10 family friendly activities to get the heart racing!
Families that play together, stay together! Even though our schedules seem to be getting busier it’s important to fit in quality family time to bond, reduce stress, increase health and happiness. There’s no excuse when there are so many great, and often free activities, to get the family active in the great outdoors. From charity fun runs to hiking expeditions, it becoming easier than ever to get everybody’s heart racing, whatever their age. Here are 10 of our favourite family friendly activities:
Walking trails for the whole family
Walking is one of the best ways to get the body moving, get back into nature and explore new places. It is even better when you get to spend it in good company! Not only does walking as a family encourage health and physical fitness, but it allows more time for talking and sharing together.
On the hunt for a healthy Easter
It’s hard to believe Easter is just around the corner, when it feels like we’ve only just got over Christmas! The hot cross buns are out, chocolate Easter bunnies are lining the supermarket shelves and soon you’ll have some pretty eager kids on holidays. So how can you keep them amused this Easter? The obligatory Easter Egg Hunt is a great way to entertain the whole family and can be done without the sugar overload. Here are some tips to have the best healthy Easter Egg Hunt, minus the after effects.
3 easy steps to making play dough
There’s nothing quite like the smell of play-dough to bring you back to your childhood! Play dough is not only fun for kids (and adults) of all ages, but it helps develop important sensory skills, strengthens little hands and fingers, improves fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Now you can make this iconic playtime dough yourself with ingredients you probably already have in the cupboard. Best of all it takes as little as five minutes and should last for ages. Plus, you can get the little ones involved in creating it.
Board games for kids (and you) that are sure to entertain!
Why not break them away from the TV or computer and get down to some serious fun with our favourite board games for kids.
Monza
Monza puts you behind the wheel of a racing car! An ingenious system of 6 dice with different coloured faces that match the coloured board spaces forces you to plan your move so as to go as far as possible. The game encourages forward thinking by children, but has enough luck that anyone can win in a nail-biting finish. The adorable wooden racing cars make this game a sure-fire winner.
Create a family “to do” list this summer
School holidays are just around the corner and for some families that means a 24/7 regime to keep the kids busy, active or entertained otherwise there may be an endless summer rendition of “I’m bored, what can I do now?”.
Tasty treats for kids parties
Since birthday parties are a great excuse for kids to enjoy a few more treats than usual we thought we’d share some quick and easy recipes that we like to use when our own kids birthdays roll around.
Fun movies for the kids
So we all know, and are fond of kids movies from the past few years; the Harry Potters and the Toy Story series, but we thought we’d suggest some movies to add to the “much watch list”. We think they’re great kids’ movies and we hope your kids will enjoy some of them too.
Ten great ideas to entertain the kids
Sometimes it’s not easy to entertain the kids so here’s a few ideas in case you run a little short.
Make a map of the neighbourhood
A fun entertainment idea for the kids is to make a map of the neighbourhood. It lets you and the kids exercise together, as well as leave you some time to recuperate when they return home and the kids work on their map.
Make your own sundial
Making a sundial is a fun \science project for the kids, one that will help them learn and play at the same time!
Treasure hunt at home
Kids love treasure hunts and why wouldn’t they? There’s a thrill in finding even the most mundane things around the house and of course there’ll be a real treasure at the end. There’s also fun for you in planning it. It might take a little work but just enjoy letting your imagination go and see what fun clues you come up with. It’s fun at any time of the year so why wait?
Make your own story book
Even kids have stories to tell, so why not engage their creative side and help them create their own special story book.
Fun tongue twisters for the kids
Why not let the kids have some fun with some tongue twisters? Get the kids to say them as fast as they can and see how many times they can finish each tongue twister without making a mistake. You might even find some of them challenging. Send us your favorites if they aren’t on our list.
Something a little different for those school lunches
Making lunch every day of the school year can be a little tiresome so we came up with some healthy ideas to keep the kids (and mothers) happy.
Make a family tree
If you’re looking for an easy family project, why not consider making a family tree? Not only does it give your kids a chance to step away from the TV and be creative, but it will also teach them about their family and their heritage.
Some good books for kids
If you’re looking for some good books for the kids we’ve developed a couple of award winning, best selling suggestions!
Backyard picnic day
Sometimes the best place to have a picnic is in your own backyard. Picnics are just plain fun and to a child it can make a simple meal seem like an adventure. Some people might not think of the humble backyard as a place to have a picnic but leaving your car just where it is can be a nice change. Apart from convenience there’s also the added piece-of-mind of knowing the kids are always in a safe environment.
Some fun card games for the kids
All that’s needed is a standard deck and away you go.
Have a little fun with old family photos
Sitting down together and going through old family photo albums is a great way to spend some free time. You don’t have to plan anything, spend anything or even leave the house. While you’ll enjoy recalling fond memories the whole experience will be more than just fun for the children.
Take a walk on the wild side
If you’re heading to the zoo with your family, it’s great to plan ahead to get the most out of your day. Visit their website or call to get info on any feeding times, animal displays or zookeeper talks so you don’t miss any of the action.
Spaghetti sundays
Start a new tradition for your family to share, with a regular activity or meal you can all enjoy together. Try this spag bol recipe with a twist and it might just be the new family favourite!
Camping with kids
Going on a family camping holiday doesn’t have to be a nightmare if you’ve done the right preparation. Letting the kids help with the planning and pick between a few destinations is a great way to make them feel included and excited.
Happy snaps
Ever wonder what to do with all those family photos that pile up on your hard drive?
Staying sun smart
Keeping your family safe in the sun has never been easier with the cancer Read more
Tricks for long trips
Make those long family car trips feel shorter by playing a few games with the kids.
Protect your family against nasty nits
There’s nothing worse than an outbreak of lice, so here’s some simple tips for a speedy extermination.
The family that plays together stays healthy together!
Team sports can be costly, so if you’re after cheaper alternatives the whole family can enjoy try these ideas:
