Summer holidays in the UK are something of a dichotomy. For the majority of school children, they represent pure, unbridled freedom for a length of time that feels both infinite and fleeting. For teachers, that effect is only amplified tenfold, with the early September scaries bringing the six weeks to a crashing, crushing close way too early each and every year.
For parents, those six weeks are bittersweet. Sure, it’s almost two whole months of quality time with the kids. But equally, it’s almost two whole months of time spent trying to think of entertaining yet educational activities for both parent and child.
Keeping costs low and kids occupied can be tough, make no mistake, even for a day. But for six weeks? Things can get really tricky.
Fortunately, we’re here to help you get inspired, creative and even teach your children some valuable life lessons in the process; here are 7 summer holiday garden projects to keep the kids busy and entertained.
Help Them Build Their Own Tree Swing
Calling all DIY parents, a tree swing project might just be perfect for you! Not only does it look aesthetically pleasing with its farmhouse, old-fashioned vibe, but it is also a super fun garden addition for the kids to enjoy for the remainder of the summer, after you’ve spend some time together building it.
This project can actually save you money and is the perfect alternative to buying a large swing set from a store. Gather up a large plank of wood, some super sturdy rope, and most importantly, ensure that the tree/branch is strong enough to hold your child’s weight. Wahey!
Grow Your Own Fruit And Vegetables
Growing a plant or crops from scratch is a great way to teach your child to be nature loving. Watering and taking care of the plant until it is fully grown will prove very satisfying for both of you, and could even teach kids how to grow their own food in the future. What’s more, it fosters an understanding of the seasons and the passing of time, which is valuable for teaching many life lessons later down the line.
Aside from growing your own food, there are other ways to turn your garden into an environmental asset, too, like welcoming in bees and making a dedicated area for compost. Perhaps a fun project for you and the kids?
Trying to keep your kids educated on healthy eating habits can sometimes be difficult, especially in the summer months when ice lollies, sweets, and chocolate fill up their eating agenda, so why not grow some fruit and vegetables that your kids can savour when they’re ripe? More importantly, they’ll learn a respect for seasons, nature, fresh food and the environment, and what better life lesson could you teach in a single summer than that?
Read: 5 ways to encourage children to be environmentally friendly
Chores With Rewards
Teach your children the value of an honest day’s graft by putting them to work in the garden, with prizes to be won or a wage to be earned at the end of their ‘shift’!
The summer months represent the ideal time to tackle those nagging DIY jobs in the garden and around the exterior of your property, with the warmer, longer days allowing you to really get stuck in.
And all that mowing, trimming, powerwashing (more on that in a minute) and watering the plants presents an opportunity to enlist the help of your children, teaching them the value of a hard day’s work while you’re at it. Offer an increase in pocket money or even prizes for who can finish the outdoor chores first as a reward, and watch your garden be made beautiful!
That said, there are some home improvement jobs that really aren’t suitable for the kids. With the height restraints and general dirt, debris and grime involved in cleaning your gutters, for instance, you can always call in a professional and let your children simply watch and learn from the best, from afar. Click here to learn more about the gutter cleaning services available in the UK.
Sweep & Powerwash The Driveway
Powerwashing may not exactly sound like a fun project, but reframe this thing… Kids and water guns? A water fight with some sly chores thrown in for good measure? A chance to get soaked in under the summer sun? Suddenly, cleaning the driveway sounds kinda fun!
There’s nothing as satisfying as watching dirt and grime disappear from concrete slabs or wooden decking, simply with a spritz or two of water. And hey, you might all cool off a little when all that spraying goes errant.
Read: 5 exterior home improvement ideas for the summer
Create A Garden Cinema
Sitting indoors on a warm summer’s night feels almost perverse, don’t you think? So, why not bring your indoors outdoors and create a garden cinema? No, we don’t mean simply bringing your TV outside, here.
Instead, you’ll first need a projector. There are tons of affordable ones out there, but the APEMAN Portable Mini Projector 4500 at £79.99 on Amazon is often touted as one of the best budget projectors you can buy on a budget, and will give you a decent picture outdoors.
For a screen, a white bed sheet pegged on the washing line with something to weigh it to the ground will suffice. Now, all you’ve got to do is stick the popcorn in the microwave (or even a few marshmallows on the fire) and you’re good to go!
It doesn’t have to be perfect; after all, it’s meant to be a fun DIY summer weekend project. Bring a few chairs, blankets, blow-up beds, you name it, outside, and your cosy garden cinema is complete. Now all that there is to do is select some films, and trust us, that will be the toughest part of the whole project!
Have Them Help You Host a BBQ
Nothing quite screams summer louder (if you’ve got synaesthesia, that is) than the smell of chargrilled sausages and burgers, or even a whole barbecued fish, and it is even better when these are shared with your family and friends.
Why not enlist the help of the little ones, and teach your kids some simple BBQ recipes, helping them (within reason) helm the grill and cook up a storm for your guests. Not only will your kids learn some basic food preparation and hygiene skills, but they’ll even get a glimpse into the elemental joy of grilling. Perhaps you’ll even light a fire in them to become a chef one day!
Touch Up Painted Features
Children just love painting projects, and they’re rarely happier than when holding a paintbrush. The wear and tear of old paint is never a great look, but finding the time to touch up exterior doors and windows can be challenging. Not on a summer weekend though.
With a decreased chance of rain or harsh weather conditions, this is the perfect time to start painting. Not only will it be a fun DIY project for all the family, but it is also likely to increase your property value. A win-win!