As schools are closed in many countries and kids are being first-time home schooled, parents have undoubtedly been tested themselves. With parents taking the role of teacher, ways of learning for children have certainly stretched beyond school books and calculators. 

Fast-forward to the end of July in our normal life routine, kids would be breaking up from school and getting restless legs for their six weeks of summer fun ahead. Seeing friends, playing in the park, swimming in the local pool or catching flights to unknown, sunny lands. 

Ok, so many of us will be forgoing our pre-booked and longed for summer holidays for a staycation with the kids. Don’t despair, we are here to help with our fantastic and fun ideas of how to entertain your children in your own garden. 

There are many ways that we can bring their usual summer-fun into our home and garden this summer. Vacation may have become staycation but you can make it a summer that the kids will never forget! Transform your garden into a summer camp, pool, park and beyond with these much-loved activities that your kids are guaranteed to enjoy! We have ideas aplenty to keep little darlings occupied.

Summer Camp

Create a home-style summer camp for the day and night, pitch up a tent in the garden and improvise with many day-time activities your kids will love! 

• Nature Art

Start off the morning or afternoon of summer camp with some nature art. Collect twigs, leaves, grass, rocks – whatever your little adventurers can find in the garden and create some art. Get out the paints, glue and colouring pens and see what your little creatives can come up with. This is a great activity that will encourage resourcefulness as well as enhance creativity. Try not to harm any natural habitats or bugs in the making though! 

• Obstacle course

Obstacle courses encourage a little competition and are an enjoyable way for the little ones to stay active. They are easy to set up – all you need is several household items and you’re all set! Get creative and collect some pots, rope, toys, cushions, stable pieces of furniture, tunnels and footballs to create a fun day in the garden with the kids. Find things they can jump over, crawl under, balance on and things to throw. The kids will love it! And it will wear them out too.

• Camping

Camping is not only an exciting experience for young children, it encourages them to learn about nature too. It is an opportunity for them to experience the outdoors at night time, which would normally be spent inside. Build a fire to roast marshmallows on, watch the stars at dusk and sleep to the sounds of nature around you. A great way for your kids to learn and grow through life experiences. And if it gets too cold, you can always return to your warm cosy beds.

Pool days

Endless hours spent splashing around and jumping in a pool are an all-time summer favourite for the youngsters. The pools are shut to the public so why not bring the same experience home! Indulge in this much-loved activity with a paddling pool in the garden, purchase some fun swimming goggles and paddling pool games for the kids. Make it even more real-life with a makeshift ice cream van made out of cardboard! Deliver the ice cream goods, whilst enjoying the summer sun.

Park

Kids can spend hours entertaining themselves in the park and it is one of the hot-spots for the little ones during the summer months. Although we are able to exercise in the parks, access to certain areas including the playground are prohibited. We can bring the park experience home by making home picnics or having bbqs in the afternoon sun. Roll out a picnic blanket, dish up some lovely snacks for the kids and play some games to keep them entertained.

Little ones are continuously changing and growing with wardrobes needing to be revamped. Sunny days are upon us so get them prepared for their staycation with summer clothes for kids from Childrensalon. Enjoy paddling pool fun with colourful swimwear, find pretty dresses and matching straw hats for memorable garden picnics and get ready for overnight stays in the garden with summer nightwear comfies. Bring summer styles home and brighten up the garden with tropical prints and fluorescent pieces for the kids to enjoy. And after a long fun-filled day in the garden, let the kids lounge in cosy loungewear pieces. Create picture-perfect moments and capture memories of the summer staycation that the kids will never forget.