SUMMER’S COMING... make the most of it!
From go-karting in the garden and rounders in the park to teddy bears’ picnics and nights under canvas, help kids get the most out of their summer breaks in the great outdoors. This half-term, happy adventures begin with a trip to Halfords
S THE summer term rumbles on, children now are likely to be focusing on that precious May half-term break, welcoming the chance to catch their breath and stretch of the academic year.
For parents, though, the familiar scenario of long days with the cry of ‘I’m bored!’ can be added pressures in an often to spend a fortune on expensive However, with a few smart investments from Halfords, your children can enjoy the kind of outdoor, carefree play we all dream of and that will last all summer and beyond.
After all, there’s nothing better than seeing them use their imagination to create role-play scenarios when they’ve set up a teddy bears’ picnic in the garden, the joy they experience when worries on a long bike ride in the sun. And, this half-term, happy adventures begin with a trip to Halfords, where there’s a wealth of ways to inspire your children to spend their time in the fresh air.
AA ROOM OF THEIR OWN
FROM a den under a tree at the bottom of the garden arden to a fabulous play tent designed igned to look like a secret garden or r rocket, all children treasure ea a little place they can call their own. Free to create their own fantasy world, they hey love a temporary ‘home of their own’ for the afternoon. n.
Once inside, hidden from the outside world, they can really be themselves, actingi out their dreams, reading a good book in peace, or simply enjoying a snooze on a sunny afternoon.
A ready-made play tent is super-easy to put up, and will give your child their own personal space where they can indulge their imagination to their heart’s content. Buy one now and it will give them happiness all summer long!
Secret Garden Play Tent ( now £15, was £20, above) or a Rocket Play Tent ( now £15, was £20, above), both of which will play host to endless hours of fun over the coming months. They can sit pretty, too, in matching style (fold-up chairs, now £8, was £12, left),left) a great addition for a day out. E Even a fun picnic rug (VW PicnicP Rug, £20, below) can prove the perfect playpla space, giving children theirth own boundaries for gamesggam – and ideal for a picnicpicnp lunch before or after playtime.play
GARDEN GAMES – AND BEYOND
IN THE digital age, where even the youngest children are familiar with smartphone and tablet technology, the simple pleasure of outdoor games still has a place in our lives. In fact, you know how, when gadgets play up, and you unplug them for a while, then they That goes for humans, too.
The exhilarating experience of being in the fresh air, playing traditional games, is not only great fun, but helps develop all sorts of skills. Grab games
(rounders set, £12, right; cricket set, £12) that children of all ages can play together – and grown-up kids can join in, too. Portable and perfect for throwing in the back of the car for a day out, these classics will bring everyone together. Or for gentler activities, try simple lawn games such as the Ring Toss Game £12, Giant Snakes and Vines, £15 or Giant Noughts and Crosses, £18. WHEEL OUT THE FUN FROM the thrills of mountain biking on trails, or cycling along country lanes with friends, having their own set of wheels is liberating for children of all ages.
bikes featured stabilisers: these days most infants learn on a balance bike (Mongoose R12 balance bike, now £52, was £65, above left) so they can get used to cycling motion before progressing to pedals. And make sure you buy a helmet (Starry Toddler Bike Helmet, £8), too! A family bike ride is a wonderful shared experience, and a great way to explore new areas if staycation or even exploring your local area. For smaller children, Halfords stock a range of bike seats so they can come along for the ride, or why not adopt the Continental method and invest in a trailer for the journey (Halfords Double Buggy Child Bike Trailer, now £99, was £198). Enjoy time together on two wheels and kit the kids out with modern bikes (Apollo Vivid 2016 bike, now £112 , was £140, above), with accessories to keep them safe (Blogger
Junior Bike Helmet, £15). And there’s a range of stunt scooters, electric ride-on cars, ride-on tractors and go-karts ( Downforce Go-kart, now £70, was £140, left), too, ensuring that kids of all ages can enjoy a taste of freedom on two or four wheels. excursion this half-term and treat your family to a few purchases that will bring endless hours of fun over the coming days, weeks and months.