Friday 03rd September, 2010 
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Summer Fun

Olly Goldenberg

Sumer Time is here!

And that means weeks of holiday lie ahead. But many children have nothing to do and all day to do that.

After having seen them wearing out therir energies on the remote control and excercising their fingers on their game console, you may begin to wonder if there is not something more constructive they could be doing. This month Revival Times comes to your rescue with some creative and not so creative ideas.

Some families of course will be travelling abroad, but those of us left behind should remember that many people actually come to London for a holiday. Why? There is loads to do here!

The key to having a great summer holiday is advance planning. Set a budget that you can afford each week if you can, but dont be putt off if money does not stretch to anything extra - there is plenty you can do in our city for free!

Ten great days at home

  1. Have a water fight. On a hot sunny day get water pistols, buckets, sponges - anything that you can that will absorb water. Then aim to get each other completely soaked. You should be outdoors for this activity.
  2. Create a rock band. You don't need to own a musical instrument to create a musical sound - or at least a beat. Prepare a latest hits version of your favourite family tunes. If you have a phone that records or a video camera, set to work creating an album you can all look back at and cringe. Don't forget to create authentic rock band clothes for the occasion.
  3. Start a business. Release the entrepreneurial spirit in your children and let them earn a bit of money around the neighbourhood. They could even save up for a day out later in the holiday. Car washing and gardening are usually popular pursuits.
  4. Go on a picnic. There is more to going on a picnic than simply going on a picnic. Before you can go you have to prepare the food - and that is a treat itself. Let your children choose the menu, prepare the food and choose the perfect location in your garden or a local park for a perfect day out.
  5. Launch an art gallery. Let your children draw, decorate and sculpture to make your very own art gallery in your living room.
  6. Points mean prizes. Let the children help out around the house to decide on what type of day out they will go on at the end of the week. A few points mean a trip to a local park with an ice cream. High points may mean a weekend away or a trip to a theme park.
  7. Have a sleepover. Let your children invite their friends over for a special sleepover.
  8. Surf for web wonders. Let your children surf the web to find out facts about obscure topics like man-eating spiders...
  9. Have alphabet food. On a day devoted to eating you have to eat food in order of the alphabet. So you might start with an apple then a biscuit, then a carrot... See who can be the first to get to the end of the alphabet. You may need to search the shops to find something beginning with x!
  10. Make an obstacle course. Turn your garden or living room into an obstacle course made out of chairs, cushions, sheets to crawl under, and anything else you can find! Time each other to see who is the fastest to get round it. Try it with your legs tied together or one leg tied to somebody else's!

Ten great days out

  1. Go to a museum. There are loads of great museums in London, and many of them are free. Museums do not mean boredom, as the majority have interactive displays and plenty to capture the imagination of children of all ages. Here are some of the top free ones in our city:
  2. Go to a park. Over the summer London parks come alive with loads to do above and beyond the usual activities. All you need to know is where to turn up and when. Many of these events are free or very cheap. Check out from your local council what they have on offer. For example, in August Hyde Park will have clowning, activities for under-5s and even carousel rides. See www.royalparks.gov.uk/parks/hyde_park.
  3. Go to an adventure place - these are great for rainy days. Places such as Snakes and Ladders or Wacky Warehouse have plenty to burn off excess energy. Check out Go Ape, an adventure place for age 10 and up. See www.goape.co.uk.
  4. Libraries are also a great source of activities over the summer time.
  5. Experience a wildlife bonanza. Farms, zoos and even the London Wetland Centre bring the children in touch with the wildlife.Websites to check:
  6. Farms such as Odds Farm Park always have plenty to amuse everybody: www.oddsfarm.co.uk
  7. Do a BBC tour.Why not take your children to see CBBC in action? Check out the CBBC tour on www.bbc.co.uk/tours/cbbc.shtml.
  8. Visit a theme park. These are a great treat to work towards over the holiday. They are more expensive but worth a day visit. Places to go:
  9. Become a tourist. Go on a tourist bus route and visit sites like Big Ben, the London Eye and Buckingham Palace.Why not take a camera and make your own scrap book on your return?
  10. Make food from natural ingredients. Go berry-picking or get some nettles for a delicious nettle soup. Please ensure that the ingredients you gather are not poisonous.
  11. More ... Check out www.londonfamilies.co.uk for loads more ideas.
  12. A well planned summer holiday means children are occupied, families are strengthened and order is maintained. Plan now for the weeks ahead! If you do anything really wacky then why not send us a photo? - we may even be able to include it in one of the children's magazines.