If you need inspiration to help keep them busy, take a look at the links below for everything from workouts to dance, arts, cooking, outdoor activities and wellbeing. It's also worth checking out your local borough or district council's website as they often run holiday activities.
New for March 2022 - Specsavers Surrey Youth Games
Surrey Youth Games are back for 2022 with exciting new activities. This unique programme brings together 6 to 16 year olds from Surrey who often don't have access to the sort of sporting opportunities that others take for granted. Training kicks off after Easter in every one of the county's boroughs and districts, with a final, celebratory event at the Surrey Sports Park in Guildford on June 18.
Find out more: Specsavers Surrey Youth Games (activesurrey.com)
Keeping active during the holidays
Kids aren't designed to stay still, so it's important that they are kept active to help them grow into healthy adults – children are recommended to do a minimum of 60 mins exercise every day. Try these ideas:
Club4 dance sessions
- A creative dance class to get your imagination and bodies nice and active using an item of clothing to inspire us. For 5-7yrs.
Fun workouts
- Join Joe Wicks and Hey Duggee teaching kids how to exercise and keep fit
- Along with festive ways to #GetKidsMoving, your child can get active with their favourite superheroes, train like a Jedi or practice their Hogwarts wizarding skills
- Try out some PhysiFUN games at home – here are some videos of the PhysiFUN games in action
- Kids may be used to BBC Super Movers at school, but there are also more than 50 just-for-fun activities from Danger Mouse to Doctor Who
- You might want to turn the volume down for these (and ignore the accents), but GoNoodle have loads of dance and mindfulness videos
- Check out the Youth Sports Trust 'After School Sports Club' for older children and more imaginative play for younger kids with Healthy Movers at Home
Active Bursts
- Try these Activity Cards from the Youth Sport Trust – loads of ultra quick games to try at home
- Got a Disney fan in the house? Then take a look at these 10 min Shake-Ups from NHS Better Health
- Some great ideas for speedy games from Active Kids Do Better
Yoga and mindfulness
- Millions of children have followed mindfulness and yoga sessions from Cosmic Kids Yoga, delivered in a way that's fun for ages 5-10
Other mood boosters
Kids are incredibly resilient, but it does us all good to try and find some time to focus on our own wellbeing and be aware of how we're feeling:
- If the weather is OK, get the whole family closer to nature with the Get Outside hub – tips on everything from walking for beginners to using routes on maps to create art
- Check out these ideas for self guided family walks around Surrey
- Help for mood and mental health, created for kids from Stormbreak. They can choose to boost self care, resilience, their relationships and more with the help of age appropriate videos. If you're worried about your child's mental health you can also check out our 'Help for parents' page.
Arts and Crafts
Even kids can't keep going all the time, but to stop them turning to the TV or games consoles, check out some of these carefully selected craft ideas from our friends at Surrey Arts:
- New for March 2022: 25 plus Easter crafts for children (The Best Ideas for Kids)
- New for March 2022: 65 festive Easter crafts for children and adults (goodhousekeeping.com)
- Surrey Libraries have some fantastic resources for kids, from interactive audio theatre show's to story and Rhymetime, coding and Lego club. If your child doesn't have a library card, don't miss out on the chance to register to receive one.
- Lots of kids will tell you they can't draw… but these well-produced videos from author and Guinness World Record Holder Rob Biddulph can turn any child into an artist (mums and dads too)
- Spelthorne Council have some great creative videos on their Resource Centre Craft Club facebook page with new craft activities uploaded twice a week
- Elmbridge Council's Shout facebook page has some equally good ways to keep your son or daughter busy during the holidays or wet weekends
- Surrey Arts SMASH Activities' ideas for practicing percussion will have you making your own instrument out of junk
- Designer Annalees Lim's 30 Days Wild activity sheet bundle has plenty to keep kids active over the holidays
- Craft activities for early years and primary children from the national crafts council
- If your child has a taste for the dramatic, show them the theatre ideas from the Fly High Stories crew
Food and cooking ideas
Good cooking is an art and it can keep kids occupied and help them learn about making good food choices.
- New for March 2022: Fun Easter baking for children (BBC Good Food)
- New for March 2022: Easter kids recipe ideas (BBC Good Food)
- Get some healthy and easy new recipe ideas to try with the family from NHS Better Health
- Recipe cards, games and #CookTogether ideas for parents, carers and kids from Phunky Foods