With the pesky clouds a distant memory and the glorious sushine finally making its long-awaited appearance it looks like the nation is set for a weekend of fun.  Just how much are we loving this great weather – it instantly brightens the mood, with adults and kiddie-winks hitting their back gardens to make the most of the rays!  We won’t let a hosepipe ban dampen our spirits!  Long may it last!

Our friends at Play Experts are specialists in helping children and families become more active and have more fun through outdoor play, so if you fancy having some real kiddie fun and making the most of the great outdoors without breaking the bank, check out these top tips below.  Enjoy!

Make sure your garden is ready for action

A simple mow of the lawn, chop of the bushes and pull of the weeds will not only rejuvenate the garden, it will be rejuvenating for you at the same time. It’s surprising how fresh and energised you feel after a good maintenance session in the summer sunshine – it’s not just about refreshing the garden; it’s about refreshing you, too.

Have fun together!

Now the hard work is over, it’s time to decide how best to use your newly groomed lawn. Whether you’ve got kids, friends or both, everyone can have fun together. It’s all about choosing the right games to keep everyone entertained. It’s not just about buying as many toys as possible, but the key is to have a couple of really brilliant activities that everyone will enjoy.

How about challenging your friends to a game of Giant Jenga or go retro with an updated version of the 80′s favourite, Swingball!  If you’re lucky enough to have a sturdy tree in the garden then a giant swing will provide hours of entertainment for all ages!

Encourage the kids to stay outside in the sunshine

While you’re trying to enjoy your gourmet barbeques, tasty cocktails and adult conversation, you can feel slightly irritated when the kids insist on swinging on your arms like cheeky chimps, pleading with you to let them go inside to play on their computer games. However, it’s actually quite easy to help them find things to do that’ll keep them outside and active in the lovely fresh air – all it takes is a little encouragement;

Switch off your TV set and do something less boring instead…

Children have amazing imaginations, so we don’t need to buy them countless toys and spend all of our time inventing games for them to play. They’re brilliant at doing that themselves. That said, giving them something to spark these impressive imaginations is key.  All you need to build a camp is an old sheet and a couple of chairs, but if you fancy something a little more durable then how about a really original gift that the children will cherish for years to come; a Wendy House.  They’re surprisingly good value if you go to the right place, don’t have to take up too much room and will be sure to provide hours of entertainment and create many fabulous adventures. It gives children their own little world to play in – something that is truly their own space and somewhere for them to shelter and enjoy, come rain or shine!

Organise a Treasure Hunt!

An egg hunt would be suitable for Easter, but any ‘treasure’ will prove just as fun and effective the rest of the time.  You can set up a garden hunt for the kids in no time using all sorts of hiding places, obvious ones are the best (otherwise it’ll take all day), and remember to leave fun clues on each. Children will have a wonderful time finding all the goodies, and it’s lovely seeing their little faces light up when they find the final prize! Alternatively, you could make them harder to find, keeping little ones occupied for longer, which means they’re likely to spend more time running around getting worn out (great when bedtime comes!).

One of the best ways to get kids interested in the garden is to introduce the garden to them in subtle, fun ways. An excellent way to do this is to give your kid a list for a nature scavenger hunt.  Alternatively you could create a kid-friendly space in one area of the garden for a little vegetable patch or flower garden.  Who remembers the fun of growing giant sunflowers in the good old days?

Whilst having fun is the priority, be sure to remember skin protection for your little ones in the frenzy of outdoor activity.  As the Australian’s like to say; Slip on a shirt, Slop on some sunscreen and Slap on a hat!

At the end of a fun day when the kids are exhausted and ready for bed, make the most of some quality adult time. Put your feet up, grab a cool glass of wine or Pimms and think about how you will spend tomorrow!

We’d love to hear what you like to get up to in the summer sun and how you’re planning to spend your Jubilee weekend?

A big thanks to Hannah at Big Game Hunters Wendy Houses Shop who contributed to our guest blog!