Ideas for the summer, especially the wet days........

[clutteredup]

I found these sites that looked quite good, can anyone add more? I just need a big stock of things to do to keep DC occupied in case it rains all summer
summer fun
creative kids
boredom busters

[iesha]

Oh, how bril are you. I spent ages yesterday tryig to find a rainy day thing to do with my 2yo DS. Today we're going to the beach so at least now I have some ideas for what to do with the inevitable shell collection we'll get.

[clutteredup]

Thanks iesha.
If anyone finds any more we could get a good stock of ideas going.

[Mung]

Thanks...I can't add any, but these will be very useful.

[clutteredup]

bumping for more ideas

[clutteredup]

bump bump bump

[gingerbabe]

Was just thinking of starting a thread like this but wassn't sure where to put it (as incorporates days out too - in fact might do one there too)

The ideas I have at the mo for 'at home' activities are:

Do a mini fete in our garden for family and friends to come to
Big baking day (maybe in preparation for fete?)
An Italian day - kids are part Italian, so am intending to have one day where we wear red, green and white, eat only Italian etc
Library are doing a reading incentive thing, so a trip there, stock up on books and read them back at home
Wet day - movies and popcorn
Obviously playdates

Erm, that's all I can think of at mo

[clutteredup]

Great ideas Ginger, thanks. i like the whole Italian theme, you could extend it to an international week , it would be educational aswell.
I wasn't sure about where to post either, wonder if there should be a separate topic for holiday ideas...mmm....perhaps i should ask MNTowers.

[clutteredup]

Sorry there should have been a after educational - it IS the holidays

[Miaou]

Dd1 has requested to do this - lots more good ideas on this website too.

[Miaou]

Yes - go to the library and join in the Wild Read - if your kids read six books over the holidays, you get a certificate and medal presented to you! Here in Scotland we are already two weeks in but I think it's only just starting in England. More info here.

[gingerbabe]

Hey Miaou, love the idea of the lava lamp. Will definitely be trying that one.

[JackieNo]

Kids Craft Weekly has some fab (easy!) ideas. And you can either just look at the website, or register for free and get new ones emailed to you every couple of weeks (despite the name).

[clutteredup]

Found some more
www.holidaycrafts4kids.com/
gov site
I also found some ideas a while ago and now can't find the site, DC reminded me today -
'mummy's boot camp' - good for exercise on a arainy day - likethose american soldiers you march around the house and they follow and then you do star jumps, press ups , or whatever jumping clapping and then take turns to be leader - my DC loved this one and we kept it going for quite a while.
Also scavenger hunt - find objects around house beginning with letters of alphabet, name or colous for younger ones - prizes can be awarded after all have been put back.
And treasure hunts with maps and clues ( this takes some preparation) with choc coins as treasure.
Of course done none of these today

[Miaou]

Another one - we went to the beach today (lovely weather - hooray!!) and picked up a few flattish smooth stones. The next rainy day we have, we are going to paint them (pictures or patterns) with acrylic paints then varnish them. Don't have to go to a beach to find them - you might find them in a river just as easily (though check who owns it first ).

[clutteredup]

good one miaou - anyone else?

[clutteredup]

Got another one
free stuff to do
Anyone else ?- come on I can't be the only one

[clutteredup]

another one
Come ON !!!!!!!

[NappyValley]

GEocaching is a great OUTDOOR thing so not much use on rainy days. It is kind of a treasure hunt thing, but you need a GPS.

Also bike rides are fun. Even on a grey day they are good as you don't get too hot. One of the bike shops near us let you hire trailers for infants/toddlers too.

I love these ideas though very creative. I can see I need to plan ahead. Just getting out the tubs of play doh only covers about 40 minutes with us before DS gets bored.

[McDreamyGonagall]

Greta thread -- although for me it's not the rain that's keeping us nidoors it's the blazing hot sun!!!

[NappyValley]

Oh check out if you have a local scrapstore (just google it) I know there are ones in Southampton, Swindon, Bristol, Sheffield and Dorchester. But I am sure there are more. They have loads of cool off cuts and stuff of ribbon, card, paper etc and you can pay very little (in southampton it is £1 per carrier bag full of stuff) to create those arty projects.

We have 1 wall of our playroom that is painted white and then all the kids have done hand prints on it. We have lots of space to fill, so we are planning a hand painting party at some poitn this summer.

[clutteredup]

Great ideas, thank you. i'll check out the scrapstore, i was wondering where to get cheap stuff from. i've already started hoarding empty boxes, might try and make a large construction, hopefully a joint project so they are nice to eachother

Anyone else