A is for… At-home beauty
“Use kitchen cupboard materials to make a DIY lip scrub by combining coconut oil and sugar,” says Jemma Zoe Smith, director of tuition agency Education Hotel
“Encourage your child to design the packaging, come up with a jingle and record an advert too.”
(Image: Getty Images/Flickr RF)
B is for… Book hunt
“During the holidays, local libraries host a range of events for all ages,” says Amy Benziane, online tutor and writer.
“Give older children a challenge to read something with an autumn theme – can they find a book about Bonfire Night?”
C is for… Cracking conkers
“Conkers are a hobby that can last long into winter,” says Nick Giles from Ordnance Survey.
Collect conkers, then harden them by dipping in vinegar and baking at 250°C for 90 seconds.
Thread onto a piece of string, and knock each other’s conkers until there’s only one left.
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(Image: Getty Images)
D is for… Den building
“Great for any age, building a den offers the chance to let your children’s imagination go wild,” says Jemma.
“Are they building a castle? An aeroplane? A shop? Or somewhere snuggly to watch movies later?”
E is for… Entertaining events
The National Trust has all you need for a fun day out, from red squirrel walks in Dorset, to bat trails in Cambridgeshire and creative classes in North Yorkshire.
The events are free but you will need to pay for admission at some venues.
To find your nearest one, click here .
(Image: Getty Images)
F is for… Foot painting
“Place a roll of paper on the floor, and fill three trays with different coloured paints,” says Ash Perrin, author or The Real Play Revolution (£12.99, Watkins).
“Get your kids to dip their feet in the paint. Then put on some music and ask them to dance on the paper, making a pattern with their feet.”
G is for… Getting outside
Make the most of the crisp autumnal days and go out for a walk.
“Walking is one of the best exercises you can do as it’s easy, simple and has so many great health benefits for the whole family. Plus it’s free,” says Elizabeth Day, parenting expert for Mothercare.
Click here for walk ideas around the UK.
(Image: Roland Leon Daily Mirror)
H is for… Hedgehog home
“Hedgehogs start to hibernate at this time of year, so make a hibernation house,” says Nick.
“Use an upside-down crate or a pile of logs, and cover it with fallen leaves to encourage a hedgehog to bed down in your garden.”
I is for… Ingenious crafts
“Inspire your little ones with household crafts,” says Hannah Evans, a parenting expert for Mamas & Papas.
“Try colouring in, making paper planes and bracelets, or playdough.”
To make playdough, knead together 8tbsp plain flour, 2tbsp table salt, 60ml warm water, a few drops of food colouring and 1tbsp vegetable oil.
J is for… Jumper races
“Being active together as a family is so important, and it needn’t cost you a penny,” says personal trainer Charlie King .
“Put some jumpers down on the grass in the park and race between them.
Or see if you can all make it from one side of the playing field to the other.”
(Image: Getty)
K is for… Kitchen creations
“Home baking is lots of fun, and you’ve probably already got the ingredients,” says baking blogger Britt Box .
Try Britt’s chocolate chip cookies.
You need 250g self-raising flour; 125g unsalted butter; 125g brown sugar; 1 egg; 1tsp vanilla; 100g chocolate chips.
Cream together butter and sugar. Add egg, then flour, then vanilla. Lastly, add chocolate chips.
Wrap dough in cling film and chill for 30 mins.
Roll into balls and place on a lined baking tray and bake at 180°C for 8-10 mins.
(Image: Getty Images)
L is for… Letter Writing
“Has your child always wondered what JK Rowling thought of the Harry Potter movies?” says Jemma.
“Now is their chance to find out.
“By writing a letter to their idol, they not only practise letter writing skills and handwriting, but they might also get a reply.”
(Image: Getty Images)
M is for… Movie day
“Set up some movies for you and the kids to enjoy during half term,” says George Charles, from moneysavingheroes.co.uk
“Write a list of what everybody wants to watch, grab some snacks and snuggle under the duvet for a chilled-out afternoon.”
(Image: Getty Images)
N is for… Nature trail
“Autumn is the perfect time for exploring the natural world,” says Estelle Keeber, co-founder of Mums In Business Association.
“Before setting off on a walk, make a list of treasures to find, such as leaves, pine cones or insects.
“Then encourage your children to add their own finds too.”
O is for… One word stories
“Children love this game, as you can end up with some very funny stories,” says Ash.
Sit or stand in a circle and get each person to shout one word at a time to create an amusing, nonsensical story.
P is for… Pumpkin Carving
“Although pumpkins are traditional to carve, you can also use squashes or other similar vegetables,” says Jemma.
“Little ones will enjoy dipping bits of veg in paint and using them as stamps, while older ones can put their creative skills to the test with a carving competition.”
Q is for… Quiz time
Who doesn’t love a quiz? All you need are some pens and paper,” says money-saving expert and mum Hester Grainger .
“Each member of the family has to write down five people – they can be famous, family members or friends.
“Then put them in a hat and each person has to pull one out and describe them without using their name, while the rest of the family guesses.”
R is for… Rock out
“ Halloween is fast-approaching, so why not get arty with some spooky painted pebbles?” says Andy Baxter , gardening expert.
“Gather a selection of smooth, flat-surfaced pebbles from around the garden or a park, and paint them with spooky designs such as ghosts, pumpkins and witches.”
(Image: Getty Images/Cultura RF)
S is for… Speed drawing
“If your kids have been arguing, this can be a fun way to distract them,” says Ash.
Get into pairs and sit opposite each other, with a pen and paper.
Ask the kids to draw a portrait of the person sitting opposite them, without taking their pen off the paper or looking down.
The results will be hilarious.
(Image: Getty Images)
T is for… Try volunteering
“Volunteering as a family gives you the opportunity to spend quality time together, while making a difference,” says Amanda Bringans, director of fundraising at the British Heart Foundation.
Click here to find local volunteering opportunities near you.
U is for… Unbaked treats
“This no-baking recipe is ideal for little ones,” says Britt.
Take 300g Smarties, 600g milk chocolate, 180g mini marshmallows and 300g digestives.
Melt chocolate in the microwave. Then smash up digestives in a bowl, and add marshmallows.
Add half the Smarties. Pour over melted chocolate and mix. Put this into a lined baking tin.
Top with the rest of the Smarties. Leave to set in the fridge before eating.
(Image: Getty Images)
V is for… Verbal verses
“If it’s a rainy day, have a poetry slam,” says Jemma.
“Choose a theme from the hat (for example leaves or pumpkins) and set a timer for 10 minutes to write a poem about that subject.
“Then perform your poems to each other at the end of the timer.”
W is for… Wonky wardrobe
Divide into two teams. Get a huge pile of clothes – tops, skirts, scarves, hats – and put them in a heap on the floor.
“The aim of the game is to put on as many items as possible in a minute. The person wearing the most clothes at the end of the time wins that round,” says Ash.
X is for… X marks the spot
“Plan a treasure hunt, either around the house, in the garden, or in your local area,” says Nick.
Hide brightly-wrapped sweets, or even coloured buttons.
Once you’ve hidden your treasure, create a map and clues, and, most importantly , keep a note of where everything is hidden.
Y is for… Your own escape room
“Escape rooms aren’t just for adults,” says Hester.
“Find a cupboard or wardrobe in your house and hide some objects inside.
Then write out clues, associated with each item and set a timer.
“The winner is the person that solves the clues and finds the items first.”
(Image: Getty Images/EyeEm)
Z is for… Zoom in
Get creative with your camera.
“Why not have a competition to see who can take the best photograph, or get the most photos of a certain object?” says Amy.
