Parenting

Half term ideas: How to keep kids entertained at home during lockdown


There’s plenty you can do together this half term (Picture: Getty)

Under normal circumstances, parents will look forward to half-term as they’d get some quality time with the kids after everyone’s been busy at school and work.

As it is, families have been doing everything together at home since schools were closed in January following the surge in coronavirus cases.

By now, you’ve probably mastered keeping the kids focused and entertained at home when they’ve got schoolwork to be doing – but what about when you’ve got to fill the whole day?

With half-term approaching, Metro.co.uk and Richard Evans, founder of The Profs, have put together a selection of unique ways to keep you and your children occupied.

Scavenger hunt hikes

Even if you can’t go too far or don’t have too much green space nearby, you can still make a walk fun with a scavenger hunt.

Make a list of things for your child or children to tick off as you walk around the neighbourhood, park or local area.

Make a list for them to try and tick off – spotting different birds, bugs and more. (Picture: Getty)

It can be made fun with challenges, prizes and more.

Quarantine time capsule

A bit of an understatement here, but we are living through history right now.

In years to come, when Covid-19 is discussed the way the plague or smallpox is mentioned in history books now, you might want a unique way to remember the smaller details of living through it.  

Have your child locate items around the house that are unique to lockdown habits you’ve formed as a family and put them into a time capsule.

Then when you decide to years down the line, you can open it together and reminisce.

Bury something in the garden – you won’t even know what you might forget between now and the future. (Picture: Getty)

Teach your child new recipes

If you are a working parent, you may find it difficult to slot out time to entertain your child during half term.

But why not use time that has already been put aside?

Whilst you’re cooking, get your child involved and try out a new recipe together.

Cook up a storm together – bonus points if you can trick them into thinking the washing up is fun. (Picture: Getty)

Teach them new skills, have some bonding time and even get them to help out to lighten your load.

Set a challenge

Feeling like you’ve achieved something is an added boost of serotonin that isn’t unwelcome in these trying times.

Challenge yourselves as a family to do something – nail 10,000 steps a day, read a set number of books, etc – during half term, and let yourself have a reward if you achieve it.

Mad Hatter’s tea party

Why not make your child’s lunch or snack time even more exciting by attaching a theme?

The Mad Hatter’s tea party is the perfect way to get your child dressed up and excited about an event again. 

Spilling the tea. (Picture: Getty)

Mad Hatter tea parties have extravagant decorations and striking costumes, which you can ask your child to craft for the big day.

This is the perfect way to have a sensible, family celebration and use the half term period to create precious memories.

Create a soundscape of your house

Create a soundscape together by going on a journey around the home to find different sounds.

Whether it be the microwave beeping or scraping a stick against a wall in the garden, each time they find a sound use your phone and record it.

Click pause until you find the next one, then record again. When you both listen to it back, you will have a soundscape of all the noises around your house.

Organise a virtual field trip

While we’re temporarily limited by Covid-19 safety restrictions, imagination knows no boundaries.

A virtual field trip is a fantastic way to teach your child about different countries and cultures.

There are plenty of virtual reality kits you can use now to make an immersive at-home trip, or you can just use the power of the internet. (Picture: Getty)

There are plenty of ways to do this including visiting the English Heritage website to explore England’s history or using Google Street View to virtually visit another country.

You can even use other everyday gadgets to enhance the experience. Teach them about Carnival, for example, and make a playlist full of Brazilian-inspired songs.


MORE :
Schools won’t open after February half term


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