If you are looking for ideas to keep children entertained during the school holiday, have a look at some of the fun activities from Avery UK. From taking part in the summer reading challenge to creating a boredom jar, kids and parents will love these activities

1. Simple ideas to keep
your children
entertained during the
summer
Holiday
Follow @UKAvery and
www.facebook.com/UKAvery for more
ideas

2. Start by making a list of ideas
Make a list of all the activities and days out you would like to do this
summer and cross things off as you complete them. This will
ensure you get the best out of summer. It could be everything from
learning to ride a bike to visiting a local tourist attraction.
Chat to your children about what they’d like to
do this holiday.

3. Create a ‘boredom’ jar
At the start of each week why not write some ideas of activities
your child can do if they say “I’m bored”. Get them to pick an
activity out of the jar – this could be reading a book, colouring a
picture, ride your bike, play a board game, practise your football.
Each time they need something to fill their time, send them to the
jar. You can create labels for the jar using the free software and
templates at www.avery.co.uk.
An easy way to fill those moments of boredom

4. Have some messy play
Kids can have so much fun when you get out in the garden, lay out
the paints and large sheets of paper. Let them put their hands and
feet in and get messy whist making their own artwork. Just make
sure you have the bath ready for afterwards.
Dig out the paints and get outside

5. Make some music with the kids
You don’t have to buy expensive instruments to allow your children
to get creative with music. Make your own shakers using plastic
bottles and rice and pans and a wooden spoon are ideal for drums.
Elastic bands round a used tissue box can make a fantastic play
guitar. You will have your own band in no time.
Let the children make some noise

6. Visit the local library
Getting children to continue reading throughout the school holidays
isn’t always easy but if you set a challenge this can help. Most UK
libraries are running the Summer Reading Challenge and this year
the theme is Mythical Maze. Children get a new sticker each time
they read two books and at the end of the challenge will receive a
certificate and medal.
Encourage your child to keep up their reading

7. Encourage your child to drink plenty
You can use Avery Product Tags to create fun name tags for
drinking bottles. By adding their name and picture it may encourage
them to drink more but it also makes it easier for you to measure
how much each child has drunk throughout the day. Upload your
own image or choose from a wide range of free clip art in Avery
Design & Print Online.
http://www.avery.co.uk/avery/en_gb/Templates-%26-
Software/Software/Avery-Design--Print-Online.htm
A simple way to keep children hydrated

8. Get crafty if the weather is really bad
Make sure you have plenty of crafts in stock for those days when
it’s too wet to play outside. Children enjoy sticking, gluing, drawing
and painting. For those who prefer something less messy you
could use our free online software at www.avery.co.uk and get
children to design their own cards or posters.
Children love to get creative

9. For those quieter moments
Avery Write & Wipe sheets are perfect for encouraging children to
practise their handwriting. These are handy for taking on planes or
when you go out and about and don’t want to take lots of paper. All
you will need is a Write & Wipe sheet, a marker pen and a cloth to
wipe it clean.
A simple way to practise writing

10. Create your own clothing
You can print your special holiday moments onto clothing or other
material to ensure they last a lifetime. If you are heading to a tourist
attraction, instead of buying a souvenir t-shirt why not make your
own using Avery t-shirt transfers and the free online software at
www.avery.co.uk.
See your holiday memories in print

11. Enjoy the sunshine when you can
Whilst it’s important to protect your child’s skin in the sunshine,
Vitamin D is vital for children’s health and wellbeing. Your
household chores can wait but the sunshine may not, so get
outdoors at every opportunity.
Get as much Vitamin D as possible

12. Make the perfect picnic
Kids love a picnic. You can’t beat sitting in the sunshine in the
great outdoors whilst you enjoy some finger food. Your picnic can
be even more organised if you label the food items or individual
picnics.
Enjoy eating in the sunshine

13. Keep a record of your child’s work
If your child is at school we expect they arrived home on the final
day with lots of pieces of paper having emptied their drawer. Why
not create a folder for each school year so you have somewhere
ready to store them? It’s always fun to look back at old work and
see how they have progressed. Visit the Avery website for filing
advice and ideas www.avery.co.uk.
What do with your child’s school work

14. Ensure your summer memories last
By saving and printing your favourite holiday snaps you can
remember those special moments whenever you want. Why not
save them on a media disk and send them to grandparents or
aunts and uncles to show what you’ve all been up to this summer?
Print out your favourite pictures

15. Send your own ideas for the summer holiday to @UKAvery or
www.facebook.com/UKAvery.
For more ideas for the home and work you can visit the Avery
blog at www.averyuk.tumblr.com or the Avery website at
www.avery.co.uk