February half term can often get put on the back burner, especially as it only seems like a few weeks ago we were celebrating Christmas! With cold and wet weather, and probably not enough time to think of an array of activities for your kids to enjoy, half term can feel stressful and unorganised. To help ease the half term worries, we’ve come up with a few helpful ideas so you can have a plan of action for each day, keep your children entertained and make the most of the break.
Plan a Day With Friends and Family
If you’re not able to take much time off from work, organise a day or two where you kids are spending time with other people. Not only is it a great way for everyone to spend quality time together but it’s also a lot of fun hanging out with people outside of school and will feel like a treat. Whether that’s enlisting your friends and other parents to take the kids on a playdate or asking family to spend a day in with them during the week, we guarantee it will help make half term memories for everyone involved!
Bake
Half term breaks in the UK are totally unpredictable with weather, so it’s always good to have some indoor activities planned. Spending the afternoon baking together is a fantastic way to encourage your children to become familiar with the kitchen and cooking. It’s also a lot of fun following recipes, weighing out ingredients and getting really messy. Baking doesn’t have to be extravagant either- choose from simple child friendly recipes such as flapjacks, cookies, cupcakes or brownies. It will be a treat for all the family and will also give you quality one-on-one time with the kids.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Even though it might be chilly, February half term is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the crisp fresh air. Whether it’s a walk in the park, on the beach, or through some woods, wrapping up warm and exploring nature as a family can be a lot of fun! Here in the UK there are loads of National Trust sites to discover, which can be really educational and interesting for children.
Head to the Library
If you’ve got a few hours free in the afternoon a great place to visit is your local library. Even better, it’s a completely free activity! It’s the perfect place for kids or teens to indulge in reading as it gives them the freedom to choose their own books. Encourage them to take out a couple of favourites and head home for a cosy winter afternoon reading session. The novelty of going back next time and choosing something different is also exciting and will encourage children to read what they’ve borrowed so they can go back for more.
Declutter the House
With all the new Christmas toys, it’s a great idea to make the most of the half term by having a family declutter day. Get the kids involved by asking them to sort through their own things- we bet there are loads of books, toys and clothes they have grown out of. It can even be enjoyable rooting through old items and reminiscing! Once everything has been decluttered, it’s a wonderful idea to go together and donate the items to a charity shop or a shelter.
Have a Movie Day
Even though we don’t advise too much screen time during the half term, when the weather isn’t great, there’s nothing better than having a movie day at home. Get your kids to choose a couple of their favourites, make some popcorn and just have a day relaxing together!
Get Crafty
Arts and crafts are a great way to turn around a rainy morning. Ask your kids to create a scrapbook filled with clippings from old magazines and favourite family photos. Alternatively get painting, drawing, sticking, gluing, building or modelling with some clay or play dough. It will definitely get their creativity flowing and keep them occupied for a few hours!
