The summer holiday is upon us, and each year, London provides many free, fun summer activities for children and their families. But what if we don’t have time to take the family to a museum? Not to worry, we’ve created a list of fun activities that can be enjoyed at home or on holiday.

Photography

Buy a photo album and get clicking. So often, during the academic year, we don’t find time to print our photos off. Make it your summer project this year to document the 2022 summer fun with your friends and family. A photo album will be a source of smiles by many for years to come.

Try different styles of photography.

Maybe you take a photo at set times, no matter what is happening, exciting or not.
You can plan your photos like you would a story. Create a narrative - a beginning, a middle and an end.
If you’re up for a challenge, try telling your story in 3 shots - a bit like a photo comic strip.

When planning your photographs, think about the following:

Set the scene
Characters (who are they, how can we get their personality across?)
Add some detail shots (close-ups of unusual textures, things that are characteristic of where you are)
Did anything go wrong? Add some humour to your narrative.
Landscape shots, sunrise, sunset, atmospheric night-time shots

Blog

Do you have opinions that you’d like to share? You could be the next big blogger?

Blogging for teens not only improves their writing and communication skills but also helps them understand websites and basic computer coding. Whether you are passionate about film, creative writing, or crafts, blogging is a great outlet for your creativity and a great way to meet others with whom you share interests.

We love this guide on blogging: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YCOUMOBkVo

Build a family tree

One of the best things I ever did with my sister was building a family tree and interviewing our family members to uncover more about the lives of our late family members. We collected photos and noted details about each family member, significant dates and locations. It was a great way to bond with older family members - the keepers of the bulk of our family history. At the end of the summer, we presented our findings to the rest of the family, who were surprised to discover new things about our family.

Daydream

Daydreaming seems to be a lost art. During the school term, we constantly ask our children to stay focused, be present and listen. We don’t allow them to inhabit their world and see where their imagination takes them. When our child’s imagination soars into realms unknown, it sparks creativity that spills over from their imagination to add sparkle to more monotonous parts of life. By allowing our children to daydream, we water their seeds of creativity.

Bucket list activity:

Grab a bit sheet of paper and as many colours as you like and write down all the things you want to try and experience. You can create a key, draw, annotate, whatever you like. There is nothing too big or too small, too far away or too immediate to put on your bucket list sheet.

Create an obstacle course

Obstacle courses are a lot of fun for children and adults alike. They are a great way to get children moving and thinking creatively. There are also a lot of teamwork and delegation skills that get developed in the process. If your child says they are bored and you ask them to run around the garden, you’ll be met by eye-rolling, but ask them to build an obstacle course, and their eyes will light up.

Here are some fun ideas you can implement into your obstacle course.

https://www.mykidstime.com/things-to-do/get-active-fun-obstacle-course-ideas-kids/

Summer reading

Check out our summer reads blog for more ideas.

Geocache - the modern treasure hunt

It’s simple, download the app, pick a geocache near you and start navigating. Once you find it, share your experience by signing and dating the book. It’s fun family fun and requires very little preparation.

https://www.geocaching.com/play

Sponsor a child

Sponsoring a child supports the whole community. Donations help more children get an education, giving them the skills and knowledge to express themselves, keep them in school and out of harmful practices like child marriage. Through the organisations below, you are connected to a child and can build a relationship by exchanging letters and photos. This is a great way to open our children’s minds and give them a glimpse of how other children live in different places worldwide.

Childfund.org

https://www.compassionuk.org/sponsorship/

Learn a new craft

Use Pinterest for inspiration, get creative and learn a new craft. There is sewing, knitting, tie-dye, painting, drawing, shadow puppets, dream catchers, pinatas, ice lollies, jewellery, shell art, origami, papier mache, and wind chimes.

For more ideas, check out DIY Candy’s article.

Get musical

Find a song you want to learn and see whether you can figure it out by ear. If you prefer sheet music, then search it up online. Remember, Jimi Hendrix wasn’t born playing guitar solos. Practice makes progress. Long boring summers breed incredible rock stars.

10 summer activities for children (and parents)