Simple ideas to keep your children entertained during the summer

Holiday

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Start by making a list of ideas

Make a list of all the activities and days out you would like to do this summer and cross things off as you complete them. This will ensure you get the best out of summer. It could be everything from learning to ride a bike to visiting a local tourist attraction.

Chat to your children about what they’d like to do this holiday.

Create a ‘boredom’ jar

At the start of each week why not write some ideas of activities your child can do if they say “I’m bored”. Get them to pick an activity out of the jar – this could be reading a book, colouring a picture, ride your bike, play a board game, practise your football. Each time they need something to fill their time, send them to the jar. You can create labels for the jar using the free software and templates at www.avery.co.uk.

An easy way to fill those moments of boredom

Have some messy play

Kids can have so much fun when you get out in the garden, lay out the paints and large sheets of paper. Let them put their hands and feet in and get messy whist making their own artwork. Just make sure you have the bath ready for afterwards.

Dig out the paints and get outside

Make some music with the kids

You don’t have to buy expensive instruments to allow your children to get creative with music. Make your own shakers using plastic bottles and rice and pans and a wooden spoon are ideal for drums. Elastic bands round a used tissue box can make a fantastic play guitar. You will have your own band in no time.

Let the children make some noise

Visit the local library

Getting children to continue reading throughout the school holidays isn’t always easy but if you set a challenge this can help. Most UK libraries are running the Summer Reading Challenge and this year the theme is Mythical Maze. Children get a new sticker each time they read two books and at the end of the challenge will receive a certificate and medal.

Encourage your child to keep up their reading

Encourage your child to drink plenty

You can use Avery Product Tags to create fun name tags for drinking bottles. By adding their name and picture it may encourage them to drink more but it also makes it easier for you to measure how much each child has drunk throughout the day. Upload your own image or choose from a wide range of free clip art in Avery Design & Print Online. http://www.avery.co.uk/avery/en_gb/Templates-%26-Software/Software/Avery-Design--Print-Online.htm

A simple way to keep children hydrated

Get crafty if the weather is really bad

Make sure you have plenty of crafts in stock for those days when it’s too wet to play outside. Children enjoy sticking, gluing, drawing and painting. For those who prefer something less messy you could use our free online software at www.avery.co.uk and get children to design their own cards or posters.

Children love to get creative

For those quieter moments

Avery Write & Wipe sheets are perfect for encouraging children to practise their handwriting. These are handy for taking on planes or when you go out and about and don’t want to take lots of paper. All you will need is a Write & Wipe sheet, a marker pen and a cloth to wipe it clean.

A simple way to practise writing

Create your own clothing

You can print your special holiday moments onto clothing or other material to ensure they last a lifetime. If you are heading to a tourist attraction, instead of buying a souvenir t-shirt why not make your own using Avery t-shirt transfers and the free online software at www.avery.co.uk.

See your holiday memories in print

Enjoy the sunshine when you can

Whilst it’s important to protect your child’s skin in the sunshine, Vitamin D is vital for children’s health and wellbeing. Your household chores can wait but the sunshine may not, so get outdoors at every opportunity.

Get as much Vitamin D as possible

Make the perfect picnic

Kids love a picnic. You can’t beat sitting in the sunshine in the great outdoors whilst you enjoy some finger food. Your picnic can be even more organised if you label the food items or individual picnics.

Enjoy eating in the sunshine

Keep a record of your child’s work

If your child is at school we expect they arrived home on the final day with lots of pieces of paper having emptied their drawer. Why not create a folder for each school year so you have somewhere ready to store them? It’s always fun to look back at old work and see how they have progressed. Visit the Avery website for filing advice and ideas www.avery.co.uk.

What do with your child’s school work

Ensure your summer memories last

By saving and printing your favourite holiday snaps you can remember those special moments whenever you want. Why not save them on a media disk and send them to grandparents or aunts and uncles to show what you’ve all been up to this summer?

Print out your favourite pictures

Send your own ideas for the summer holiday to @UKAvery or www.facebook.com/UKAvery.

For more ideas for the home and work you can visit the Avery blog at www.averyuk.tumblr.com or the Avery website at

www.avery.co.uk