10 free activities for children during the holiday

Keeping children busy during the holidays can be so hard. So, I thought I would share a list of 10 free activities for children during the holidays, that I have loved to do with my own.

Children tend to get bored because they don’t know what is available for them to do. As an adult, how many times have you sat doing an activity with your children, they then walk away and you’re still sat there doing it? I know I do.

The following activties can be done with any age group, if they’re bored and you join in with them they will enjoy it.

1. Visit Tilgate Park 

Now, anyone that knows me knows I love to visit Tilgate Park and Nature Reserve because it has so much do. You can walk round the lake, visit the animals, play in the park, go boating on the lake, fishing, cycling, Go Ape and more. The list goes on. Parking is available but it does fill up fast in the summer. There are plenty of toilets plus a cafe in the walled garden and Smith & Western restaurant.

2.  Sleep out on the trampoline 

I’m not sure who loves this more me or my children. Some parents leave their children to it but this is where I used to get my best nights sleep. Fill the trampoline with blankets, putting some underneath you because it can get chilly in the middle of the night.  Add some duvets, pillows and fairy lights then lay back and relax. Eventually, we turn off the fairy lights to enjoy the stars and maybe even a comet or shooting star. In the morning my children then get up and play in the garden, leaving me to sleep! (This never normally happens!)

3.  Watch a sunset or star gazing

 There are some fantastic places to go in West Sussex for star gazing. It can be done anywhere near your house, as long as there are no lights to stop your night vision. The perfect time is during the no moon phase, as the sky will be at its darkest. It takes about 30 minutes for your night vision to work so keep torches to a minimum but if you do need one try to use one with a red filter. A great website is Go Star Gazing as you can view on a map which local places are good for viewing the stars plus it will tell you which phase the moon is in.

4.  The beach

There are so many gorgeous beaches in Sussex. I think my favourite is Goring. It has free parking, two amazing cafes right on the beach (Sea Lane Cafe and the Bluebird Cafe, the latter allows dogs) which are perfect for walking between and has beautiful sunsets.

5.  Lancing Sea Front 

We love to head over to Lancing in the evenings, as it’s normally quiet and is a great place to take scooters. There is plenty of parking, plus a large green for playing rounders or having a picnic. The The Perch Restaurant is lovely for food or there is a small kiosk next door. The beach itself is stony and there are also toilets nearby.

6.  Pond Dipping 

This is such a simple activity but one that can entertain children for ages. It doesn’t need to be a large just big enough for a child to use their to see what they can find.  Don’t forget to take a tray or bucket to see what you can catch.  Please be safe around the water and take care of your children.

7.  Cycling along the South Downs Link Path

This is a, mostly, flat route than goes from Guildford to Shoreham. Click the link HERE to view the West Sussex guide to cycling the Path and the various cafes, car parks and local amenities.

8.  Den Building

There are so many places to go Den Building. Firstly it can be done indoors or outside. My children love to build a den in the living room and then have a movie and sleepover in it. Great places for den building outside include: Box Hill, St Leonards Forest or Leechpool Woods

9.  Shaving foam painting

This is such a fun activity. On a piece of paper, spread some shaving foam across it then add dollops of paint. With a tooth pick you can then draw patterns in the shaving foam and leave it to dry.

10.  Fire Pit & S’Mores 

What better way to end the day than with a fire pit and S’mores. If you don’t know what S’mores are let me explain. These are originally from America and are made by roasting a marshmallow over the fire then sandwiching it between two Graham Crackers and adding a piece of Hersheys chocolate. A quick way to make them in England is to use marshmallows but then put them between chocolate digestives biscuits. They are so tasty but please take lots of care around the fire.

If you like any of the ideas I have added please let me know, or even tell me if you have any of you own.

For others ideas please visit my other blogs:

Things to do in West Sussex 2

Where to visit in West Sussex in the Autumn

Things to do in West Sussex

Walking along the Wey and Arun Canal

I hope you liked my 10 free ideas for children during the holiday.

Have a great summer.