What free things are you doing at home during the summer hols?

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I've got 3 DC to keep entertained over the summer.

I'm off with them, DH will be working for most of it although does have some time off. We've got a couple of long weekends away to look forward to, but I'm hoping a few of us could swap ideas of cheap/free things to do in the house/garden.

I'll start:

• Freeze Dino figures in balloons and let the kids chip away at them with their 'tools'
• Set up an obstacle course with toys/activities we already have
• Picnics in the garden

Do you have a local river? The kids spent ages building fairy castles (rock towers) the other day. It could also work in the garden if you have flattish stones.

@Sosorryliver not very local, but there's a nice spot about 25 minute drive away that I think we'll spend a weekend day at, where there's lots of open space and a little stream for them to paddle and play in.

Mud kitchen in garden (can use boxes and old pans etc)
Put up tent in garden, play camping

Baking. Possibly followed by afternoon tea.

Movie day

Disco in the house. Shut curtains, get the disco lights on and some music. Possibly games like musical chairs.

Board games

My dc love it when I get groceries delivered. They look out for the van, and then play 'shops' with the things .

Painting

Play with water in the garden.

Trying to get out for walks often . Might have to promise ice cream or treats sometime .

Visit the library for a different book to read.

-Library reading challenge
-Friends visit
-Sleep downstairs on airbeds
-Cinema afternoon but they make tickets, seats, snacks into pick and mix etc

• bus trip to nearest town thats not our normal one to go to their park. (They love bus trips.

-garden centre and play in their free "beach"

• bake a cake then visit grandparents with cake

Library - summer reading scheme

Picnics in the park.

Do you have tennis courts in your park, normally free.

Building dens, burrow a tent and camp in garden. Lots of videos on bushcraft type activities.

Painting, chalk in garden - put an advert on your local free site see if anyone is giving away craft stuff / bats and balls/ puzzles / games.

Mine would love making potions in the garden.

Not free but cheap get a bus somewhere different .