Easter Holidays are just around the corner and the kids will be spending some time at home. With the cost-of-living crisis, we’re all tightening our belts and we thought it might be useful to put together a few ideas to entertain your little ones and allow yourself some peaceful and enjoyable hours whilst trying to juggle all your other commitments.
During these holidays, although spring is springing so to speak, we can’t guarantee the weather in the UK, hence why most of the suggestions are indoor activities. All these activities may suit 4–7-year-olds and some of them may suit older kids as well.
Make Food Together
Stirring up biscuit mixtures, licking the mixer and flour evvvvverywhere – certainly some of the happiest memories of our childhoods. With just a little effort and only a little expense, you can create special memories with your little one in the kitchen. Not only will your child have fun and remember the experience, there are also some educational advantages! Your kids will learn about ingredients, quantities and nutrition. Ok, we admit not too much on the latter if you are introducing them to biscuits and cakes! 😊
How about trying these very simple biscuits ?
Blow up some balloons
Balloons give our little ones joy for hours so why save them up for birthdays and other celebrations? Buy a packet of balloons for just a couple of pounds and your kids will immediately channel that happy party feeling. For those feeling brave, why not watch a YouTube video on making balloon animals? You’ll certainly gain some extra brownie points for this step… if you find something simple enough, you could even let them help – valuable for motor skills, and of course more importantly, great fun!
Make Easter Cards or Birthday Cards
Making easter cards is always a fun activity that doesn’t take too much preparation or unnecessary expense. If you don’t celebrate easter, then get organised in advance for the festival you do celebrate. Or, even better, make a stash of birthday cards together so you have something perfect to dig out next time it’s the birthday of a relative and you are short of time.
Take a look at this guide for inspiration.
Go for a walk with purpose
Depending on the age of your child, even just a plain walk might help to pass the day joyfully with some fresh air and exercise. If you struggle to get your little one out of the house, then why not create a list of things that they need to tick off on their walk. This may vary depending on where you live but for a few examples, how about an insect, a blossom tree, a yellow flower and a blue car?
Make paper dolls
We’ve always found this to be a really fun activity that’s really engaging for our kids and something to keep or to give as a gift. The decoration can be as simple (felt tips) or as elaborate (stickers and pom poms) as you like!
Take a look at this video for a visual guide on how to make them.
Watch a movie together
We all love to snuggle up on the sofa and watch a movie. Bring in the duvets, turn the lights down and grab a couple of bowls of snacks. This really raises the game on an average tv session for your kids and you can all enjoy something together. We love ‘Coco’ and ‘My Neighbour Totoro’ as well as Sing – an oldie but a goodie.
Take a look at this movie guide for 6-9 year olds.
Make a pizza
This is a simple idea that we love… it can really help to break up the day and may also encourage your child to try new foods. We tend to buy our pizza bases from the local supermarket although you can make them if you’re feeling brave! Supermarkets also sell specially made pizza base sauce, although you could make your own from chopped tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and herbs. Let your child spoon out the tomato sauce, scatter their own cheese and then add their own choice of toppings. We like black olives, tinned pineapple, sweetcorn and peas. (get in a few of those 5 a day without them noticing!). You may also like to try ham or mushrooms, or even chorizo and basil if you’re going more fancy!
Decorate paper aeroplanes
This is something that went down quite recently with our little ones and it’s such a simple and effective idea. Paper aeroplanes take a while to make and even longer to decorate. It’s so much fun to see whose plane flies the furthest and if they have never made paper aeroplanes before, you’ll see pure joy on their face when the piece of paper flies across the room!
We hope you enjoy your holidays and find this guide useful – please do let us know any feedback. Also, please find some time to relax yourself in the way that you like to best – a good book, a walk, a yoga class or a small glass of wine!
