Summer holidays can end up being a long time to amuse your child, so here are some ideas to help you.

Kids love playing with water and having water fights, and what better time to do this than summer?! Turn on the sprinkler and let the kids jump through it, or small buckets make perfect containers for “soaking the enemy”.

Alternatively, fill up some water balloons and let the kids get wet. Here are water games for kids which are a perfect way to cool everyone off, inexpensive, and don’t need much time to set up.

And if that’s not enough, here are even more innovative and fun water play ideas that kids will love.

Blowing bubbles will definitely lead to giggles! Use different blowers for a range of bubbly fun. Challenge the kids to try and make some really big bubbles or try some bubble painting – find out how with these fun bubble ideas.

You could also have have some fun at night with these glow in the dark bubbles.

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Nothing says summer more than a trip to the beach. Pack up the car (here’s a handy beach checklist to save you running in and out of the house 10 times!) and don’t forget the talcum powder to get the sand off before you all climb back in the car!

Don’t be stuck for ideas while you’re there either – here are 50 fun things to do at the beach for kids, or challenge the kids to a beach scavenger hunt!

Scavenger hunts are great fun for kids as they adore the thrill of hunting. It’s also a great excuse to get them active outdoors, so a win-win for everyone! From bugs to sounds to nature, here are fun scavenger hunt ideas for kids to turn your little darlings into mini-explorers.

If they’re still looking for more hunting fun, have a treasure hunt – always a winner with kids.

Obstacle courses are such fun for kids, and a great way to get them off the couch and active. Ask them to run around the garden a few times, and you’ll get no response, but challenge them to an obstacle course, and they are ready and waiting at the start line before you’ve finished the sentence!

Get them involved in helping you build it too with these fun obstacle course ideas for kids.

Weather permitting, camping is great fun and a chance to “become one with nature”. Many fond memories are created sitting around a campfire telling jokes or scary stories and watching the stars at night. Don’t forget to roast some marshmallows – yum!

Check out these 40 sure-fire ideas to make camping with kids fun. For an easier life, you’ll like these camping hacks and our camping checklist too!

Most kids love to bake, with the promise of a sweet treat at the end! We have lots of recipe ideas in our baking section, to give you some inspiration, like yummy lemon buns, breakfast berry muffins, or how about a classic – chocolate chip cookies.

Challenge the kids to create their own time capsule – a collection of treasures and memories they can hide away for their future self?

Keep in mind that creating a capsule for unveiling at some future date is really a two sided adventure involving both you and those who will uncover it once again (perhaps even your future self). Make sure that the items you select will add the element of surprise and discovery for those who open this curious treasure chest of history.

Here’s how to make a time capsule with kids, and includes a neat downloadable sheet you can print out and have the kids fill in and include.

The fun part of doing art and crafts in the summer, is being able to take them (and the mess) outside! Here are simple summer crafts for kids, which are perfect for outdoors.

When you’re at the beach, get the kids to collect some shells, pebbles, sea glass and even sand to bring home for crafts. Here are great beach craft ideas and stunning shell crafts for kids to create summer mementos that you can treasure long after the summer is over.

Get your kids playing outdoor games – they might need a little bit of instruction to get them started, so have a look at our 20 great childhood games for inspiration – a collection of fun games that will provide great memories of long summer evenings playing on the street. Also here are 7 fun outdoor games that the whole family can enjoy.