Activities to Keep the Kids Busy During the Summer Holidays

The kids have been off school for just over a week now but we bet it’s felt like a lot longer!

Are you struggling to keep them occupied and already counting down the days until they head back to school? We’ve got some great ideas for ways you can keep the kids busy, and tire them out!

Day Out in the Park

A simple option is to simply take the kids down to your local park and let them run around all afternoon. Whether that’s playing hide-and-seek, football, catch or running wild in the playground, they’re sure to be exhausted on the drive back home!

You can even turn it into a picnic too! Take a blanket and a basket full of goodies for when they need a break.

Find the nearest parks in your area with this handy tool.

B&M Top Tip: with a little preparation you can rustle up some delicious picnic treats! Check out our recipe collection of Best Picnic Bakes for something truly indulgent.

Theme Parks

Depending on where you live, there’s normally a theme park nearby. Whether you live closest to Alton Towers, Legoland, Thorpe Park or Drayton Manor, there are plenty to head to.

If you live in the north west of England, there’s also Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which provides a full day out walking through the town and visiting the local chip shops and penny arcades, as well as the exciting theme park and famous Blackpool Tower.

Be sure to check the side of your Kellogg’s cereal boxes as they often have 2-for-1 entry, or free entry for adults in a lot of theme parks.

Aquarium

Similar to theme parks, aquariums can take up a full day. Not only will it act as a special treat for the kids but they'll also learn a few things along the way (without them even realising!)

It’s important to teach children about animals and taking them to an aquarium will allow them to see exotic fish and marine life that they never knew existed!

London

If you live in or around London, heading into the city centre to experience any number of the capital’s attractions is a great way to spend a day or two of the summer holidays.

The kids will be amazed by the size of the London Eye, and the views from the top. Or there's the life-like mannequins of Madame Tussauds and the creepy London Dungeons.

Garden Water Park & Water Fight

With temperatures sizzling, there really is no better way to enjoy the hot weather than a dip in the pool. However, if you haven’t got access to one, you can always get creative in your garden.

Make a slip-n-slide and let the kids – and adults! – take it in turns to slide from one end to the other.

Our water balloons and water guns will also make perfect weapons in a huge water fight!

Cinema

If you'd rather them sit still for an hour or two, the perfect place for keeping the kids occupied and quiet is the cinema.

There are always new childrens films out every summer. This summer's highlights include The Incredibles 2 and Hotel Transylvania 3 (or you could drag them along to the new Mamma Mia!)

B&M Top Tip: no trip to the cinema is complete without popcorn! We have all the big branded popcorn in-store in a variety of flavours, from sweet and salted to toffee! Browse the Butterkist range now. If popcorn isn't your thing, we've also got a large range of crisps on offer.

What activities have you got planned for your kids during the summer holidays? Let the B&M community know on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.