So you blink and it is already half-term. You haven't really had time to plan much, the weather is not great and there is a great chance that a week indoors will drive the whole family bananas. And chances are children will be skipping from one screen to the next whether on Disney+, Netflix or gaming. Surely there is a better way.
But this time around, we have got your back. Here is a list of 20 easy and fun at home activities for the whole family. So get ready to pick your favourite and turn that screen off for a few hours.
1. Make a mini golf or crazy golf course
A family favourite, you would be surprised at how a few books, toilet rolls and home furniture can create an addictive home mini golf course. Let your imagination run wild.
2. Pebble art
Get the children to get creative, paint and varnish pebbles as keepsake or to decorate your local parks for new owners to find.
3. Bottle bowling
Before you throw away the rubbish, put aside plastic bottles and build your very own home bowling alley.
4. Build a board game
Why not create your very own monopoly, board, cards and all. Even better : print out and build this fun board game about pilots of legend. Super accessible, educational and fun.
5. Paper plane launcher
Attach a paperclip at the front of the paper plane and with an elastic band create your very own plan launcher.
6. Science experiment
From invisible ink made of lemon juice to your very own volcano with baking soda vinegar, home experiments are always a great laugh. Check out some here.
7. Write a postcard
Get the family to decorate and write postcards to loved ones. Introducing your children to the charms of slow mail and surprising the grandparent is always a winner.
8. Make a new origami
Hours of fun and lots to choose from and just requires a piece of paper. Our favourites include the Da Vinci’s fortune teller or the Bunny corner bookmark.
9. Potato printing
Get the family to decorate and write postcards to loved ones. Introducing your children to the charms of slow mail and surprising the grandparent is always a winner.
10. At home restaurant
Kids love this. Take a back seat (kinda) and give them the opportunity to cook a fun menu and open their very own home restaurant. Surprise menu, experimental cuisine, impeccable service and laughs guaranteed.
11. Draw your own city
Create a gigantic paper by sticking a few sheets together and placing it on the floor. Now your kids can draw and create the city of their dreams with roads for their cars. The bigger the more fun.
12. Make 3D art
Junk modelling is always a favourite like making models out of plastic bottles or cardboard boxes. Or even better, try this fun hot air balloon wall art which kids love.
13. Family recipe book
Get everyone in the family to write their favourite recipes and decorate the book for your very own unique recipe book to treasure.
14. Make your newspaper
Today the kids get to be journalists and write their own newspaper which they illustrate and write up. Super fun and great for writing skills.
15. Try yoga with the kids
Benefits of yoga at all ages are now well known and we definitely love the cosmic kids yoga videos who make every session fun and adapted for children. Highly recommend it.
16. Solve a case
Transform your home into a giant detective game where the whole family must work as a team to solve a case. Try this great escape game for families. Super fun and easy set-up.
17. Pillow and sheet den
Nothing like making a den or fort out of cushions and blankets or sheets to really get the imagination going. Hours of fun guaranteed and great for storytime.
18. Learn how to draw
With so many amazing artists online, you could spend hours on this one and everyone will be amazed at the result. Your family favourite is Art for Kids on Youtube.
19. Build plane model
You don’t need much to create convincing plan models. Check out the Wright brothers’ original plane on this fun activity for aviation enthusiasts.
20. Family playlist
Super fun, get everyone in the family to pick a few favourite songs and create your own ultimate family playlist which works for everyone. Did I hear someone say karaoke ?