Top 25 play ideas for the summer holidays

This summer, we’re encouraging families to help their children enjoy a Summer of Play throughout the entire summer holidays.

To help adults to give children a summer full of fun and play, here are our top 25 play ideas that are simple and low cost:

1. Play a game of tag
2. Play hide and seek
3. Play hopscotch
4. Make a den
5. Climb a tree
6. Roll down a hill
7. Have a wheelbarrow race
8. Chase bubbles
9. Make a mud pie
10. Have a water fight
11. Make a car, castle or spaceship with cardboard boxes
12. Play the floor is lava
13. Dress up
14. Host a teddy bear’s picnic
15. Have fun with chalk
16. Play musical statues
17. Camp in the garden
18. Make musical instruments with old household items
19. Put on a music festival
20. Have fun with balloons – keepy uppy and races with balloons between legs
21. Make a fingerprint or handprint painting
22. Make sock puppets
23. Go on a bug hunt
24. Make an obstacle course
25. Go on a treasure hunt.

Get involved

We want to hear about your children’s play ideas for the summer – share with us on social media using the #SummerOfPlay hashtag.

Find out more about Summer of Play