50 eco-friendly family activities
Make a frieze
Get out the poster paints, dig out or buy a cheap roll of lining paper or textured wallpaper and let the kids loose on making a wall frieze for their bedroom. They’ll be able to get even more creative if you encourage them to make hand - and footprints, and if you give them a variety of different sized brushes, sponges and toothbrushes to create different effects. Just be sure you protect the area they’re working on with newspaper or plastic sheeting (and don’t under-estimate how big an area you’ll need to cover!).
- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Papier maché
It’s almost a forgotten art, but this old favourite is all the more rewarding because it takes a bit of dedication.Start off making something simple like bowls for dry snacks. Blow up a balloon to a size that’ll make two bowls when the finished shape is cut in half. Get the kids to cover the balloon with torn up pieces of newspaper that have been soaked in wallpaper paste. Let each layer dry, then leave the whole thing in a warm place overnight until it’s fully hardened. Cut the end off the balloon and pull out the rest, then cut the sphere in half, going in with the scissors from the small hole left by the end of the balloon.Now you can get the kids to decorate the bowl with poster paints and, when dry, cover with a layer of craft varnish. They won’t be waterproof, though, so don’t risk ice cream or yogurt in them or stick them in a dishwasher!- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Treasure trail
You can do this indoors or outside, depending on the weather. It’s more fun all round if you take the time to write clues leading the kids from one place to the next before finally landing on the ‘treasure’.Rhyming, slightly cryptic clues are even better if you’re feeling creative and your children are of an age to appreciate the effort. You could leave a few small treats with each new clue so that everyone involved gets something before the treasure is discovered.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Miniature indoor garden
Find an old ice-cream tub of similar-sized plastic container, then show your kids how to fill it about halfway up with potting compost and plant in a few pieces of greenery from the garden (or some miniature herb plants). Give them some other materials like shells, gravel, pebbles and dolls’ house furniture to make their own miniature indoor garden.It’ll last longer if you do use rooted miniature plants, but if it’s a temporary distraction, a few pulled-up weeds and some grass cuttings will work just as well.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
DIY pizzas
Making your own pizzas not only encourages creativity and uses up some ‘bored’ time, it will also mean your kids are more likely to eat what they’ve created themselves. It’s a great way of using up leftovers and odd bits and pieces from the fridge, too.Buy or make a pizza base (you can get packet mixes that give great results, and stretching and kneading the dough is fun, too). Cover it with a rich tomato-based sauce, then let the kids choose from a selection of toppings. These could include shredded, cooked chicken or beef, canned tuna, cut up slices of ham, vegetable pieces, olives, canned sweetcorn or anything you fancy. Sprinkle with grated cheese (mozzarella is most authentic, but cheddar or any other grated cheese will do) and bake for 8-10 minutes in a hot oven. Enjoy!- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Fashion show
Encourage the kids to put on a fashion show. They could either invent weird and wonderful outfits from their own wardrobes or you could let them loose on your clothes and your partner’s for a bigger comedy effect!
Introduce different categories (sporty look; casual look; dressed-up look; funky school uniform and so on). Award small prizes for the most outrageous creations. You could make your own catwalk by rolling out some old wallpaper and provide background music and commentary, too.
- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Start a sewing project
Dig out or buy a few cheap remnants of fabric and find all your old pairs of tights or buy a length of thin foam.Chat with your child about what they’d like to make: depending on your skills levels, it could be something as simple as a sausage-shaped draught excluder or something a bit more complicated like a tote bag or handbag. Use the cut-up tights or foam to create the padding, and either use fabric glue or show your child how to stitch the seams together.If you are proficient with a sewing machine, you could show your child how to machine stitch if they’re old enough. You can decorate the finished item together with buttons, beads or whatever else you can find.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Potato printing
Here’s another blast from the past the kids will love: potato printing.
First get the kids to draw simple shapes (hearts, circles, geometric shapes) onto the cut surfaces of halved potatoes, using waterproof markers. Show them how to cut away the potato surface around the shape so that the shape itself stands proud.
Then, using poster paints and a roller, coat the shapes with different colours and print on to printer paper, lining paper or fabric. (If they’re printing on to fabric, bear in mind that poster paints won’t survive washing – you’d need to use fabric paints if you want the effects to be long-lasting.)
- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
CD mobile
If you have a pile of un-rewritable CDs you no longer need, or some older CDs that don’t play well any more, you can decorate them with stickers, fabric pieces, buttons, sequins, poster paints, foil or whatever else your child can imagine. Then string them together in sections and attach them to a covered coat-hanger to make a zany mobile for their bedroom.Decorated CDs can also make great Christmas tree decorations for an eco-friendly and inexpensive alternative.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Photo memory board
Dig out or print off family photos dating from as early as possible up to the present time and go through them with your kids.Chat about who’s who and what was happening when, then let them choose a selection to pin to a cork ‘memory’ board for their bedroom. Encourage them to think up captions or labels that they or you can produce on the PC and add with map pins.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Home made percussion
Encourage your kids to make their own percussion band so they can play along to their favourite music.You can recycle washed-out lidded drinking bottles or other lidded pots, then show the kids how to fill them about to different levels with dried peas, lentils, beans or rice. Always leave enough space at the top of the container for loud enough shaking! Make sure the lids are well secured, encourage the kids to decorate their new shakers and let them loose with the music.You can add upturned plastic bowls, metal saucepans, wooden and plastic spoons (if you can bear it) for a full percussion group.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
DIY greetings cards
Buy or find sheets of coloured budget card and make your own greetings cards using scraps from around the house and PVA glue. You could offer the kids small pieces of cotton wool; sequins; wrapping paper scraps; glitter; fabric scraps; buttons; beads; pasta shapes; uncooked rice; foil and old foil rosettes from previous gift-wrapping. Encourage them to write greetings or poems inside each so you have a variety of different cards for different occasions.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Home made dolls’ house
You can make a simple dolls’ house together using a shoe box or any sturdy cardboard box. Depending on the level you want to achieve, you can either cover the box before you start with fabric, gift-wrap or sticky back plastic, or just leave it as it is.Get your kids to cut out or draw windows and a door on the front, which must hinge open to reveal the compartmented inside (you can make the compartments with criss-crossed strips of cardboard fixed in place with PVA glue).If you’re all feeling adventurous you can make your own furniture, too – or you can re-use any dolls’ house furniture you already have. Enter into the role play with the kids once the house is finished. They can always add to it as time goes by.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Bake-off
Find a simple cookie recipe and go out to buy the ingredients together. It’s a good idea to choose a recipe with variations – for example, one that could include added raisins, chocolate chips, coconut or other dried fruit. That way you can make several different batches.
Show your child how to weigh out the ingredients accurately, then let them get stuck in to stirring and shaping the mixture. If you have shaped biscuit cutters, this will make the job even more fun. Bake for the required time, then allow to cool a little before lifting the biscuits on to a wire rack for cooling.
You could provide some icing writing pens, too, so that they can put some more finishing touches to the cookies when they’re completely cool, such as individual family members’ initials.
- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Create a herb garden
Whether you have a garden or a windowsill, it’s easy to create a herb garden with the kids.Start off with some potting compost and a plastic trough that’ll fit on your windowsill or some outdoor tubs. You can either grow you herbs from seed, which will mean waiting for the seedlings to grow (follow the instructions on the packet) or show the kids how to plant out ready-potted herb plants.Half the fun is choosing the mix of herbs that’ll look and smell good together - and that you’ll use in cooking. If the plants are going to be kept outside, choose hardy, woody varieties like rosemary and thyme rather than tender varieties like basil and coriander. Encourage the kids to tend to the plants and cut them whenever you’re going to cook with them.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Obstacle race
Create an obstacle race in your back garden or a small area of your local park. You can use upturned cardboard boxes, large upturned plant pots for stepping stones, mini cones for running around slalem, a skipping rope, full buckets of water for carrying without spilling, a sandbox, inflatable ball, pop-up tunnel, inflated lilos, tennis raquets and balls or whatever else you can conjure up so you can ring the changes after each circuit. Vary the activities but make the circuits as energetic as possible.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Water painting
This is a quick-draw guessing game that’s so easy to organize on a hot, sunny day.Simply give your kids a medium-sized paintbrush each and a container of water. The idea is to paint a shape or picture as quickly as possible with the water on to a dry paving stone, then have other players guess the picture before it dries.Keep score and award prizes for each person who guesses 10 different pictures.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
I-Spy book
Make an I-Spy book for your children by typing a long list of things they could spot on an outdoor walk with a tick-box next to each item, then making the list into a booklet format.Depending on where you live, the list could include phone boxes, oak leaves, street signs, conkers, squirrels, ducks, parking signs, bus stops and so on).Get your kids to bring their I-Spy books each time you go out for a walk or on a local shopping trip: the longer the list the more use they’ll get out of it. You can make things harder by including multiples, for instance five phone boxes rather than one. Award small prizes as the kids make progress with their books.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Photo scrapbook
Make or buy a rough scrapbook – you can buy cheap ones made from recycled paper, and encourage your child to dedicate it to their chosen subject: it could be their own childhood; your local town or village; their memories of family and friends; a particular hobby or whatever.Show them how to gather information from local papers; websites; family photos; old letters; library leaflets and magazines and build their scrapbook up. They can decorate round the edges of the pages or write their own entries on some of the pages, and it can become an ongoing project.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Friends and family picnic
Find a date when as many family and friends can get together (going by the weather forecast for the best chance of a dry day), and plan a big picnic.Allot a dish and drinks for each family to bring, including something the kids can make, like a simple salad or dip. Ask each family to bring a game or activity with them so there’s something new for everyone, then just enjoy the mixed company.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Bike ride somewhere new
Have a look online for a list of local cycle paths or planned rides, and select one that’s practical for you to get to, either by car (with the bikes) or by bicycle. Take drinks and snacks each and some suncream in a backpack, then head off to explore the area.The rides will vary in length and difficulty, so make sure you bear this in mind when choosing for the younger members of the family – and build in time for breaks, too.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Craft fair
See if you can find a craft fair or exhibition to visit where the kids get a chance to be hands on. Some places offer pottery trials; others offer the chance for children to make their own jewellery – there can be all sorts of workshops to take part in. There may be a small charge or some sessions may even be free.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Local museums
Check out your local museums – chances are there are some you didn’t even know existed, and lots of them are free to enter. It’s a great chance to get better acquainted with local history or local pursuits.There’s a list of free museums you can browse on the government’s culture website, but even if there’s an entry fee, you’ll know you’re helping towards the upkeep of your local museum.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Library day
Libraries are often overlooked as places to spend a few hours, but many offer great facilities for children of all ages. Find out if there’s a library near you with a children’s story time, CD or iPod listening facilities, computer usage and DVD viewing as well as books! It’s a good opportunity to let your kids explore different authors and genres of books, too.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Family games day
Ring round friends and family and get them dig out all their old board games. Arrange a date to have a family games day – it’ll give the kids a chance to explore new games they’ve never tried before as well as resurrecting your own interest in long-forgotten games from your own childhood. If everyone brings some snacks, sandwiches and drinks, too, you won’t need to cater for a whole bunch of people single-handedly.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Wetlands visit
Lots of families are unaware of the many wetlands conservation areas open for visiting up and down the country. These organizations do fantastic work providing nurturing environments for all sorts of wildfowl (water birds) and other wildlife. Owls, dragonflies, otters, frogs, voles and various wild flowers all thrive in the surroundings and provide lots of opportunities for wildlife spotting.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Family pond dipping
Taking a simple net and bucket to your local pond can give you all a chance to identify lots of different pond life, such as pond skaters, water beetles, water boatmen, water snails and more.There are websites that detail the sorts of things you might find, so print a pictorial list off and cross off whatever you find. You must return all your finds to the water when you’ve finished. If you take pencils and paper the kids might want to try and draw the various creatures to make a poster at home later.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
River cleansing project
Lots of areas have river or canal cleansing projects that all the family can get involved in. Not only will you be making a difference to your own environment and the welfare of the wildlife that thrives in these waterways, you’ll get a chance to meet other like-minded families and make new friends, too. It’ll give your kids a sense of responsibility as well – so it’s a win-win situation! Contact your local authority to find out what’s going on in your area and see if you can get involved.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Help out at stables
See if there are opportunities for your older child to help out at any of the local stables. This will probably be an ongoing commitment with a bit of training up front. Some stable owners offer free riding opportunities for volunteers who will muck out and help with grooming and other responsibilities. Your child will make new friends and may be invited to take part in outside social events, too.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Five-a-side football
If your child can gather nine or so friends together for an afternoon, why not organize a five-a-side football match at the local park? If you have more than 10 players, you can rotate by making substitutions so no one gets left out. Make sure you have a referee who knows the rules of football well, though, or they could come in for a bit of abuse from the kids who’ll invariably put up some interesting challenges! Get everyone to bring drinks and snacks for half time.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Wall-climbing
Indoor wall-climbing is a great way to pass an afternoon and some climbing organizations and leisure centres are happy to offer a free taster session for children who haven’t tried the experience before. If you do have to pay, it’s usually only a few pounds per session, so ask around locally or find a centre that’s not too far to travel to. If the kids enjoy it, you may have just found them a new hobby that’s relatively inexpensive and will help keep them fit into the bargain.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Mini golf day
Everyone enjoys a game of mini golf, and there are centres that have themed golf parks as well as just the more ordinary layouts. It’s something all the family can enjoy and it’ll get you out and about doing something more physical than playing on the PC. Some centres offer discounts if you play more than one round, which is worth considering if you’re hoping to make a morning or afternoon of it.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Lido day
If there’s an outdoor lido anywhere close enough to reach, this can be a really inexpensive and fun day out, especially if the weather is good. The lidos often date from the 1930s or even earlier, so are historic installations in themselves. Often, you’ll find a cafeteria or burger bar on site as well as grassed areas for picnicking or sunbathing and a separate pool for toddlers. Some include diving areas and water slides, too. There’s a whole day’s worth of fun to be had for relatively little cost.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Nature walk
A walk in your nearest woods can give you the opportunity of exploring nature in a way you wouldn’t normally find time for. See if you can find a pictorial reference for different trees and their leaves, a bird-spotting book and a list of likely woodland insects and other creatures, plus funghi and wild flowers and see how many you can spot. It would be worth getting the kids to take photos of everything they see, then building them into a scrapbook when they get home.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
City walk
Lots of big cities organize guided walks giving an informed and often amusing account of the history of the place. The guides are often actors, who can really command the attention of their audiences, regardless of age. Walks vary in length and timespan, so choose carefully to avoid whingeing from younger family members. There are usually short stops for refreshments built in to the schedule. Check your city’s events web pages to find out if there are organized walks near you. Otherwise, you might find some planned walks in a local guide from the library.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Vintage car museum
There are plenty of vintage and classic car museums up and down the country, as well as travelling exhibitions, so see what’s on in your area. These cars are historical artefacts in themselves and there will be a guide who can give you lots of information on their manufacture, the mechanics behind them and when the last of their kind was made.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Find a new park
If you always go to the same old park, ask around friends and family to find a different one. A change of scenery as well as play equipment will be like a holiday to younger kids! You could bring the bikes if cycling is allowed (check first to avoid disappointment) or, if it’s a relatively large expanse of grass, take kites or a ball or Frisbee. Even better if there’s a tea shop or ice cream shop nearby!- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Go for a run
If the kids are fit and active and looking to burn off some excess energy, why not all pull on some good running shoes and go for a family run together? It doesn’t have to be a long haul – just a gentle jog with a few stop along the way is a great way to introduce some regular exercise for everyone, and will give you an opportunity to look at your local environment with new eyes. Don’t overdo it if you haven’t done any proper exercise for a while: you could combine running with walking at first. Make sure you all have plenty of water with you to keep hydrated, and a couple of healthy high-energy snacks to keep you going. Don’t forget to slap on some sun cream before you set off, and keep within a short enough distance from home that everyone can make it back again without flagging.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Sell old toys through an online shop
Selling outgrown and unwanted toys and games is a great incentive to clear some space in the cupboards and for the kids to make a bit of extra pocket money. Or they could sell their own stuff and buy something new with the proceeds. While you’re at it, you could get rid of some of your own unwanted bits and pieces, too.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Clothes swap with friends
If your kids are tired of their own clothes and know friends who would like to make some swaps, get together at one of your houses with all your unwanted items and have a big trying on session. It’s more cost effective and eco-friendly than buying new stuff and will extend the life of all the kids’ wardrobes into the bargain.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Decorate a plant pot
Find a selection of terracotta pots and some suitable paints and let the kids give vent to their creativity. You can make or find some stencils they can use to help them with their designs and stick shells, lengths or ribbon or strings of beads around the edges as finishing touches. The pots can be used for their own choice of plants, or you could line the insides to cover any drainage holes so they can be used for storing pencils and craft materials, badges and other small items.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Camp out in the garden
If you have a tent, it can be great fun (as long as the weather holds) to camp out as a family in the garden – and even better if you have a camping stove or barbecue and can cook out as well. Bring a torch or two out when it gets dark and read your kids’ favourite stories or make up spooky tales between you all. Make sure the loo is accessible by leaving some lights on in the house, and be prepared for one or all of you to give up halfway through the night and go back to your own beds! With younger children, it can be just as much fun to spend the evening in the tent, but all come back indoors at their bedtime.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Learn a new card game
There are lots of simple card games you can teach young children, such as ‘Old Maid’, ‘Cheat’ and ‘Chase the Ace’. You’ll find instructions in a card-game book or online. For older kids, try learning ‘Whist’ or ‘Rummy’. A card-playing evening every now and then beats just another night parked in front of the TV and will get their brains working – good old-fashioned fun!- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Make tissue paper flowers
All you’ll need is a collection of different-coloured tissue paper, some coloured pipe cleaners and some elastic bands. Cut largeish circles (about the circumference of a large mug) and make a small hole in the centre of each. Layer different-coloured circles, scrunching them into folds as you go, then pass a pipe cleaner through each bunch and fix them at the base of the flowers with a tight elastic band. Make a whole bunch and display them in pride of place somewhere in the house.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Make your own family tree
Ask older family members to name as many relatives as they can remember, where they were born and their occupations, then draw up your family tree, starting with the oldest members and their husbands or wives, then their children underneath and their spouses and children, and so on. You and the children will get to learn a lot about your family history on both sides and it’s an interesting project to keep working on.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Write a story together
Find an old exercise book or notepad – or re-use old printer paper – and invent a story as a family. Each member of the family writes a sentence or paragraph each, introducing a new character each time if possible. With younger children, get them to dictate their bits of story so you can write or type them. Don’t worry if some of it makes no sense: the idea is to create as weird and wacky a story as you can, then read the result through to give you all a laugh.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Plan a wildlife area in your garden
Set aside a small area of your garden for planting flowers and grasses that attract bees, butterflies and other wildlife. Don’t plan it too near the house: you don’t want to attract insects indoors. The sorts of plants to choose include honeysuckle, foxglove and aquilegia, Viper's bugloss, comfrey, marigolds, cornflowers and sweet William.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Invent a smoothie
Smoothies are healthy as well as tasty, and it’s fun to invent your own new combination of flavours. Let the kids experiment by choosing from kiwis, ripe bananas, pineapple, strawberries, raspberries, pears, peaches and any other soft fruits. The smoothie can combine a selection of their choice with either ice-cold milk, natural or flavoured yogurt or ice cream. The sky’s the limit as far as creativity is concerned.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Have a teddy bears’ picnic
Get your kids to bring as many teddies and dolls to the garden or park as you and they can manage. Spread one or two blankets or towels on the ground and have a picnic. Bring food and drinks for yourselves as well as extra plates, cups, a jug and cutlery for the toys. You could invite friends’ children as well if you think you can cope!- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Start a wormery
Making your own wormery will allow you to dispose of kitchen waste in a way that will produce a rich compost for the garden. You’ll need to get the correct type of worm from fishing shops or online. First, choose a large plastic tub or bin with a tight-fitting lid. Drill holes around the bottom edge of the container, about three or four centimeters from the base, for drainage, then line with gravel to a few centimeters above the holes to stop the worms escaping. Cover the gravel with a layer of cardboard and some shredded newspaper. Moisten the paper and car, and follow this layer with a layer of leaf mould, compost or coir, then introduce the worms. Add a handful of chopped fruit or vegetable waste and cover with another layer of damp shredded newspaper. Avoid material that’s too acidic, such as citrus peel and onion waste. Let your kids keep a check on the worms, adding more fruit and veg peelings, eggshells, teabags and other compostable material whenever the worms come to the surface. The wormery mustn’t be allowed to dry out, so get them to add another layer or damp shredded newspaper whenever necessary. When the container is full, empty it out, keeping the worms to one side (they’ll be in the top portion), and start the whole process again with the same worms. Dig the compost into the garden as a wonderful fertilizer.- Get the kids ready for school with our Back to School special
- Find out how Katy Hill is copying with parenting in her weekly blog
- Subscribe to our FREE newsletters
IMAGE CREDITS:- getty images
Next Up: 28 must-have green gadgets
Be kind to the planet and your pocket with these top eco friendly gadgets.
By Nikki Moore
Enrik (not verified) replied 29 weeks 4 days ago
I just wan't to learn even more.
- reply
Today's Top Stories
Follow us
more bedwetting content
