Have a Fun Easter Weekend With Your Children
Not sure how to entertain the kids over the long weekend? These fab activities will keep them amused and bring you all together as a family
If your family is staying home this weekend and you want your kids to have a fun Easter break, working out how to harness their chocolate-induced energy can be a bit of a challenge. These brilliant holiday ideas will engage your children, bring you all together and encourage you to step out of your established routine and tackle something new. Live in the moment, enjoy each other and make the most of your kids.
Blank space above the bed? The kids will be proud as punch to have their artwork in such a prominent position, especially if it’s the first thing they see when they run in to wake you in the morning.
Not sure where to display an artwork? Check out these unexpected places
Not sure where to display an artwork? Check out these unexpected places
Let them get bored
Parental guilt often compels us to fill every minute of our children’s days with organised activities and entertainment. However, some of the best memories they’ll have of their childhood are likely to be the times they spend at home with nothing but their imagination for company.
Banish the screens and they won’t stay idle for long – they’re sure to come up with a game or project that’s far more interesting than Minecraft.
Parental guilt often compels us to fill every minute of our children’s days with organised activities and entertainment. However, some of the best memories they’ll have of their childhood are likely to be the times they spend at home with nothing but their imagination for company.
Banish the screens and they won’t stay idle for long – they’re sure to come up with a game or project that’s far more interesting than Minecraft.
Create a new space to hang out together
If you have young children, a den of any description will make them happy – even some blankets draped over a table with some cushions and toys below can make a fun escape.
Dens for tweens or even teens require a bit more imagination and effort, but if you involve them in the process, it can be a fun and bonding experience. Consider making a treehouse or hanging a canopy beneath the trees, or turn your spare room into a Moroccan-inspired hang-out space for them and their friends.
Create a dream bedroom for your teen
If you have young children, a den of any description will make them happy – even some blankets draped over a table with some cushions and toys below can make a fun escape.
Dens for tweens or even teens require a bit more imagination and effort, but if you involve them in the process, it can be a fun and bonding experience. Consider making a treehouse or hanging a canopy beneath the trees, or turn your spare room into a Moroccan-inspired hang-out space for them and their friends.
Create a dream bedroom for your teen
Refresh their room
Put on some music and get the kids to go through their toys, books and clothes to sort out what they want to keep and what they’ve outgrown. Starting the school holidays with a clean and tidy room will make everyone feel good.
Tip Painting the wall behind some shelves will add a shot of colour to a room and once your child has pared back their possessions to the ones they truly value, they can be put on display and made more of a feature.
Bonus tip Get your children to group their books into colours, then copy the arrangement seen here and stack their books on shelves but also line them up, side by side, for some visual variety.
Put on some music and get the kids to go through their toys, books and clothes to sort out what they want to keep and what they’ve outgrown. Starting the school holidays with a clean and tidy room will make everyone feel good.
Tip Painting the wall behind some shelves will add a shot of colour to a room and once your child has pared back their possessions to the ones they truly value, they can be put on display and made more of a feature.
Bonus tip Get your children to group their books into colours, then copy the arrangement seen here and stack their books on shelves but also line them up, side by side, for some visual variety.
Work on a DIY project together
Whether it’s building a sandpit – logs plus sand equals an instant sandpit – or sewing a patchwork quilt out of the family’s old clothes, your kids will love doing something out of the ordinary with you… especially if it’s something that benefits them!
Whether it’s building a sandpit – logs plus sand equals an instant sandpit – or sewing a patchwork quilt out of the family’s old clothes, your kids will love doing something out of the ordinary with you… especially if it’s something that benefits them!
If you’re feeling extra ambitious, consider building a raised platform bed together, and making room for a desk underneath. Let them choose what colours to paint it and it’ll be double the fun.
Put them in charge of cooking
They may be on holiday but so are you, and this is one way to keep the kids out of mischief and give yourself a break at the same time.
With older children, hand over some cash and let them take charge of buying ingredients and creating the recipes for dinner and dessert one evening – you might be surprised at what they can accomplish on their own. Younger children will love the one-on-one time they spend with you in the kitchen, not to mention the goodies they get to eat at the end.
Tip Turn the evening your children make dinner into a special occasion by getting out your best tablecloth and lighting some candles.
They may be on holiday but so are you, and this is one way to keep the kids out of mischief and give yourself a break at the same time.
With older children, hand over some cash and let them take charge of buying ingredients and creating the recipes for dinner and dessert one evening – you might be surprised at what they can accomplish on their own. Younger children will love the one-on-one time they spend with you in the kitchen, not to mention the goodies they get to eat at the end.
Tip Turn the evening your children make dinner into a special occasion by getting out your best tablecloth and lighting some candles.
Tour your local area
Whether you live in the city, out in the suburbs or in the country, chances are that you never see much beyond your regular go-to places. Why not pretend you’re tourists and revisit the area with fresh eyes? Go on a guided tour, visit local attractions, or buy a walking map and learn more about your local area’s history and natural features. Their enquiring minds will love it.
Whether you live in the city, out in the suburbs or in the country, chances are that you never see much beyond your regular go-to places. Why not pretend you’re tourists and revisit the area with fresh eyes? Go on a guided tour, visit local attractions, or buy a walking map and learn more about your local area’s history and natural features. Their enquiring minds will love it.
Entertain one another
It’s too easy for days off to drift by in a sea of chores and screen time, without the family spending any quality time together. Put down your devices and break out the board games, challenge them to charades or play hide-and-seek in the garden and become a kid again.
It’s too easy for days off to drift by in a sea of chores and screen time, without the family spending any quality time together. Put down your devices and break out the board games, challenge them to charades or play hide-and-seek in the garden and become a kid again.
Go camping in the garden
If you’re having a staycation, it’s still possible to make the break feel holiday-like if you set up a tent in the back garden. Kids of all ages will enjoy the experience, and the best thing is they can still enjoy all the comforts of home. Carry the sofa out to the tent, line the floor with a rug, invite some of their friends over and they’ll be entertained for days.
They are, however, likely to build up an appetite so be warned – a never-ending stream of snacks will be required.
TELL US…
What are your plans for the rest of the Easter weekend? Share your boredom-busting tips in the Comments below.
If you’re having a staycation, it’s still possible to make the break feel holiday-like if you set up a tent in the back garden. Kids of all ages will enjoy the experience, and the best thing is they can still enjoy all the comforts of home. Carry the sofa out to the tent, line the floor with a rug, invite some of their friends over and they’ll be entertained for days.
They are, however, likely to build up an appetite so be warned – a never-ending stream of snacks will be required.
TELL US…
What are your plans for the rest of the Easter weekend? Share your boredom-busting tips in the Comments below.
Walls looking a bit bare? Harness your children’s creative energy and put them to work on a masterpiece or two. While this one clearly is a masterpiece, your children might create something just as eye-catching, given half a chance.
Provide a giant canvas and some brightly coloured acrylic paints and watch what unfolds. Wet the canvas with a sponge before they start so the paint glides on with ease.