Seven free and cheap activities and crafts for kids this half term

HALF-TERM is in full swing – and that means kids to entertain.

Parents spend an average of £323 during the break, according to Equifax.

If your budget is stretched, here are some low-cost ways to keep youngsters amused.

QUIET TIME: Printactivities.com has plenty of free summer-themed download and print-at-home sets for kids who love colouring or puzzles.

BAKE OFF: Encourage budding bakers with the three-ingredient cookie recipe at delish.com.

You need 70g sugar, 120g flour and 100g butter (all of which you might already have) to make 12 cookies. Including cooking time, they should take 30 to 40 minutes.

MORE SUN SAVERS

Seven quick ways to brighten up your home using only stickers

The five best DIY hacks to light up your garden without breaking the bank

Alternatively, kids will love the Dr Oetker Solar System cupcake kit, £2.50 at Tesco. Or pick up Asda’s unicorn biscuit kit for £1.75.

ANIMAL MAGIC: Making DIY bird feeders is a great low-cost activity for the kids. Slice apples then dip them in Aldi Grandessa peanut butter, 99p, then sunflower seeds, £1.10 at Sainsbury’s. Tie them with string to a tree branch in the garden.

GROW YOUR OWN: Use an old yoghurt pot and add a ball of damp cotton wool. Sprinkle over a few cress seeds from Wilko, 45p, and place on a window sill.

Kids can add a little water daily and the cress should sprout in as little as one or two days.

Most read in The Sun

TREASURE HUNT: This requires a little more work for parents but fills a bit of time too.

Hide something from around the house and draw a pirate-style treasure map for them to follow.

Use written clues or draw pictures to point them in the right direction — either in the house or at a local park.

CROWN IT: Hobbycraft is running Jubilee crown-making workshops in stores for £5.

To skip that spend, round up paper or old greetings cards and make your own crown with sticky tape and scissors. Add stickers for decoration.

My top tip is to measure round their head first with a piece of string so you make a crown that fits.

CHALLENGE THEM: Set the kids a daily challenge throughout half-term. It could be the number of steps they do, star jumps or picking up toys from the floor.

Making housework fun could be good for you too!

• PRICES correct at time of press. Deals/offers subject to availability.

Deal of the day

BUST the dust with the Swan multiforce vacuum, available at Home Bargains. Was £119.99, now £64.99.

SAVE: £55

Cheap treat

KIDS will love this Lego Minions Gru’s Lab, now available at aldi.co.uk for £12.99 instead of £16.99.

SAVE: £4

What’s new?

BE quick as the M&S summer beauty bag is back. For £25 (min. £30 spend on homeware, clothing and/or beauty) you can get 11 travel-sized products from the likes of Clinique and Aveda, worth £160 according to them.

Secure yours at marksandspencer.com.

Top swap

GET into tropical vibes with the Go Barefoot pineapple-print shirt, £85 from thread.com, or head to zalando.co.uk for this Only & Sons shirt, £21.99.

SAVE: £63.01

Leah’s little helper

FOR a royally good night’s sleep, purchase one of the Premier Inn mattresses with £70 off king-sizes and £50 off doubles.

Premier Inn beds are manufactured by the Queen’s very own bed makers Hypnos.

Get yours at premierinn.com/ourbed until June 15.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Read More on The Sun

Deborah James’ family give update as she has one last girly sleepover

TUI to cancel hundreds of flights next month causing more holiday misery for Brits

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you'll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

Source: Read Full Article