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Summer is the time of long days, bored children and stressed to the max parents. It can be hard trying to find new and entertaining ways to keep everyone occupied.
With this in mind I thought I’d look into ways that I could help. I am not saying you need to buy a puppy like the feature image suggests! Because soon it will be me too joining the team of Mums with grey or no hair, trying anything to keep my cherub happy. Can I get an amen that parenthood is stressful?
Most of the things I thought were great ideas involve things that you would naturally have around the house like washing up liquid, paper, food colouring and flour.
Make Your Own Bubbles!
My daughter absolutely loves bubbles. She can go through a whole bottle but that is mainly because she tips it everywhere!
You can be so creative with bubbles, not needing anything but a large bowl and your fingers to make shapes. Most households have washing up liquid lying around, mix with water and you have never ending bubble fun!
You Will Need:
- 1/2 cup of washing up liquid
- 5 cups cooled boiled water
- 2 tablespoons glycerine (available at the pharmacy or supermarket). You can substitute light corn syrup (not golden syrup!)
- Mix the ingredients together very carefully, so that you they don’t get too bubbly. Pour into storage containers and, if possible, leave overnight to blend.
Bubble Artwork
To this, all you need to do is mix the paint and washing up liquid together in the bowl. Then add water as you need it until it’s nice and runny enough to start blowing bubbles. Pop in the straw, put the paper on top as a cover and blow!
When you’ve finished and all the bubbles have popped, remove the paper and leave to dry.
This is something I remember doing when I was 3 or 4. I was in a Blackpool nursery, waiting for my dad to collect me but.. Guess what? He had to collect me hours earlier because for some reason I swallowed instead of blow!
You Will Need:
- A bowl that is big enough to place paper on
- Paint
- Washing up liquid
- Drinking straw
- Paper or card
Painting
This is a really simple idea. You can sit them outside or out and can ask them to paint what they can see! Maybe they see trees, TV, pet dog or imagine their things.
You can jazz it up with adding PVA glue. Allowing them to stick on different types of objects EG, Pipe Cleaners, jewels or try their hands with Paper Mache. This keeps them focused and chilled, leaving a few minutes of peace and quiet for you. When they’re done you can put them up to dry on the window still or fridge!
You Will Need:
- Choice of paints
- Paper or card
- PVA glue
- Accessories to add
Sunflower Growth Chart
This is a super cute idea for anyone who wants to make their own growth chart. You can decorate the top of the suflower with your childs little hands and the leaves can be little feet that branch off from the stems.
Perfect for getting everyone involved. Also saves your doorways from being covered in graffiti and can be moved from room to room.
You Will Need:
- Long poster roll
- Black, yellow and green paint
- Black pen
- Ruler
DIY Colouring Books
Does your child LOVE Peppa Pig, Paw Patrol or Disney?
You can search online for your children’s favourite characters, print them off, punch holes into the sides and use string to tie them together. This then creates a fantastic book which is sure to keep them entertained for hours.
You Will Need:
- Paper
- Printer
- Colouring pens or pencils
- String
You can collect these supplies from HobbyCraft, Mothercare and around your home.
Hope this has inspired you and we hope you have a wonderful summer!
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You can follow my personal account – @BethanyCollings.
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