So, we’ve put together a list of fun and free/cheap activities to enjoy in your own home or locally. Inspiration for those long and snuggly days ahead, for the whole family to enjoy together.
- Collect different leaves and make an autumn collage
- Learn to make jams and chutneys
- Read about seasonal vegetables and get the kids to help choose recipes that incorporate them
- Build a fort with bedsheets
- Rescue a cat from a local shelter
- Make your own water kefir
- Make your own Halloween decorations: Paper chains, paper bunting, doily webs…
- Make your own Halloween masks
- Prune the garden plants, learn about how this helps them to grow back stronger in the spring
- Make hot chocolate and snuggle
- Learn about the rich history of Halloween
- Pick up a cheap pumpkin carving kit and perfect your techniques
- Learn about the rich history of Thanksgiving and host your own
- Collect pinecones and learn about their weather predicting potential
- Check out your local cinema for kids’ weekend shows from just 50 pence per ticket
- Play dinner table football with a piece of scrunched up paper and two halves of a shoe box
- I-Spy! For younger children, using phonetics instead of letters is also a great way to learn about reading
- Collect chestnuts and start a conker match
- Set up an official trick-or-treating agreement in your neighbourhood – great for community spirit
- Make a scarecrow
- Visit a local fireworks display
- Weave an autumn loom with sticks, wool and all of your autumn treasures
- Put your coat and wellies on and splash in some muddy puddles
- Have a good pre-christmas clearout and learn about charitable giving
- Make your own Christmas cards
- Build a snowman
- Make your own Christmas tree decorations
- Pick up some photo frames in a charity shop, decorate them and give as gifts
- Try out some taster sessions for classes in your area
- Learn to sew/knit
- Make your own kombucha
- Toast some marshmallows on a bonfire
- Make a family tree
- Download a movie maker and make your own stop motion film with your play-doh creations
- Enjoy a Christmas movie marathon, complete with popcorn
- Play pictionary
- Set up a scavenger hunt
- Make a puppet theatre
- Stage your own nativity play
- Bake and decorate a Christmas gingerbread house centrepiece
- Walk around your neighbourhood looking at everyone’s Christmas decorations
- Trace silhouettes and decorate them
- Learn about the rich history of Christmas
- Make snow angels
- Make winter garden decorations for your newly bare garden
- Fondue party!
- Make your own bird feeder with string, a pinecone, some peanut butter and bird seeds
- Freeze water balloons and use them for outdoor bowling
- Learn about the rich history of Hogmanay
- Collect photographs of the past year and make a family annual – maybe even make it a tradition
Article by Leanne Patrick