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Although Back to School has only just happened, October half term will be here before we know it. Which means another week of juggling work and childcare, and having to think of more ways to keep the children happily occupied. And as soon as you start to think of fun things to do as a family, your heart sinks at the thought of the expense.
So in this article we share a few ideas for fun things to do in October half term, most of which you can do without spending a small fortune in the process.
If the weather is good over half term then make the most of the opportunity and get everyone out and about in the fresh air.
If you live in or near a large town or city there may be many places you have not yet explored. So how about a family visit. To keep the little ones interested, you turn it into a treasure hunt, with a list of things to look out for on the way and a prize for the first person to tick them all off.
Visiting a city or large town can be daunting in terms of the expense, but many train companies have special family travel offers during school holidays, and if you take food with you rather than eating out, it saves another expense.
If you can get to open country, woods, a canal or a beach, there should be many different walks that you can do, perhaps with a picnic if the weather is kind. Also look out for historical sites such as the National Trust and English Heritage. Many of these are free if you just want to go into the grounds for a walk or picnic.
Also a lot of sites will have special half term activities such as nature trails, treasure hunts and craft making, so it’s definitely worth checking out their websites to see if there is anything near to you.
Whilst still on the theme of exploring, a growing worldwide trend which is becoming increasingly popular in the UK is geocaching. Think of it as a real-life treasure hunt.
The idea is that you go searching for small hidden containers called geocaches. The geocache coordinates are registered on a geocaching website such as https://www.geocaching.com and you will need either the Geocaching app and/or a GPS device to help you navigate.
There are millions of geocaches in 190 countries waiting to be discovered. Every geocache will include a logbook for finders to add names and comments. They usually also contain interesting and fun items such as coins, small toys, keyrings, guitar picks, gift cards or costume jewellery. If you find a geocache, you are welcome to take items from it as long as you also put something back in.
The UK is lucky to have so many different museums. There really is something for everyone, and the good news is that most of them are free. In London alone, there are over 20 free museums and galleries that you can visit, including The Science Museum, Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, British Museum, and the Tate Modern.
And if you want to treat your family to a special day out, and are prepared to pay, take a look at exhibitions near you. For example:
If your family loves to travel, why not treat them to an exciting trip on a train or a boat? Again, this is something that would need to be paid for but could be a wonderful special treat for your family. Most areas have events available, but two to particularly look out for are:
If you want to stay closer to home, how about getting the whole family involved in a garden project? Gardens need a lot of work during autumn to get ready for winter, so why not get the kids involved in gardening? They may initially protest, but gardening is something that many children do enjoy, and you can always offer rewards as an incentive! Plan a list of jobs that they can realistically do such as clearing, weeding, and helping to move things around, and keep them fed and watered during the process.
If your kids are also interested in wildlife you could also keep an eye open for evidence of wildlife in your garden, and get involved in Autumnwatch which is on BBC2 at 8pm for four days between Tuesday 25th October and Friday 28th October.
Many children love animals, and there are plenty of opportunities to meet with them face to face. So why not try to include that this half term. One option is to visit large zoos or wildlife parks, but if you want to save on cost there are many smaller alternatives. For example, have a look around your area to see if there are any animal sanctuaries. Some rescue all kinds of different animals, whereas others focus on a specific breed such as:
Many animal sanctuaries have free admission (though welcome donations).
There are also many working farms around the country where your children will be able to get hands on with animals, and get involved in activities such as animal feeding and egg collecting. The northernmost petting farm in the UK is Puffin Croft, based in John O’Groats! But a quick search on Google for working farms in your area should reveal some good options near you.
Half term is a great time to kick off a new fitness regime, especially if you can do this as a family. And the good news is that this doesn’t need to be anything complicated or expensive. For example, you can set challenges such as walking round your garden or street, to see who can do them in the fastest time. You can add in extra challenges for young children by creating mini circuits with activities such as skipping, squeezing past obstacles, throwing and catching balls, and using hula hoops.
Another option is to get together with one or two other families to organise outdoor activities such as games, fun runs or obstacle courses in the local park.
If you prefer something more structured, half term could be a good time either to start a video exercise course or the Couch25K running programme. And remember to check out any special half term offers at local leisure centres for activities such as family swimming or children’s school holiday camps.
If you prefer something less active, how about an afternoon of board games? Many adults as well as children love board games, and there are a wide variety suitable for all ages. So half term is a good time to enjoy playing some of your old favourites and also experiment with a few new games. If you gather a group of family and friends, you may make some surprising new discoveries.
As well as games that are purely for fun, you may want to start learning a more challenging game such as chess, bridge or poker. If you enjoy it, you can then set up a little league that you can continue during the dark nights of autumn and winter.
Also don’t forget that as well as board and card games, you could always resurrect a few old-fashioned party games. Think of Hide and Seek, Sardines, Pass the Parcel, Musical Statues and Pin the Tail on the Donkey to name but a few. And it’s a good time to rediscover these games if you are planning any kind of Halloween party or celebration, as they always go down well.
Last but not least, everyone loves a movie, so during half term why not plan your own family movie night? Let everyone stay up later than usual and lay on lots of special drinks and snacks. Then you can all snuggle on the sofa in pyjamas and onesies and enjoy either a new or favourite movie either on DVD or a streaming service.
The perfect end to a busy Half Term day!
We hope that this article has given you some ideas and inspiration about how to spend October half term. If you are still looking for ideas, check out The National Trust’s chart 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾ which provides a wide range of different activities that you can tick off as you do them.
And if your family finances do need a slight top up this autumn, remember that Loans 2 Go offers online loans that may be able to help.
Do visit us here again soon for more lifestyle and financial tips from Loans 2 Go.
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