What better way to end a crazy year than to celebrate the arrival of summer and make the most of the warm months ahead? I’ve put together some inspiration for family activities during the holidays, to make sure everyone is lapping up the sunshine and having a ball.
1. Local bars with entertainment for the kids. There are plenty of great local spots that cater to families, so you can enjoy an afternoon drink or two and not have to worry about the kids moaning to go home. A quick Google search will bring up the best spots in your area that have playgrounds on the premises or live music during the day for the perfect summer afternoon.
2. Why not spend a day getting artsy in the outdoors? There are limitless opportunities to whip up hours of fun - while also encouraging the kids to put down the devices and get some well-needed vitamin D. Try your hand at painting your view with some cheap watercolours, get out the colouring books and pencils, or use leaves and sticks that are lying around to create some crafts with nature. The kids can get creative with rock painting, and come up with impressive designs that they can showcase in the garden. Even pressing flowers makes for a good quality bonding activity, and it guarantees something to look forward to when the final press is revealed a week later.
3. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Kiwi summer without heading out to the beach for a day. Why not explore a local beach you haven’t been to for a while or pack up for a day trip to one you’ve never visited before?
Here are a few tips for a seamless beach day when the kids are in tow:
- Take water bottles filled with frozen water in the car, so there is always cold water at the ready.
- Set timers on your phone for sunscreen application so the kids don’t risk a nasty sunburn – and have baby wipes at the ready to wipe off the sand before the sunscreen goes on again.
- Make sure you have something for shade, snacks ready to go, and beach toys are always a great idea to keep the kids entertained as you soak up the sun!
4. Go local! Camping makes for great family fun and there are loads of ideal spots just around the corner. There are a few beautiful regional parks that offer camping either free or at a lower price, as long as you book on the council website. Plus, you’re usually minutes away from the beach!
5. Water fun at home is completely do-able if you don’t have a pool. Water slides are bound to conjure up some giggles – a good old makeshift one with the tarp and some dishwashing liquid was a favourite from my childhood. Water balloons and water guns are also great for a hot summer’s day. Or my favourite way to cool down as a kid – and probably the easiest to set up – was to fill up a regular sized balloon with water and play catch with it until it burst on someone. This kept my sister and I entertained for hours, and we gradually ended up playing while bouncing on the trampoline for an added level of challenge.
6. There are so many great bush walks in the area, especially on the Shore. Why not explore your backyard even more and set out for a day to get amongst the beautiful native flora and fauna. The kids can get a bit of exercise and tire themselves out, while also searching for birds in the treetops. My family and I used to walk through Smith's Bush in Northcote during the holidays, and I still remember the excitement of walking around the track, counting the numbers as we passed them, and catching a glimpse of the birds as they sang from the branches.
7. Visit a farmers' market and get some ingredients to make something delicious at home – fruit dipped in chocolate is always a hit. The kids can get creative with mixing dark and white chocolate to make their own designs and look forward to eating their creations. It’s even better if the fruit is fresh and has been grown locally!
8. A pack of chalk and a pavement makes for a brilliant canvas. And the best part - it washes off so you can start all over again! Try incorporating games like tic tac toe or hopscotch into the mix, or just let the kids go wild all over the driveway - either way, it’ll get them outside and in touch with their creative side.
9. Head down to a local stream and let the kids make an ecosystem jar. Just fill a container with rocks, moss, sticks and water from the stream and keep it on the windowsill at home. After a few days the water will clear up and the miniscule creatures will be swimming around - a great way to bring nature into the home and observe the changes that take place!
10. Lastly, a photo scavenger hunt is a perfect way to give the kids something to do when it’s nice outside. Give them a list of things they must find around the garden (feathers, snails) and send them out with a camera to hunt away and take pictures of everything before they come back to show you all the treasures they’ve found.
