In contrast to earlier this year, the weather has at least started to be kind to us, eh? Things aren’t easy during lockdown, but if you have access to a bit of outside space like a garden there are some great things you can all do as a family to keep educated and entertained. We thought sharing a few thoughts with you might offer some inspiration if ideas are beginning to run dry!
Five fun ideas for enjoying the garden
Design & build a bug snug
Yes, all those little creepy crawlies out there can provide some great amusement. If you’ve got a little corner spare, why not layer up some rocks, stones, logs, and twigs and see what you can attract? Woodlice and earwigs will probably turn up quite quickly, but there’s also the joy of seeing ladybirds and even… if you’re really lucky… perhaps a hedgehog or a toad!
Fill & bury a time capsule
Go grab that annoying old ice cream carton you’ve got at the back of a cupboard and get the kids to fill it with things that represent what they love best. Perhaps they can write a letter explaining what they’re experiencing at the moment. And how about including a newspaper article about a great deed done by someone local? Draw some pictures. Find a pebble in the garden. Take some photos of their favourite toys. Then dig a hole… and bury it!
Make a bird feeder
We put our hands up… there are loads of ways to do this, and we’d be wrong to guide you on which is best because we don’t know. However, we do know that there are all sorts of options open to you, depending on what you have in the house. String, yoghurt pots or cookie cutter shapes, gelatine, and birdseed… you get the idea. Have a look on the internet, find a ‘recipe’ that suits you, and let your little ones get creative. It’s a great project that you can chat about for days to come. And it’s a really lovely way to draw more wildlife into your garden.
Get them making mud pies
Go on! You know you want to really. Dig out those old pans in the garage. Find that grubby flowerbed you never seem to get to. And give your littlies a couple of old serving spoons and a jug of water. Who knows, later in the summer they might even progress onto rose perfume for you!
Decorate a stone
If you have some pebbles or stones in the garden, great. Go grab some. But if you don’t, when you’re on an exercise walk, hunt down a pocketful and bring some home. Kids love painting/chalking/colouring pebbles etc. Over just a few days you can build quite a collection and add a lovely splash of colour to the view outside your window.
And those are just a few ideas that have popped into our heads. Please do share others that you’ve had too. Let’s do what we can to keep everyone happy and constructive during these tough times!