Cheap ways to keep your children entertained this summer

The summer break from school can seem like a very long time when you are trying to think of ways to keep your brood entertained, without breaking the bank. After the six weeks are over, many parents are tearing their hair out, and cannot wait for the day they start back at school, but there are many ways that you can keep your children happy and entertained, without having it cost the earth. Here are just 10 different ways for you to start with…

At the beginning of the summer holidays, encourage your children to document what they do. This can be done either by keeping a diary, or by taking pictures of days out, or just anything fun they did. Gradually, they can build a scrapbook that they can then look back on at the end of the holidays. This is very cheap to do, as all you need is a scrapbook, and their imagination and creativity.

Getting your children involved in some supervised cooking is an excellent way to keep them occupied for a morning or afternoon. You can get them baking cookies and biscuits that they can decorate afterwards. They ingredients are relatively inexpensive, if you do not have them in your pantry already, and it is a brilliant way of getting them involved in the kitchen. Plus, the whole family can enjoy the finished product!

If it is nice weather, take your children and go and explore your local woods. You can pack snacks and water, and really make an afternoon of it. You can give them a list of things that they have got to try and spot during their adventure. If there is a little bridge and a stream, you can even teach them how to play Pooh sticks. Not only is this keeping them active, it is completely free to do.

Taking a day trip to museums is not only an excellent, educational and stimulating day out for them but many museums charge nothing for the entry. A day out like this can become as expensive or inexpensive as you make it. Obviously there are the travelling costs, but that can be it. You can pack a packed lunch for you and the children and go to as many free museums as you want. The double bonus is that walking around the museums will tire them out as well, leaving you with a quiet evening ahead.

Plan a picnic for your children and their friends. You can all arrange to meet in the local park, and for each person to bring a dish. This way, you are not footing the bill for all of the food, but it is an excellent and easy, fun day out. You can even bring a selection of games to keep everyone entertained. This is perfect if you have children of different ages, as they can both invite their friends, and have fun, yet you are not paying for more than one activity.

A treasure hunt is a brilliant activity for your children and one that is fairly easy and inexpensive to set up. You can get hold of very inexpensive toys, sweets and chocolate, to be used as the treasure that they are hunting for. In the morning, set up your treasure in your garden, or even around the house if the weather is bad, before drawing maps and writing down clues for your children to follow. This will also get them working as a team, as they can work together to find all of the treats.

If you are having trouble trying to find ways of keeping your children entertained in the holidays, set up an arts and craft area in your home, and have a day that is dedicated to just this. Get some paint, paper, and crafty items and let your children be as creative as they want. This is a really great way to keep them occupied, but also for you to spend time with them, without spending any money.

At the beginning of the summer holidays, get some plant seeds, and get your children to plant these in the garden. They will then have to care for them throughout the summer; otherwise they will not see the rewards. This will encourage them to ensure that they are watered and cared for, which in turn will keep them occupied for times. You can also encourage them to keep the area free from weeds, as that way, they are learning all about the importance of gardening as well.

Taking them to the local library is an excellent way to keep your children entertained and occupied. You can either spend a morning there, encouraging them to read, or you can set up a free account for them, where they can take the books home to read. Encouraging them to read over the holidays is incredibly worthwhile, as it will stimulate their imagination and keep their mind active. Plus, it is completely free as long as you remember to take the books back on time!

The seaside is a really exciting place for children to be and it can keep them entertained for hours. Again, this can be as expensive or cheap as you like. You can take a packed lunch, or a picnic to have on the beach to keep the costs down, and some buckets and spades to play about on the sand. Again, this is perfect for wearing your children out, and keeping them active, so they are not just sitting at home on the computer. Just don’t forget the sun cream!

10 ways to make your child’s bedroom fit for a Princess

If you have a little girl who loves all things fairy tale, Disney and wants a room fit for a Princess, it is easier than you think. A few simple changes to their existing room can create their very own royal kingdom. Follow our 10 tips and hints to start creating your child’s room into their fairy tale dream.

    1)    Involve them in the planning

Bear with me on this one. Whilst this might sound like some parent’s idea of a nightmare, involving them in the planning will make them feel like they are creating the room they really want. We are not suggesting letting them loose with tins of paint and paintbrushes, but get them to tell you exactly what they want in their fairy tale room, and then turn these ideas into feasible designs.

     2)    Make a picture board

Creating a picture board will make them feel like their room is their own personal place that they can go to. Get them to fill it with pictures of their favourite princess’s and Disney characters. The joy of having a picture board means that it can easily be updated as the child grows up as all you will need to do is change the pictures to something more fitting to their age.

     3)    Fit a curtain around the head of their bed

Fit a sheer, floor length curtain to the ceiling around the head of their bed. These are available to buy ready-made, or you can get creative and make your own. Having a curtain allows them to feel like a Princess crawling into bed each night, and it adds a touch of luxury for them without breaking the bank. It is a very simple, but effective addition to a little girl’s room.

 

     4)    Transform old furniture

Instead of buying new furniture for their room, why not just transform the furniture that they have. White furniture will fit in very well with a fairy tale and Princess design, and this can easily be achieved with furniture paint. If your children have wooden furniture, simply sand this down, before repainting in your chosen colour. You will be amazed at the difference it makes, and your children will think they have got brand new furniture.

     5)    Add some wall stickers

You can easily turn their room into a castle, by adding some Princess wall stickers. These are effective, as they are inexpensive and temporary, yet, at the same time, they can make a huge difference. Involve your child when choosing where they should go, and try and turn it into a fun activity. The stickers can be removed when your child is too old to have a Princess themed room, and the existing paint will revealed again.

     6)    Create a wall mural

This one is a lot more permanent and costly than the others; however, it is extremely impressive and effective. If you feel that your artistic skills are up to it, you can reduce the cost and create your own castle or Disney backdrop. However; if not, you can hire professionals who can come in and create one. This one will be a guaranteed winner with any child, and will really make them feel like they are stepping into their very own fairy tale every night.

  

     7)    Add a toy chest

This has several advantages. It is extra storage space, which can then be used for other items when they get older, as well as encouraging your children to keep their room free of clutter by tidying up after themselves. Not only this, but it really will add a touch of luxury to their room, and make them feel like they have their very own treasure chest. Again, these can be fairly inexpensive, and can be re-painted to fit in with the desired theme.

     8)    Create a vanity station

Every Princess needs a vanity station, where they can make themselves look beautiful for their Prince. Creating a vanity area in your little girl’s room, with a mirror, and room to keep their jewellery box for example will fulfil all of their dreams and make them feel like a true Princess. This is better suited to larger rooms with a lot of free floor space; otherwise you can end up making their room look cluttered.

     9)    Make a personalised name plate

Get your child to help you make a Princess themed name plate for their bedroom door. There are all sorts of different shapes that you can make, but to make them feel like a true princess, a crown template is very effective. Getting your child to help will turn it into a fun, creative activity for them and it will make them feel proud if they see it on their door every day.

     10)                       Add a mirror

This doesn’t have to be a large, full length mirror, but a mirror will make the room feel bigger, and more like a Princess’s room. Many shops will actually provide mirrors that have been specifically designed for little girl’s room and come in the shape of a castle or a crown which are incredibly effective. It is little touches like this that will really make a difference, particularly if you do not want to re-decorate the entire room.

10 of the most popular toys of all times

10 of the most popular toys of all times

 

This list really could be endless. There are so many different toys that stick out through the decades as being the one that nobody will forget. Everyone can remember that one toy they had when they were younger that they had begged their parents for. We have listed just ten of them. Some are complete classics, and others are more surprising, but all were just as popular…



1)    Teddy Bears

This one is an absolute classic, and had to feature on the list. Nearly everyone will have that special teddy bear that they have had since they were a baby that they just can’t bear to get rid of. We’re talking about the one that you liked when it was slightly smelly and dirty – the one that you would cry for hours for when it was finally prised out of your hand and into the washing machine.



2)    Dolls

Dolls were traditionally thought of as gifts for little girls, although this is not the case anymore. They are still very popular, and newer versions are constantly being introduced. Whether they are dolls that get carried everywhere with the child, or one that is purely for show, they continue to be very popular gifts for children.



3)    Yo-yo’s

In their time, yo-yo’s were one of the most sought after toys you could have. If you were the proud owner of one, it is likely that you spent many hours perfecting the latest tricks, so you could showcase you skills to all of your friends in the playground the next day. These toys rarely left your pockets, and were a regular sight for all children at one time.







4)    Magic 8 Balls

Magic 8 balls were incredibly popular, and definitely gave answers that could 100% be relied on. Although the answer it gave was not always what you wanted, for example getting the reply ‘Don’t count on it’ when asking a question about your crush or ‘Reply hazy, try again’, when you need an answer immediately, they were still a much loved and popular toy.





5)    Barbie Dolls

Unsurprisingly, Barbie’s, were and to this day still are incredibly popular choices for young children. The excitement you felt when you had asked Father Christmas for the latest doll, and then saw the familiar shaped packaging, was like no other. Whilst they have come under criticism for an unrealistic portrayal of women in recent years, they still continue to be a much loved toy.



6)    Etch-a-Sketch

Whatever size you had, you could literally spend hours trying to re-create impressive masterpieces that you had seen, only to make one mistake that could not be rectified, or you dropped it halfway through and it all disappeared. Etch-a-Sketches were a brilliant way to develop a child’s artistic side, and allow them to express this in a slightly different way, hence their popularity.





7)    Beanie Babies

Beanie Babies are a more modern choice of toys, but one that was in no way less popular that the others that had featured on the list. Whether you just had one of these bean filled toys, or hundreds, you would never remove the tag, or play with them (they were purely for decoration!), as there was a common belief that one day you could make a fortune from selling them. A toy that will bring back memories to anyone who grew up in the 00’s.



8)    Doll’s Houses

Doll’s houses have to feature on this list. They are incredibly traditional, and have been a popular choice for centuries. It is not unusual to see dolls houses as a collector’s item, where the houses can be incredibly valuable; not to mention realistic. These continue to be very popular with both children and adults alike.





9)    Toy Cars

Just like Barbie dolls, toy cars continue to be a popular choice for children. Regardless of whether you were just driving them around your living room, or having races with your friends, you could have hours of fun building your car enterprise. Toy cars make brilliant stocking fillers and party bag presents, and are just as popular now as they once were.



10)                       Action Figures

Back in the day, action figures, particularly Action Man himself, was seen as the boys version of the Barbie doll. Whilst this gender association is not as apparent now, many brothers and sisters will look back at memories of friendly wars involving Barbie and Action Man. Action figures in general were very popular, and it was an opportunity for children to create their own stories using their imagination.

10 space saving storage tips for children’s bedrooms

Any parent will understand the struggle of trying to create storage solution for your child’s toys. Follow our top ten space saving storage tips to keep your child’s toys organised and their bedrooms tidy.

1) Get a trundle bed If you are planning on buying a new bed for your child, consider getting a trundle bed. These come with a large storage drawer underneath the bed, which can be used to organise and store toys. They will be easily accessible for your child, whilst remaining tidy and out of sight when they are not in use.

2) Add a bookshelf Bookshelves are an excellent way of creating extra space in your children’s bedroom. When they are younger, it can be a unique way to store toys, and as they get older, you can convert it into a bookshelf. It is an investment piece and will utilise the space towards the ceiling.

3) Customise a wooden crate Customising a wooden crate can be a unique way of creating a fun toy box for your child. You can add wheels to the bottom so it can easily be moved and you can decorate it to fit in with the theme of their bedroom. You can always add their name to it to make it extra special. Find out how to do it here: http://www.thehouseofsmiths.com/2011/09/diy-homemade-vintage-wood-crate-storage.html

4) Use an old suitcase Transform an old suitcase into the perfect home for your little girl’s dolls. You can line the case with pretty fabric that will fit in with the theme of the room and will look good when it is both open and closed. You can even customise the front of the case, so she feels like it is really personal to her. Get the instructions here: http://prudentbaby.com/2011/11/baby-kid/make-a-doll-suitcase-2/

5) Create colourful sacks If you are feeling creative, you can create some very simple drawstring sacks that can be used to store some of your child’s toys – maybe smaller stuffed toys that will not become damaged. If you are feeling extra creative and ambitious, you can add a clear panel to the front so your child can see what is in there, reducing the risk of the contents being tipped all over the room! Here is how you can make them: http://tonicoward.blogspot.co.uk/2010/06/peek-boo-toy-sack-tutorial.html

6) Use all available space This may seem obvious, but any parent knows how easy it to let your home become a sea of toys. Think about areas underneath the bed, as well as up high, for example the top of the wardrobe. Or consider fitting floor to ceiling storage units, so your child can access the toys as well. Stackable boxes are a perfect option to utilise space higher up.

7) Use a mug tree or hooks You can purchase inexpensive mug trees or individual hooks which can be hung on the inside of your child’s bedroom door and is an excellent place to hang hats, belts and necklaces. It keeps them all organised and visible, but they are out of the way, not cluttering up the floor or any other surface area.

8) Create wall buckets This is perfect for little boys and it is a chance for you to really let your creative side come out. Create a bucket wall by arranging plastic buckets into a chosen design and attaching them together with cable ties. This is a really unique way for your child to show off his toys, but keeps them organised at the same time.

9) Turn a tool box into a toy box If you have an old metal tool box, you can turn this into the perfect toy box for your child. This can also be customised, making it seem really special to your child, and it is a unique way of storing their toys. Again, they are easily accessible for the child, but can remain out of sight and tidied away when they are not in use.

10) Create a fun routine with your child Although this is not a space saving tip per se, creating a fun routine with your children and encouraging them to tidy away after themselves, will be a weight off of your mind. If you can create fun storage solutions that they want to use, they will be much more likely to tidy them away after they have finished playing. Turning this into a fun routine, will make children want to tidy away after themselves.