Six week of summer fun you can still have in 2020

Words by Anna Whitaker / Photography by Yan Berthemy

We may have cancelled our travel plans but that doesn’t mean we have to cancel the fun. Here’s a list of 42 ideas (one for every day of the six week break), which I hope will give you some inspiration for keeping the kids busy and parents sane. For some of it, you’ll need supplies, for others you’ll need a car, but loads of it can just be done with things you have lying around at home or by downloading something to your computer or phone.  

Here we go:

1. Go seed bombing with Kabloom

2. Pitch up a tent and camp at home with Millet’s

3. Stage a family comedy night, as suggested by The Flying Seagull Project

4. Stream Anansi the Spider, the unmissable production from Unicorn Theatre

5. Tie-dye a teepee with A Mustard Seed Toys

6. Sponsor a child and find yours a penpal with Children International

7. Become a #litterhero with Keep Britain Tidy

8. Make time for mindfulness with Headspace for Kids

9. Help a food bank with The Trussell Trust

10. Learn to draw with Rob Biddulph

11. Try out some Unicorn Yoga with Cosmic Kids

12. Cool off with a splash of wild swimming 

13. Take on a Family TikTok challenge with Studio Five

14. Foster a Dog with the RSPCA

15. Freeze their greens with these healthy smoothie popsicles

16. Download a doodle pack from Okido Magazine

17. Make a friendship bracelet with Moms & Crafters

18. Stay up late and watch the Perseid Meteor Shower (August 12th) 

19. Build your own Little Library with Lolly Jane

20. Catch a kid-friendly movie at Drive-in London

21. Make a Matisse cut-out with Playful Learning 

22. Learn to ride a bike with Sustrans

23. Download the Boredom Busters from Lunch Lady Magazine

24. Bake beetroot brownies with Little Veggie Eats

25. Make a recycled marble run with The Eden Project

26. Build a Bug Mansion with Wildlife Trusts

27. Check out one of our child-friendly walks near London

28. Take to the river with GoBoat London

29. Teach them about the world with Postcards from Paddington

30. Learn a new language with Little Pim  

31. Create a bowling alley with Mickey & Friends 

32. Bury a COVID time capsule with GoodToKnow

33. Join the Little Editors Club by Anorak Magazine

34. Subscribe to Leopard Magazine for ‘goodness, crafts and fun’

35. Learn about germs with Okido’s science workshop

36. Sew a simple face mask with Japanese Creations

37. Read some anti-racist books, as recommended by The Guardian

38. Listen to The Twits, read by Richard Ayoade

39. Work through ‘Raising Little Allies To Be’ by Wander & Wonder

40. Download a LEGO Challenge from Free Homeschool Deals

41. Hunt for treasure on a Geocaching quest

42. Earn your badges with these Hey Duggee Activity sheets

If none of this floats your boat or you need even more ideas, check out Bablands, which is always full of ideas for Londoners and up to date with what is and isn’t open.

Sonshine Magazine also has a new download for at-home play ideas, which is guaranteed to be amazing.

I hope this gives you a little inspiration for how to spend the holidays if you’re cooped up at home. Feel free to bookmark this page and add any other ideas to the comments below. Happy Holidays team!