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How to create a family Summer Camp in your back Garden

As the weather improves and we’re all still at home everyone’s natural desire is to spend as much time as possible in the garden. It can be difficult to keep the kids entertained after the first ten minutes running around, particularly when you want to be able to spend quality time in the sun.

So why not try a family summer camp, one that’s right on your doorstep and adapted perfectly for each member of the household. One that allows the kids to remain occupied for as long as possible and gives a chance for everyone to enjoy themselves and make positive memories of these times that they can treasure forever. The only question left to ask is how?

Set up a tent

This tip can look different for everyone and its totally adaptable to how you prefer. You may already own a tent from previous camping trips, you might decide to purchase a new one or you could create a small fort with items you already have, whether it be hanging blankets from the trees or covering the patio in beanbags and cushions.

Although if you’re planning to actually camp out through the night rather than just a fun day time activity then a tent is probably the most sensible idea.

Decorate

When situations look more appealing, children are more likely to want to join in.

Lights are the perfect idea; you could use ones from Christmas or purchase some online to add a glow to your camp. Or as part of camp they could spend some time getting crafty and make decorations like paper chains to hang.

Campfire

To really add the camp feel if possible, setting up a fire is a great idea. Whether you sit around it in the dark singing songs or have it during the day, a campfire can be so much fun. Not only to enjoy the warmth and aesthetics but to set up, letting the kids collect wood and other bits and then teaching them a life skill of how to set it up and start it. It’s not only a bit of fun but a good chance for them to learn something new.

Food

There’s not much kids love more than discovering new ways to enjoy the things they do every day. So to do something new with food, like toasting marshmallows, packing and enjoying a picnic or having a good old BBQ is probably a bigger indulgence for them to enjoy than you could imagine. It’s also incorporating something you have to do that day like eating and cooking by involving the kids and making it that bit more special and exciting.

Activities

Whether you want an activity to keep the kids busy while you do something else or one that allows you to get involved and have some quality family time and create stronger bonds there is so much to choose from. You can play games that require nothing but yourselves such as tag or hide and seek. You could bring out the board games or Jenga or set up a fun scavenger hunt around the garden. You can try new arts and crafts and allow the kids to be as messy as they want – you’re outside after all! If it’s really warm set up a paddling pool or have a water fight (you can use water guns, water balloons or even just fill some cups with water).

But don’t forget to get the children involved in the whole setting up of your family camp, putting up a tent, setting a fire, cooking food are all life skills and then you can do the added fun stuff like creating decorations as well. Now has never been a better time to teach them some important things they might not learn at school.

Music

Now for this one you’ll have to bear in mind your neighbours, time of day and volume but done with thought this can add another level of fun to your camp. If people in your family unit are musically capable you could bring out the instruments (being mindful as to what they are, obviously something like a guitar is a lot more sensible than a full size drum kit). This is a super fun activity to do around the campfire. Or you can bring out a speaker and just play all your favourite songs, you can all have a good sing song and dance about and you’ll feel happier in no time.

Avoid Technology

At the moment we are all spending way more time than usual attached to our electronics, whilst a great source of entertainment for passing time, your family camp can be a time to take a break from the screens. Just for the day or two really engage with your family, let the kids enjoy activities that don’t involve watching something and use this time to bond and get closer. You will not regret it and you’ll feel so thankful in years to come that you have such amazing memories to look back on. It’s so valuable to remember how incredible, fun times with our loved ones is and we don’t need technology to have a good time.

These are just several ideas for setting up a family camp in your garden and can be altered and added to so that it can be the best experience possible for the whole family. It’s something that can be brilliant for all families to try and would be highly recommended during these strange times or anytime in the future.

Keeping the kids active and away from their screens can be difficult at the best of times. But with lockdown in full force it could be even more challenging to keep them entertained and active. We’ve outlined a list of activities below, ideal for keeping the kids entertained during this time.

Joe Wicks PE lessons

The perfect way to keep structure to your child’s day. From Monday to Friday, every morning Joe Wicks is hosting his own P.E. lesson – completely free! Helping to keep the kids energised and moving, you could even join in too!

Learn some Moves

Whether that be dance competitions, dance parties, how-to videos on YouTube, or musical statues with the kids. Put on your child’s favourite music and sing and dance along with them.

Yoga Jenga

Livening up regular board games, use a pencil to write down a yoga move on each Jenga block. Play the game as usual and every time a block is pulled out, every player has to do the specific yoga move. If the tower falls, the loser has to do a plank for 30 seconds.

Set up a Maze

If you can, turn your hall into a ‘laser’ maze with yarn. Zig Zag some string from varying heights on each wall and challenge your kids to get across without touching the ‘laser’.

Wii Fit

Dig out the Wii and have the kids take it in turns or play with each other – whether it’s on Ski Jump or a Hula Hoop challenge – you could even join in too!

Daily Exercise

Take advantage of the daily exercise and leave the house. Make your walks more exciting by creating scavenger hunts or doing some rubbings of tree trunks and leaves.

Spot the Sign

When you’re on your daily walk, ask them if they can identify any signs they walk past. This helps to develop critical thinking skills as well as giving them a road awareness lesson. You could even create a sheet with pictures of signs where they can tick them off when they see them.

Garden Fun

With the weather starting to look like it’s warming up – if you have the means to do so, enjoy some time in the garden. Grab a ball and be creative with the amount of different ways you can play. Throw it, bounce it, kick it – your child will come up with lots of different ideas too!

Focus on finding activities your child will enjoy. When exercise is boring, it will feel like a chore and children will find reasons to avoid it.