like daisies, dandelions or buttercups?

How to Make Frozen Flowers Ice Cubes

Materials

• Flowers, leaves, pinecones, etc.
• Water
• Silicone mould or ice-cube tray

Instructions

1. Add the nature items into your mould.
2. Fill with water.
3. Freeze overnight.
4. Remove from mould and enjoy!  

How to make the ice cubes crystal clear?

It is really hard to make your ice cubes crystal clear. You would need to use a method called directional freezing, which is really difficult with a home freezer, however, there are a couple of things we can do to make it clearer.

Firstly boil and cool the water you are using. It is recommended to do this twice before using. Boiling the water helps eliminate air and impurities and leads to ice that is clearer than standard but is not crystal clear

Similar to boiled water, distilled water will not deliver crystal-clear ice. Distilled water is made by collecting steam from boiling water, which helps remove salts, minerals, and other organic materials found in tap water. Also tap water is free and distilled isn’t cheap!

Frozen Sensory Play Activity Tools

You don’t need to purchase lots of additional items to enhance this unique sensory experience for your kids. Eye droppers, old toothbrushes, a spray bottle with warm water would be enough or even a container of warm water and the syringes used for kids’ medication. However, if you do want to make it a little more interesting for your kids when they do their ice excavation then use motor tools such as tweezers and water droppers work so well. You could also give them a selection of ingredients to try and see if they make a difference like salt, sugar, lemon juice and vinegar and then discuss the chemical reactions.

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As the end of term approaches, most kids are ready for a break from formal lessons. But did you know that time away from the classroom can affect their attainment in the long run?

Research shows that achievement levels often slump during the holidays. And the so-called ‘Summer Slide’ can make it difficult for kids to settle back into school in September.

The good news is that it’s possible to keep kids learning while they have fun this summer. Here are some ideas to occupy little brains and get them ready for back to school, too.

Maths and English Fun

Having fun with maths and English is a great way to keep children learning during the summer holidays, and just a few minutes practice each day can really boost their progress.

While most kids might not warm to the idea of school holiday sums, there are lots of great apps that make learning fun and reward practice with prizes!

Discovery Education’s award-winning DoodleLearning apps are the perfect summer learning tool. Designed to be used for just ten minutes a day, DoodleMaths and DoodleEnglish transform learning into a fun adventure, rewarding kids’ progress and building their confidence.

Using the apps, kids can enter the popular DoodleLearning Summer Maths and English Challenges, which sees thousands of kids take part each year. This year’s challenges have an underwater theme, and every child who completes either challenge by ‘Doodling’ for 14 days will receive a special pin badge and certificate.

To help kids join the challenges and keep learning this summer, Discovery Education is giving families 2 weeks’ free access to DoodleMaths and DoodleEnglish between 1^st July and 18^th August 2024. Parents can sign up by visiting doodlelearning.com/challenge-promotion and entering the code 2WKS_SUMMER.

A University of Bath study showed that children who use DoodleMaths for 20 minutes a week are four times less likely to experience learning loss – which makes the DoodleLearning apps a great choice for preventing the summer slide! Visit doodlelearning.com/impact to read the full study.

Summer Science

Summer is the perfect time to get hands-on with science, and the great outdoors provides the perfect laboratory for curious kids.

The Wonderseekers science charity has lots of free experiments that are easy to conduct outdoors, from stargazing to butterfly spotting. British Science Week has great free activity ideas too, such as a fun project to make a water clock that teaches about force and gravity.

Water experiments are always popular with little ones and easy to set up in the garden, if the weather is warm! Why not try some simple floating experiments to teach about buoyancy? All you need is a bucket, some water and a collection of objects. Older kids can extend their learning by making a boat from modelling clay too.

Holiday Reading

Books are a great way to beat learning loss, and there are lots of tips and tricks to switch kids onto reading this summer.

Start by visiting your local library to sign up for a summer reading challenge. Most libraries run these during the holidays, giving kids the chance to earn points towards a certificate. A trip to the library can be a fun day out, especially if you haven’t visited before. Let your kids choose their own books and enjoy exploring the shelves!

Another fun tip to encourage reading is to start a family book club. You can take turns choosing the book and get together to discuss it. You might even create special reading passports, where kids can earn stamps that count towards holiday treats and rewards. We have some fab bookmarks to colour in for any summer reading challenge.

Creative Coding

When it comes to school holiday activities, most parents want kids to spend less time on their devices. But with the right guidance, tablets and laptops can provide a summer learning boost too.

While many kids enjoy watching movies and tv shows on their screens, it’s important to balance this passive screentime with educational screentime – and activities such as coding are great for this.

From designing computer games to developing apps, coding is a fun introduction to computer programming. And because it combines kids’ love of technology with practical skills building, it’s a great choice for summer learning.

If your children’s school subscribes to a service like Discovery Education Coding, why not speak to their teacher to find out how you can access this at home? You can also check out the EU Code Week website, for puzzles, games and fun coding challenges.

We hope these tips will help you to keep your kids learning – and having fun – this summer. Don’t forget to claim your 2 weeks free access to Doodle. Simply head to the DoodleLearning website and enter the code 2WKS_SUMMER to get started.

Have a fun-filled summer everyone!