![\"Summer](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_5210.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPark and garden summer activities\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\nMake sure you’ve got a few inexpensive outdoor toys etc up your sleeve. The big supermarkets stock a wide range of good value items. A few that are popular in this house:<\/p>\n
\n- \n
\n- Bubbles\/bubble wands<\/li>\n
- Football<\/li>\n
- Badminton set<\/li>\n
- Skittles set<\/li>\n
- Quoits<\/li>\n
- Cricket set<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"Summer](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_4763-225x300.jpg?resize=267%2C356\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Summer](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_5191-300x225.jpg?resize=338%2C253\")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\n<\/h2>\nNational Trust membership<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nI bang on about this quite a lot. However, it is so cost-effective when compared to other days out. Whether heading for somewhere new or visiting an old favourite, my girls love it. There’s always a new trail or activity to do even for seasoned visitors and they put on a lot of summer activities.<\/p>\n
![\"Summer](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_5042.jpg?resize=225%2C300&ssl=1\")
<\/a>National Trust ahoy!<\/p><\/div>\n
Picnics<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nThere’s something about a variety of cold picky foods eaten from the comfort of a picnic rug that seems to pique the appetite of the kids. They can’t eat enough and never get bored of them. Be warned though, picnics aren’t usually an easy meal option. I always find they can take a while to prepare. If I’m not driving I add in a bottle of Prosecco. Holidays are for mums and dads too \ud83d\ude42 Wisley Gardens<\/a> are a favourite place of ours for picnics.<\/p>\nThe Pub <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nCheck out your local family-friendly pubs. It’s a win win really.\u00a0Many have great outdoor stuff for the kids; one of my locals – The Woodman<\/a> – has a massive sandpit and outdoor games. Others in the area have climbing frames etc. Here’s a great list <\/a>for those living in Surrey.<\/p>\nPaddling pools and water features<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"Summer](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_5299-225x300.jpg?resize=225%2C300\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Summer](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IMG_4947-225x300.jpg?resize=225%2C300\")
<\/a><\/p>\nLots of parks have paddling pools and water features.\u00a0Check out your local ones as water is always a massive hit. We recently headed to Tooting Bec Lido<\/a> in South West London and had a great time (children under five go free). Also pay a visit to the local duck pond; there’s usually a cafe nearby.<\/p>\nHidden gems <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nDo a bit of research to see if there are any attractions\/hidden gems near you. I recently discovered that we have beautiful\u00a0lavender fields<\/a>\u00a0on our doorstep. We’ve now visited three times in the space of five weeks!<\/p>\nDens and gazebos\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nIn the height of summer our garden is a suntrap all day long, which isn’t as good as it sounds. Last year, we were in desperate need of shade so I bought a \u00a320\u00a0gazebo\u00a0from Homebase along with a few cheapo cushions. Old toys get a new lease of life if played with underneath the gazebo and eating there sat on cushions on the floor is \u2018like camping.\u2019 Last year, the girls even enjoyed just relaxing under it with a drink (and they never relax). Alternatively, you can just make a den with sheets and table clothes.<\/p>\n
H2O <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nFrom running in and out of a sprinkler and playing with water pistols to\u00a0aqua tents,\u00a0paddling pools<\/a> and simply floating things in it and tipping it\u00a0from one container to another, water never fails. Get them cleaning the car, watering the plants and generally cleaning stuff. If it involves using a hose they’ll be all over it. Try not to completely waste it though. One of my friends sings the praises of the Crazy Daisy. I’m yet to purchase one, but it’s a matter of time…<\/p>\n![\"Summer](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theparentsocial.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/b08b09837e6dfd6f56976ef26eebfcdf-300x300.jpg?resize=300%2C300\")
<\/a><\/p>\nOutdoor messy play<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n- \n
\n- \n
\n- Footprint pictures with paint<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Chalk pictures on the patio.<\/li>\n
- Sand play \u2013 Great fun and brilliant for aiding your\u00a0toddler\u2019s development<\/a>. Make sure you invest in the slightly more expensive play sand. You can get 10kg for \u00a33 at Sainsbury\u2019s. It\u2019s totally safe and doesn\u2019t completely stain clothes (I\u2019ve heard some horror stories about builders\u2019 sand!).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Cooling off \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\nInvest in some ice-lolly moulds. They\u2019re cheap as chips, toddlers, pre-schoolers and older children love making them and eating them, they\u2019ll be a lot healthier than shop-bought ones (we do pure fruit juice watered down a little) and you\u2019ll save an absolute fortune in the course of the summer!<\/p>\n
Please share any of your summer activities below and don’t forget to check out Diary of 43 Days of School Holidays<\/a>\u00a0and my Summer Holiday Challenges<\/a> for more inspiration.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Bubbles\/bubble wands<\/li>\n
- Football<\/li>\n
- Badminton set<\/li>\n
- Skittles set<\/li>\n
- Quoits<\/li>\n
- Cricket set<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
<\/h2>\n
National Trust membership<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
I bang on about this quite a lot. However, it is so cost-effective when compared to other days out. Whether heading for somewhere new or visiting an old favourite, my girls love it. There’s always a new trail or activity to do even for seasoned visitors and they put on a lot of summer activities.<\/p>\n
<\/a>National Trust ahoy!<\/p><\/div>\n
Picnics<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
There’s something about a variety of cold picky foods eaten from the comfort of a picnic rug that seems to pique the appetite of the kids. They can’t eat enough and never get bored of them. Be warned though, picnics aren’t usually an easy meal option. I always find they can take a while to prepare. If I’m not driving I add in a bottle of Prosecco. Holidays are for mums and dads too \ud83d\ude42 Wisley Gardens<\/a> are a favourite place of ours for picnics.<\/p>\n
The Pub <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Check out your local family-friendly pubs. It’s a win win really.\u00a0Many have great outdoor stuff for the kids; one of my locals – The Woodman<\/a> – has a massive sandpit and outdoor games. Others in the area have climbing frames etc. Here’s a great list <\/a>for those living in Surrey.<\/p>\n
Paddling pools and water features<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nLots of parks have paddling pools and water features.\u00a0Check out your local ones as water is always a massive hit. We recently headed to Tooting Bec Lido<\/a> in South West London and had a great time (children under five go free). Also pay a visit to the local duck pond; there’s usually a cafe nearby.<\/p>\n
Hidden gems <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Do a bit of research to see if there are any attractions\/hidden gems near you. I recently discovered that we have beautiful\u00a0lavender fields<\/a>\u00a0on our doorstep. We’ve now visited three times in the space of five weeks!<\/p>\n
Dens and gazebos\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
In the height of summer our garden is a suntrap all day long, which isn’t as good as it sounds. Last year, we were in desperate need of shade so I bought a \u00a320\u00a0gazebo\u00a0from Homebase along with a few cheapo cushions. Old toys get a new lease of life if played with underneath the gazebo and eating there sat on cushions on the floor is \u2018like camping.\u2019 Last year, the girls even enjoyed just relaxing under it with a drink (and they never relax). Alternatively, you can just make a den with sheets and table clothes.<\/p>\n
H2O <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
From running in and out of a sprinkler and playing with water pistols to\u00a0aqua tents,\u00a0paddling pools<\/a> and simply floating things in it and tipping it\u00a0from one container to another, water never fails. Get them cleaning the car, watering the plants and generally cleaning stuff. If it involves using a hose they’ll be all over it. Try not to completely waste it though. One of my friends sings the praises of the Crazy Daisy. I’m yet to purchase one, but it’s a matter of time…<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nOutdoor messy play<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- \n
- Footprint pictures with paint<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- Chalk pictures on the patio.<\/li>\n
- Sand play \u2013 Great fun and brilliant for aiding your\u00a0toddler\u2019s development<\/a>. Make sure you invest in the slightly more expensive play sand. You can get 10kg for \u00a33 at Sainsbury\u2019s. It\u2019s totally safe and doesn\u2019t completely stain clothes (I\u2019ve heard some horror stories about builders\u2019 sand!).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Cooling off \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n
Invest in some ice-lolly moulds. They\u2019re cheap as chips, toddlers, pre-schoolers and older children love making them and eating them, they\u2019ll be a lot healthier than shop-bought ones (we do pure fruit juice watered down a little) and you\u2019ll save an absolute fortune in the course of the summer!<\/p>\n
Please share any of your summer activities below and don’t forget to check out Diary of 43 Days of School Holidays<\/a>\u00a0and my Summer Holiday Challenges<\/a> for more inspiration.<\/p>\n
- Footprint pictures with paint<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- \n
- \n