Kids year round activities to start doing today

As parents, we all know keeping little ones entertained can be a difficult task: sometimes the weather is against us and more importantly so is our budget. Trips to the cinema, soft plays and leisure centres can be expensive, putting even more pressure on our household budgets. However, there are loads of cheap alternatives and kids year round activities for you to do. Today we share 5 of our favourites.

Explore your garden and grow your own

A cheaper alternative to getting your children outdoors and breathing in the fresh air, is growing some of their own plants and vegetables. Strawberries are an easy crop to grown and will produce something delicious little ones can munch on. Strawberry plants, available to buy from online You Garden, are reasonably priced and make for a very nice addition to any garden or sunny windowsill.

Growing their own plant can help your child build a sense of responsibility while having fun: plus once their crops are grown, you can join in and help make some yummy strawberry jam tarts.

Get messy in the kitchen

If your kids love to get their hands dirty in the kitchen, there’s always the classic cornflake cake to whip up. This activity will never go out of style and let’s be honest we also have fun doing this one. The only problem we’ll have is deciding who’s going to lick the spoon afterwards! Don’t stop at a cornflake though, there are plenty of simple fun recipe ideas for kids out there, so just dive in!

Of course, as a parent the last thing we want is our kids hyped up on sugar, so consider some sugar free chocolate like this range from Sugar Free Megastore. Apparently you can’t even tell the difference – always a plus!

Make your own sweetie paint

We love receiving handmade artwork that’ll we’ll treasure for years, but ever grow tired of spending loads of money on paints that don’t stain clothes? Well if you do, here’s a fantastic alternative your children will love.

Buy a pack of M&Ms or Skittles, separate the colours into pots (or ask little ones to do this task) and cover with water. Wait a few minutes and begin to paint! Your kids will think it’s magic and you know they’re having fun and that the sweets are harmless to their clothes

Take note: create a treasure hunt

Another great activity that’ll keep your children and their friends entertained all day, is the note trail game. Simply leave notes containing clues all around the house and garden, and get your children to try and find them. Encourage them by offering a prize at the end. Simple, yet effective, this game will ensure your kids have loads of fun and can learn to work together as a team.

Get that craft drawer out

Finally, getting creative can be extended to anything from playing with a toilet roll to create some of these fantastic models, to creating craft outside on a walk wherever you end up from in a wood to your own back garden. There is so much inspiration out there, that you are bound to find something that suits your child, and their little whimsies.

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If you have any other excellent resources, or ideas for kids year round activities do let me know. I am particularly fond of the loo roll ideas myself. See you soon!

 Helen

Helen

Helen is a mum to two, social media consultant, and website editor; and this site is (we think) the only Social Enterprise parenting magazine!Since giving up being a business analyst when juggling travel, work and kids proved too complicated, she founded KiddyCharts so she could be with her kids, and use those grey cells at the same time.KiddyCharts has reach of over 1.1million across social and the site. The blog works with big family brands (including travel) to help promote their services, as well as offering free resources to parents of kids under 10.It gives 51%+ profits to Reverence for Life, who fund a number of important initiatives in Africa, including bringing running water and basic equipment to a school in Tanzania.Helen has worked as a digital marketing consultant (IDM qualified) with various organisations, including Channel Mum, Truprint, Talk to Mums, and Micro Scooters. She loves to be creative in the brand campaigns she works on.Get in touch TODAY!