Five fun, creative ways to entertain children this half term
You’d think after weathering the storms of multiple lockdowns we’d all be brilliant at finding entertaining and ingenious ways to entertain children when they’re not at school. But the truth is, most of us still need a little inspiration.
This half terms comes complete with ‘ready-made’ fun thanks to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee – chances are you’ll have a local street party or village parade to entertain you. But we’ve got some ideas for the rest of the time. All are creative, none of them involve screens and plenty of them are indoor activities for days when the summer fails to materialise.
Learn simple woodwork techniques
Making things from wood can be super simple or mind-blowingly complex. But even the most skilled carpenters start with just a block of wood – and this is exactly what is offered in these gorgeous ‘carve your own’ kits which we stock on ND on the Green and are absolutely perfect for children who like to make and do. You can carve spoons, chop sticks or butter knives with any knife due to the softness of the wood provided. The kits always come with sanding paper, wax and a cloth.
Give your mealtime repertoire a boost
Cooking delicious, nutritious meals which are instantly rejected by fussy eaters can be soul destroying – and nothing makes one to reach for beige ‘freezer tapas’ medleys quicker. Which is why we love Cooking For Your Kids by Joshua David Stein – a beautiful-looking hardback tome that we stock in ND on the Green. it includes 100 recipes including main meals, snacks and treats as cooked by some of the world’s most celebrated chefs. The recipes are designed to appeal to big families with varied diets and fussy eaters.
Obviously baking cakes and biscuits as a family is almost always a hit with little ones – we recommend mixing a huge batch of cookie dough and freezing it in small portions. This means you will have lots of little stashes on hand to roll, decorate and bake at a moment’s notice.
Indulge little book worms
If you’ve got an avid young reader in the house, there’s nothing lovelier than giving them a brand new book. Our Seasons by Sue Lowell Gallion is a beautifully-illustrated volume all about how the world’s seasons work. There is both rhyming prose and straightforward facts for little brainboxes to get stuck into. What is especially lovely about this volume is that it can stand upright and fans out to create a globe shape: an ornament and book in one.
Cooking For Your Kids by Joshua David Stein, available at ND On The Green (click image)
Our Seasons by Sue Lowell Gallion, available at ND On The Green (click image)
Our Seasons by Sue Lowell Gallion, available at ND On The Green (click image)
Harness flower power
One of the very best things to do with children – that costs absolutely nothing - is to take to the great outdoors on a flower hunt. Parks, gardens, fields or forests - pick your roaming ground and grab a basket. If you can, create a list of blooms to find first (illustrated if you really want to do this properly!) including daisies, wild roses, poppies and more.
Once home, practise the art of flower pressing. There are gorgeous kits on the market but don’t worry if you don’t have one. Waxed paper and a heavy coffee table book are really all you need. Put the flower in between the paper and under the weight of the book. Store in a dry place for two weeks – and, crucially don’t forget about them! You can mount pressed flowers on blotting paper and frame.
Explore the Common Ground Collective
This brilliant charity, based in Surrey, is dedicated to ensuring making art is accessible to everyone. Here at ND Studios we support as best we can by offering some of our profits to them. They sell art kits and host classes and tutorials for all children – while their founder, Gabby, offers a range of workshops of her own.
If you want to encourage your children to explore mindful creativity – look no further!
ND Studio’s Little Black Book:
ND On The Green
https://www.instagram.com/nd_onthegreen/
The Common Ground Collective
https://www.commongroundcollective.co.uk/shop
With Gabby Workshops
https://www.withgabby.co.uk/workshops