Magazine August 2019

Summer holidays
Summer holidays
on a
on
budget
a budget
– my
summer scrapbook
If you decide to embark on a
summer scrapbook adventure, there
are many ways in which you can
make memories and collate content
that won’t break the bank! Here are
a few ideas – but above all…enjoy!
My summer scrapbook
The summer always seems to be a long time coming. Yet, when it eventually
arrives, it can be daunting for those parents who have to think about
entertaining their little ones during the holidays (as well as trying to keep their creative and literacy
skills alive) – all on a budget!
What better way to keep the children’s minds active - whilst making precious memories - than to
create a summer scrapbook?
Scrapbooks not only help preserve
memories for years to come,
they’re also a fun and educational
way for children to occupy those
days when there is nothing planned
or when the weather is inclement
– a regular occurrence during the
British summer!
Here are some of our top tips
for making a super summer
scrapbook!
Make the pages
really stand out!
Low key or lavish?
This depends on the children – there is no right or wrong and try and let them lead
on this if possible – sometimes, ‘less is more’! Some will choose to have simple
drawings (or scribbles!), others might use written captions (age dependent) and
some will want to use physical mementos, such as digital photos, a ticket to an
exhibition, cut-out pictures from an attraction leaflet – in fact, anything that reminds
them of that particular day.
Get started
If you already have some days out planned, make sure you collect as much as you can
from your trips. Postcards, photos, feathers, shells, straws, even sand. You will need
lots of different things to be able to colour, decorate and stick as much as you like!
The great thing about taking photos is that you can take hundreds but only need to print out the best ones. You could make
a photo collage of your favourite snaps and add some colour by sticking coloured or shiny paper around it. The children can
improvise by using bits of wrapping paper or even kitchen foil.
They can add texture by sticking leaves, twigs, grass or sand to the pages – anything that has been collected on their day. If the
children love to paint, they could use a couple of pages to interpret their day out through their painting.
If they run out of things they have collected, they can use little bits from around the house, like buttons, fabric or colourful cutouts
from magazines. The list is endless – you can really let their imaginations run wild!
Scrapbooking can be such a fun and relaxing activity that most children love – the result of which will be a
beautiful keepsake that they will treasure for years to come.
A day of cooking or baking
Let the children pick a recipe, then visit your local shops for
the ingredients and cook something together that you can
all enjoy eating. Cake baking always seems to be a firm
favourite!
Fruit picking
Pick your own (PYO) is a fun, less expensive (and almost
always messy!) way to buy your fruit. Save pennies and find
out where your local PYO farms are - you can even have a little
competition to see who can pick the most fruit!
Den building and camping
Weather permitting, you can build your den outside. All you
need are some boxes or sofa cushions, a few blankets, and
a bit of imagination. If you have a tent, you could arrange a
camping trip in your garden with the children for one night.
Garden races
Hold your own garden races with games that don’t need much
equipment...a sack race with pillowcases, a tug of war with
a dressing gown belt! Jumping over boxes and under old
blankets – you can let your imagination run wild!
Visit your local library
Local libraries are often under-used but can be a real blessing
in the summer holidays. You can borrow audio books (great
for long car journeys) and DVDs as well as normal books, and
many libraries run a Summer Reading Challenge. You can also
use the library to research free events in your local area.
Museums don’t need to be boring
Whether the children are interested in sports, animals, art or
history, there is usually at least one free museum in the area,
some of which will have interactive family-friendly activities
during the holidays.
Have a movie day
Choose a couple of favourite films, get some popcorn (and hot
chocolate if the weather isn’t great) grab the favourite teddies
and blankets and put your feet up with the children.
Dressing-up
As well as delving into the children’s dressing-up box, have
a look in your own wardrobe and play dress-up with your
old clothes. You can also use this as a recycling exercise by
sorting through your clothes together, and taking to the charity
shop or clothes bank the ones that you never wear and the
little ones have grown out of.
Top tip for settings:
Being able to take their summer
scrapbooks into nursery after the
holidays also presents settings with
a great opportunity for children of
different cultures to be able to share
some of their experiences with
others. This is an excellent way of
promoting the British Value of mutual
respect and tolerance of those with
different faiths and beliefs.
22 Parenta.com August 2019 23