Keeping Children Busy This Half Term

With half term now upon us I thought I would share some ideas for ways to keep the children busy this half term. My problem is that working from home and being self employed I usually find it hard as I don't get to take holidays. My plan in the future is to plan my time and divide it up. So the children get time dedicate to them with me and then I also have free play activities which the children can do by themselves while I need to work. Last week we put together a spring bucket list which you can find on the blog and I plan to let the children pick activities from this list every day. Here are some other ideas you might like to try. 

Bike ride- Taking the children on a bike ride would be a great way for the children to get excercise and also knacker them out . Older children can use maps to help plan out what route you will be taking which will give them a great sense of responsibility as you find your way. Taking a camera with you will allow the children to take pictures of what interests them and when you get home you could look back over these pictures and discuss what you saw. 

Planting- Last year the children help by searching through the seed magazines to choose what plants they wanted to grow. We drew a plan of the garden and using the information on the plants needs they planned where each plant would grew. This is the perfect time of year if you can bear the cold to go out and plant your seeds. In the cold many will need to be placed in door's ona window seal but getting the children to plant their own vegetables is a great way to get them to eat heathier too. 

Playdough- When the house is full of chaos and the children will not calm down try putting out some play dough this can be brought in most toy shops or you can make your own easily out of the ingredients in your cupboard. Check out our chocolate recipe here. 

Shadow puppets- This is a great wind down activity for before tea or bed time. The children can make up their own story from start to finish by creating their own characters. We are lucky enough to have a projector which connects to our computer so we used computer wall papers to make great back groups. 

Nature treasure hunt- Take the children on a walk around the local around taking bags or baskets with you to collect nature goodies on the way. When you get home sit down and look at the lovely objects you have found and create some collages to extend the activity further. 

Den building- Make up a box filled with rope, blankets, sheets, torches and label it up as a den box. The children can help them selves to it through out the holiday and being mobile they can make up a new den every day any where in the house or even outside.

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