How to avoid costly days out this Easter

Half term has arrived and if the recent weather is anything to go by you could be spending quite a bit of time indoors. We’ve had a little look at the weather and it forecasts scattered showers so although it’s not looking good let’s remind ourselves that we live in the UK so anything could happen! Just in case, the weatherman is right for once it might be a good idea to start to prepare for a wet Easter. There are many activities and events going on during the Easter holidays, however if you are trying to keep an eye on the pennies these next two weeks can often be quite costly. To keep you and the kids occupied, and dry, we have found a selection of indoor activities that are fun and you might even learn something!

Fun

We are guessing that your children are a little like ours, a house full of toys yet they have nothing to play with. We always find that playdough never seems to go out of fashion, with the latest fads bringing out their characters in a playdough set it can get pricey and let’s be honest the playdough never really lasts very long either. To save the day, and money, just follow our recipe for non-cook playdough for your kids to enjoy with their toys. You will need: 2 cups of plain flour, 1 cup of salt, 1 cup of cold water, 1 table spoon of oil and 2 drops of food colouring, mix it all together and knead well.

When it comes to lunch time forget about the dining table and simply bring a picnic indoors! Make some space, lay out a rug and enjoy your sandwiches, crisps and cakes with a few pillows listening to the rain pitter-pattering on the windows. Use plastic cups and plates for an authentic summer picnic, you won’t even have to worry about any bumble bees making an appearance when the jam sandwiches are brought out.

Add a little exercise to your day with a fun game of volleyball, before you start worrying about your favourite vase it’s ok we’re going to play with a balloon. Take two chairs and some ribbon or rope and create your net, blow up your balloon ball and start playing, if your children are competitive you can always use some chalk and chalkboard to use as a scoreboard. Before you know it you’ll be in the middle of an intense tournament by the time Dad comes home from work and no doubt he will want to play the winner!

Educational

With fond memories of our own childhoods we have found a classic activity that both you and your kids will love and all you’ll need is an empty glass jar, some kitchen roll and a runner bean seed. If you can’t remember this from your childhood don’t worry the method is simple; wedge the kitchen roll and seed into the side of the jar, add about an inch of water. Keep the water topped up and watch as the bean begins to sprout, you can even move your bean to a plastic pot with compost and continue the journey with a bamboo for support. This experiment is exciting and educational and might even make it into your Sunday lunch!

Sticking with science for a moment we’re going to test your senses. The challenge is for your family to take part in a game where they must only use their sense of smell. Pop to your kitchen and pick 5 or more things that have a distinctive smell such as an onion, coffee, an orange and vinegar, then blindfold your children and ask them to write down what they can smell. Smell is the most predominant of the five senses as it is affected by sight, making this a fun and educational game, with each correct answer gives them a point.

How observant do you think your family is? This is a game that will test the perceptiveness of your whole family no matter of their age. Place 10 to 20 random objects on a tray allow everyone to remember as many as they can before they close their eyes and one object is removed.  Everyone must write down what they think is missing, each correct answers earns them a point. You might be surprised of who is the most observant family member in your house.

We hope we have inspired you to have a little fun and learn something with your kids this Easter. School holidays can become quite expensive and if you’re saving for a new car, holiday abroad or moving home, fun and free days spent playing in the house are much needed. If you are looking to buy or sell your home this Easter our branches are child-friendly with a few big kids to entertain your children as we discuss the important details of a smooth and swift move.