50 THINGS TO DO WITH THE KIDS

1. JUNK MODELLING

INSTEAD of throwing your recycling away, keep those toilet roll tubes – we must all have a few of them at the moment – empty squash bottles and any cardboard boxes, and get creative.

You can let the kids’ imagination run wild, build a volcano, a dinosaur, a solar system.

All you’ll need is some glue – for kids, coloured glue works really well, as they can see where it’s spread, some tape and lots of imagination.

2. SCRAPBOOKING

NOW is the perfect time for the family to put together a scrapbook of, well, anything.

It’s a great way of preserving, presenting and arranging your personal and family history in a book.

They could include prints, photographs and art work. In fact, anything they like. You could take the chance to share your memories and history for younger generations, while kids can collate some of their favourite photos or drawings for nanny and grandad – the perfect present for when they’re reunited.

Beginner scrapbook tutorials are available on Youtube but all you’ll need is a scrapbook, glue, scissors and then your imagination to run wild!

3. KNITTING

4. CARD MAKING

IT’S likely most of us won’t be able to get to a card shop and mark a loved one’s birthday or anniversary.

So why not make your own? Starter kits are available from Hobbycraft (hobbycraft. co.uk) and come complete with templates, folded card blanks, envelopes, toppers and embellishments.

Easy to do and fun for the whole family.

6. EMBROIDERY

IF YOU have some plain fabric that could do with sprucing up, then embroidery could be the thing for you.

You can add whatever you want, from coloured thread to pearls, beads or even sequins if you’re feeling a bit sparkly.

There are lots of books available online to help get you started, along with online tutorials. You can make lovely gifts for friends and family

– the perfect pick-me-up!

5. CROCHETING

CROCHETING is also another hobby to take up while stuck indoors.

One particularly good website is kcguild.org.uk

All you need to get started is a crochet hook and some yarn or thread, which you then create loops which you weave together.

How to Crochet for Absolute Beginners is currently available on Youtube.