New home, new ways to keep the kids entertained indoors

The summer has been kind to us so far, but we all know there will be some days during the school holidays that are going to be wet and grey.

The good news is that entertaining the kids on those not-so-bright days is still very much an option. Simply park your outdoor plans (for now) and switch your thinking to indoor activities and lots of creativity!

When you open the curtains and see rain or a grey sky, there are always plenty of budget-friendly things to do within the four walls of your new home. For instance, you can:

Get planting

Buy some plant pots from the likes of B&M or Ikea, a small bag of compost and a bundle of seeds, e.g. rocket, basil, coriander, dill or parsley, and spend a few hours planting everything up. Water them well and pop them on the windowsill or outside when the sun returns and look forward to seeing them grow.

(Tip: Put any leftover seeds in an envelope and store them in a cool, dry place for the next cloudy day, or even, next year).

Play classic games

Yes, we may live in the digital era these days, but you still can’t beat a bit of old-fashioned board game fun, especially when you pair it with snacks, snuggly blankets and plenty of friends! Enjoy battling it out over classics, including Snakes and Ladders, Connect 4, Guess Who or Monopoly, Cluedo, Scrabble and chess for older kids. Board games create zero mess and are guaranteed to provide hours-upon-hours of fun for both kids and adults!

Bake away

Rainy days call for some fun and rewarding baking sessions. Muffins and cookies are a go-to recipe because they’re so quick and easy to bake and require minimal ingredients. Cookies also provide an extra layer of fun because you can decorate them once they’ve cooled down. Rice Krispie and Cornflake cakes, tray bakes and loaf cakes are also straightforward to whip up and taste just as delicious too.

(Tip: Use up ingredients you already have – sad-looking fruit and vegetables, i.e. blueberries, carrots and bananas work particularly well in cakes and muffins).

Search high & low

Scavenger hunts are a great way to keep the kids occupied for as little or as long as you like. All you need to do is decide on the ‘treasure’, e.g. toys or treats, and hide them around the house before creating a series of clues to help the kids find them. They’ll love having to come up with answers to the questions, and have even more fun finding the treasure you’ve stashed all around the house.

(Tip: Getting the kids to dress up in fancy dress and giving the Scavenger Hunt a theme will instantly make it more exciting and fun).

Watch films

Just like board games, movie days appeal to kids of all ages. Grab the duvets and pillows from their beds, as well as their favourite teddies and toys, and create a cosy movie den. For older kids, order some snacks in, i.e. pizzas, and put on their old film faves or get them to pick something new. Make things more interesting by giving your movie day a theme and then get everybody to dress up or tuck into snacks based on that theme. Mix up your snacks too – popcorn is always a firm favourite while bite-sized fruit pieces and juice boxes provide a healthier boost.

Don’t let the great British weather put a dampener on the school holidays. Plan ahead for those greyer days by compiling a list of activities (starting with the ideas above) and look forward to spending some quality time together – without having to set foot outside your door.