Learn how to bubble write
Colouring in
Write a book report
Try some decoupage
Write a letter to a penpal
Make fingerprint art
plan and cook a meal
Make a masking tape race track or town
Make your own play dough
Make paper flowers
Looking for more ideas, then Cass at Frugal Family has some more great rainy day ideas on her blog.
Pen and Paint is Lindsay Hopkins and I first discovered her fab artwork on Instagram. We now have four of her prints around our house and we love them Everytime I look at them they make me smile and people always comment on them.
pen and paint blog bucket list
Lindsay also has a brilliant blog and every now and then she offers free printables on it and I just had to share the summer ones with you. I have printed out the bucket list one for my boys to colour in and fill in, but Lindsay also have one that is pre coloured in.
pen and paint summer
Both my boys had the Spring version of the seasonal print in their rooms. I love the fact that you can make children aware of such fantastic art and they love it and have been waiting for the summer one.
Nor does it mean that I let them be bored or fail to plan activities for us as a family. I am not a parent that see’s boredom as a virtue, in fact I have a bored jar for times like that!
No a #freeRange Summer means that I am trying to give my children some freedom to play out. That I am trying to establish some boundaries for them to stick too and to reduce their reliance on screens. In today’s increasingly technological world they are increasingly looking at picking up a piece of technology to escape their boredom.
Let’s play – Read a book
Go on your DS for 30 minutes
Research the Romans on the computer
Let’s cook – Biscuits
Let’s cook – make pizza
Tidy your room
Pick a flower and paint a picture of it
Go swimming
Call on a friend
Do the washing up
Make music
Go to the library
Make rocky road or fridge cake
Hopscotch
Make an obstacle course
Groom the dog
Colour in a book
Clean your bedroom
Learn how to skip
Help pair socks
Draw round your brother
Write 5 things you love about each member of your family
Play with Lego
Do a jigsaw
Paint rocks
Scoot round the block
Make fingerprint animals
Feed the ducks
Put up the play tent
Play with the toy cars
No electronics for the rest of the Day
Make cards
Have a bath
Write a story starting with “David had to find out where Rocky had gone…………………”
Draw a map of our house
Find out how many bones are in the human body
Have a shower
Draw a robot and label all his parts
Pretend you are a knight
Sort the laundry
Make paper aeroplanes
Have a tea party with your friends
Empty the dishwasher
Jump up and down 20 times
Let’s cook – cupcakes
Let’s cook – you choose
Put on a DVD
Go out on your Bike
Get the paint out
Go to a park
Water the plants
Make homemade bubbles
Have an ice-cream
Make hot chocolate
Vacuum the stairs
Craft with Mum
Set the table
1 chore of Mums choice
Draw a comic
Play with Playmobil
30 minutes on the Wii
Make Jelly
Feed the ducks
Make a bird feeder
Build a den
Science time
Draw a picture of our house from the outside
Time for a Science Experiment
Make a rain water collector
Climb a tree
Make wooden spoon people
Spend 30 minutes on Moshi Monsters
Let’s cook – muffins
Make’/fly a kite
Let’s cook – Make popcorn
Go out on your Scooter
Board game
Roll down a hill
Go to the beach
Sort out your shoes
Borrow the camera
Find five toys to give away
Go for a walk
Sweep the ground floor
Do some stitching
30 mins with Mum
Wash the car
Football match upstairs
30 Minutes on the Xbox
Go to a Museum
Make a volcano
Plan dinner, write a menu, help cook and serve
Have a race
Wash the pots
Plan a bean in a jar
Make finger puppets
Find shapes, animals and objects in clouds
Write a poem
Watch Phineas and Ferb
Pretend you are a cowboy
Make a family tree
Empty the dishwasher
Make a treasure map
Make a paper plate monster mask
Pretend you are a pirate
Learn how to use the washing machine
Go to soft play
Steam mop the bathrooms
Steam mop the kitchen
Make a paper boat
Take dog for a walk
Write to your penpal
Make a card
Prepare dinner
have a water balloon fight
make journals and update your scrapbooks
Make memory stones
make homemade jam
prepare a family meal
Collect pinecones and make things from them
Make a den
go bowling
have a neighbourhood waterfight
go to the zoo
colour some more fabric
family bike ride
go to Beamish
make a rain catcher
go to a park you’ve never been to before
go swimming
go bird watching
learn how to play a new board game
visit local art gallery
mail a letter to a penpal
bake cookies
fly a kite
make pavement or sidewalk paint
go on a road trip
have a water balloon fight
go to the airshow
go camping
make a bird feeder
play hopscotch
make paper airplanes and race
have a cricket match
make sail boats and race
play mini golf
make cupcakes
learn to sew
make smoothies
go to a museum
have a family talent show
go to the woods
make friendship bracelets
create sidewalk art using chalk
make some shrinkydinks
make homemade bubbles
go to an amusement park
do a jigsaw puzzle
make a dream catcher
play mini golf
camping in the backyard
make sand castles at the park or beach
make a volcano
homemade marshmallow guns
make a video
make homemade instruments
decorate cupcakes or cookies
have a treasure hunt
play Frisbee
make sun catchers
visit a nature center
go to the beach
eat fish and chips at the beach
collect sea shells
go a local farmer’s market
go on a minibeast hunt
make soda floats
have an ice cream party with lots of toppings
go to the skate park or a skating rink
make paper mache air balloon models
Just because we are having a free range summer, it doesn’t mean that we can not plan some activities and ideas for things that we want to do as a family. I was inspired by Frugal Family’s post on how they plan their summer holidays to share how we plan ours.
So this morning we all sat at breakfast and decided on things that we wanted to read, do, make and places we wanted to go. I sat and wrote them all out on Post-it Super Sticky Notes from 3M . The boys would have had we had more time and will any additional ones!
We used a different colour for each of the activities and then used some lovely heart ones for major things and day trips we are planning.
Our list this year is wonderful and wide ranging and includes:
Visiting lots of different parks – We tend to take a picnic with us.
Visiting local museums and art galleries – I tend to tie this into times when they have free activity sessions on. Your local council is a great source of information on this.
Woodland centres and forests. The Forestry Commision has an enchanted wood at Dalby Forest with a magical adventure play area with a fort, storytelling seats and carved insects hiding in the trees. They also have some great free fairytale activity sheets and ideas too. The woodland trust also has a great Nature Detective website with over 150 ideas for free things to do.
Visit the cinema and bowling alley. We always make sure we look out for great deals and this summer Cineworld have some great family deals, which I featured on A Thrifty Mum.
Outdoor play – including cricket, football, rounders, minibeast hunting, camping out in the garden, playing with friends, cycling, scootering and having their own olympic games.
Making and baking – I always encourage the boys to be as creative as possible and this summer they are going to make their own cakes, pizza, biscuits and picnics. They also want to make a windchime, birdfeeders and dream catchers. I think that it is always fun to collect items from your trips to places and use them in your crafting, such as shells and pebbles from the beach, which can make rock monsters and memory stones.
Thank you to Post-it Super Sticky Note for provided me with lots of Post-it Super Sticky Notes to write our activities on. Did you know that they are so sticky that they are going to cover a London Taxi in them and drive it around London to prove it. You can get your name on a Post-it Super Sticky Note, that will then be stuck on the Taxi by visiting their Facebook Page www.facebook.com/PostitUK. My name will be on the Taxi! Six people will be invited to remove a note off the taxi and if your name is on it then you would be a winner.
When I think of my summer holidays as a child, they were filled with sun, sand, bikes, scraped knees, dens and playing out with my mates, only coming home when I was hungry or thirsty. This i9s the type of summer I want my children to have. A somewhat retro summer and certainly a free range one.
I am not saying that I am going to leave my seven and eight year old boys to fend for themselves all day or go on days out with them or even forgo every planned activity. What I am saying though is that I am going to limt screen time and expect them to take out their cricket bat and ball and enjoy some outside time.
I want them to get board and to try and find ways to fill that time with something other than a mindless electronic game. If all else fails then they can resort to the board jar and face the chance of getting a chore instead of an activity!
Who is with me?
Summer Manifesto 2013
Continue to find time for the things I enjoy whilst the boys are off school – sewing etc. I am going to try some english paper piecing as it is portable so I can do it if we are at the park etc.
Make a family summer bucket list.
Practice my crochet. After over two years of trying I think I might have cracked it! I made a coaster!
Menu plan – Menu planning save me money, time, effort and makes us all happier. This is something that has slipped recently, so I am going to endeavor to do this weekly.
Declutter. Both the boys want their bedrooms changing round, so I’m going to do a boot sale and also clear the garage over the summer (yes, really!).
Go camping with the boys .
Realise that we do not have to have a strict summer schedule to enjoy the summer. I want the boys to get board and learn to make their own entertainment.
To turn off more. Less electronic time, more family time.
Have a family picnic once a week. There is nothing wrong with doing this on a school evening. We need to get out more and this would be a great way to connect as a family.
What are your goals and aims for the summer?
So what are my essentials:
For me it is a decent pair of shoes, I love these womens fitflops from the MoZiMo Website. I tend to go bare foot on the dry sand, but as our beach goes a long way out, I like trainer style shoes to walk on it!.
I also suggest large bright beach towels (great place markers) and also good for sitting on and getting dry.
UV wear for the boys. Yes we always have sunscreen on, but the more protection the better.
Even at 7 and 8 the boys love toweling robes. perfect for getting warm and dry.
A large bag for putting it all in
Kindle – just for me!
Beach toys, such as balls, kites, bucket and spades.
baby powder or talk, perfect for removing sand before putting shoes on
Water
Beach kettle and cups. There is always time and the need for tea.
I also have in the car, a beach tent, windbreak and spare change for the parking meter.
In many countries, the heat of the midday sun can be uncomfortable, and it’s certainly not good for your skin to be exposed to the sun in that way. If you’re heading out in hot weather, then it’s fine to wear a strappy top, or summer dress, but roll up a simple cotton shirt and cotton trader’s womens linen trousers in your bag so that when you need to, you can pull it out and give your skin some added protection. You’ll still need sunblock, as the sun’s rays will penetrate the cotton covering, but it does reduce the exposure and help you to stay a little cooler.
The other key time when a long-sleeved shirt comes in useful is as the evenings get chillier. In many holiday destinations, very warm days are followed by much colder nights and as the sun fades for the day, you may find that you need an extra layer just to keep the chill at bay. A long-sleeved cotton shirt is perfect for this, as you can layer it over whatever you’re wearing and either button it up or tie it at the front to keep stylish and comfortable at the same time.
This piece of clothing is a great holiday staple, and doesn’t have to be expensive in order to do the job. A pure white, 100% cotton shirt looks stylish at any time, and you can mix and match it with most of your wardrobe to great effect. Or, choose something more colourful or patterned, so that even when you’re covering up, you’re still wearing those key summer colours, bringing warmth and style to the room.
You could be preparing for a holiday or just planning ahead for the summer – now is a great time to buy a long-sleeved cotton shirt for this season. Retailers on the high street and online have a real variety of shirts in their spring/summer collections, so you should be able to find something that suits your style and your budget – helping you to stay cool in the hottest of climates.
We are busy making the most of the summer holidays, so I thought I would do a collage in Instagram showing what we have been filling our days with:
here has also been firsts too. Our first visit to the Skate park with Frugal Family and the boys first visit to the high street on their own. It has been a veritable feast of emotions for all of us. I love my time with them. I love that they are fun to be with and that they enjoy spending time with me as much as I do with them. Long may it continue.
Summer is supposed to be on it’s way and regardless of the weather, the children will be off for their summer break!
So today I have a super competition for you to win a free day of football coaching for a child and a friend from Powerleague , who run football and sport centres across the UK. Both my boys adore football and are in U7 and U8 teams. I guess there must be something in their gene’s as MadDad played five a side football with his work until recently.
However, If money was no object I think I would like a day away from the children in a spa, whilst they were entertained.
So as the summer is nearly over, what would be in your mums summer survival kit?
This weekend was the start of the holiday for us. Unfortunately MadDad will not be able to take any time off with me and the boys until the last week of August, but that is the price we have to pay for having him around when I was in hospital and converlessing.
We have spent this weekend having fun and enjoying time together as a family and it has involved, eating, cooking, baking (recipes to follow)), building, gardening and generally having fun spending time together.
We visited the National Space Centre for the first time this weekend, thanks to Lego City. This summer Lego City have launched their new Space range and to celebrate have teamed up with the National Space Centre over the summer holidays.
