Whether it is getting the children doing puzzles, crafts, science experiments, maths or just a bit of colouring I try to have a few activities which mean that they won\u2019t complete stop thinking over the holidays! It isn\u2019t just children who benefit from these activities and it is great to do them together. Cardooo<\/a> have recognised that adults still love the things that they did as kids so have introduced cards for adults to colour. You can send them blank for the recipient to colour, or colour a bit yourself to make them more personalised. Summer Reading Challenge<\/u><\/p>\n I like to get the boys to keep up their reading over the holidays and the library\u2019s summer reading challenge is always a good way to do this. Basically they need to have read 6 books over the break – but there isn\u2019t a set length they have to be. My 8 year old is a very able reader so I am going to start him off with reading A Ghost Called Dog by Gavin Neale<\/strong><\/a>. This is a thrilling adventure, full of mystery, magic and spooky fun aimed at those ages 8-12 years old. The book encourages children to learn problem-solving skills, deal with challenges and find their potential. A grown-up structured book with a Prologue and epilogue and 22 chapters each with their own title – and the only imagery on the front of the book, a tree on each chapter and on the back, and built up in the imagination. The story is about the strange things that happen when two children, Abby and Chris, move home and get more than they bargained for. With spooky goings on, they are forced to confront an ancient evil and defeat a Fairy King in order to rescue their mother.<\/p>\n ISBN: 978-1-910077-78-8 <\/strong><\/p>\n RRP \u00a36.99<\/strong><\/p>\n Rainy Days<\/strong><\/p>\n Indoor Games<\/u><\/p>\n Of course we are bound to have a lot of rain and this can mean a lot of indoor time where my boys just want to play computer games all day. I can entice them off with games such as Monopoly, Cluedo, Chess, playing Lego and they love Trading card games<\/a>. Watching Films<\/u><\/p>\n We loved Finding Dory (and there\u2019s great activities<\/a> to go alongside the film with Change4Life) and Ice Age: Collision Course<\/a>: I can definitely recommend them as films to go and see. But it is always nice to snuggle up in front of an old DVD – we are watching Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2.<\/p>\n Cooking<\/u><\/p>\n My boys love to cook – especially cakes, but anything really. I am sure we will spend some time furthering their skills. I may even learn a thing or two this year too as it turns out that my boy who is turning 13 next week is somehing of a chef!\u00a0See their Minecraft cakes\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Getting outdoors<\/strong><\/p>\n Fresh air and exercise is very important and for those who are not old enough or into Pokemon Go other ways to encourage them outside need to be found. Easy enough if we have sunny weather – water guns and paddling pools usually do the trick. To burn off a bit more energy, and\/or if it is wet weather my boys like nothing more than a trip to the forest. This summer the Forestry Commission have the Stickman Games alongside the Stickman trail. The\u00a0Stickman\u00a0activity packs<\/a> contain a whole load of ideas from making a bib, to champion breakfast ideas, to exercises, of course game ideas, and even how to make a medal plus there\u2019s a certificate – all based around The Stickman. Or how about canoeing\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0and don’t forget\u00a0National Play Day\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Merlin Annual Pass<\/u><\/p>\n We will of course be using our Merlin Annual passes – we have already done Blackpool<\/a> and Legoland Windsor<\/a> a fair bit. Hoping to go to Thorpe Park for the new ride and my son wants to go to Alton Towers with just his friends.<\/p>\n Overnight Camping<\/u><\/p>\n Of course we will be doing the Zombie Survival Weekender<\/a>\u00a0again and this year we are also camping at The Livestock Festival<\/a>. We have bought 2 separate, much smaller, tents this year so hoping it will make our experience more successful. Other Posts of Interest:<\/strong><\/p>\n Tips for an active family summer<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Things](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/cardooo.jpg\")
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