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kids<br />
5 5. GO STAR SPOTTING<br />
You don't need to be an expert but it might be<br />
worth swotting up on the basics before you head<br />
out so that you know what you're looking at.<br />
Kids love late night adventures and it'll provide<br />
you with the perfect excuse to spend more time<br />
with them. Check out your local dark sky areas for<br />
maximum viewing benefits.<br />
65 6. TREASURE HUNT<br />
The beauty of a treasure hunt is that you can adapt<br />
its difficulty to match your children's skill levels.<br />
Whether it's a simple hunt in the garden, or a more<br />
advanced map-reading task, there will be a great<br />
sense of achievement for completing it.<br />
6 7. GO PADDLING<br />
We are lucky that we live within the reach of our wonderful<br />
coastline. The great expanse of a beach offers the whole<br />
family the chance to give themselves some space, both<br />
physically and emotionally. Paddling allows you and your<br />
kids to connect with nature and the shallow water will give<br />
you considerably less stress than if you were to take the<br />
kids to a public swimming pool.<br />
8 8. FEED THE DUCKS<br />
Contrary to popular belief, bread should not be the<br />
main food you can provide for ducks. It's not particularly<br />
nutritious and can harm their health. Instead, provide them<br />
with sweetcorn, which they love. You can also give them<br />
lettuce, oats or even peas. Scatter the food on the water<br />
to keep the ducks away from possible predators. Always<br />
supervise children when feeding ducks.<br />
65 9. TIDY THE GARDEN<br />
Spend the day together as a family AND get your<br />
garden tidied - all in one go!<br />
Kids love the feeling of being useful and helpful,<br />
especially during the early years so arm them with<br />
a pair of protective gloves and wellies and task<br />
them with small but safe jobs that they can do,<br />
such as easy weeding or raking up dead leaves.<br />
Older children can be trusted to plant bulbs or<br />
even create and tend to their own mini garden.<br />
These projects can last all year round.<br />
6 10. CHALK DRAWINGS<br />
A cheap and cheerful way to spend a few hours outdoors<br />
is to grab some giant chalks and a spare bit of pavement or<br />
driveway (your own preferably). Whether your kids want to<br />
draw pictures, practise writing their names or even working<br />
out some mathematics, you can enjoy your time with<br />
them, safe in the knowledge that it can all be cleaned off<br />
naturally afterwards.<br />
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