WITH changeable weather and the cost of Christmas looming, October half-term can be tough to manage.
Keep the kids entertained for less with these awesome autumn ideas.
Keep the kids entertained for less with these awesome autumn ideas[/caption]
FIENDISH FUN: Create a monster! Get a roll of old wallpaper and cut off a piece as big as you or your child.
Lie down on the blank side and get someone to draw around you.
Cut out the outline, paint the “monster” and, once dry, decorate with whatever takes your fancy — tin foil for scales, painted screwed-up newspaper for warts etc.
Add teeth, tusks and claws cut from other paper.
TRAIL FINDERS: From parks to garden centres, there’s bound to be a free Halloween trail near you.
Kids will love the suspense of following the scary clues.
AUTUMN TREASURE: A good scavenger hunt adds fun to walks.
This is the perfect time to search for autumn treasures, from jagged fallen leaves to shiny conkers.
Download a free sheet of things to spot.
The Woodland Trust has a great autumn scavenger hunt at treetoolsforschools.org.uk.
FROCKTOBER: Make your own Halloween outfit.
Make some spooky Halloween costumes[/caption]
Transform charity shop finds or old clothing into frightful fancies.
Spooky make-up, fake blood (or food colouring) and batty bits from your Halloween kit can give clothes a chilling new look.
MAKE A MEAL OF IT: Take advantage of the half-term meal deals, where kids can often eat free or for £1 when you buy an adult main course.
There are offers at cafes in Morrisons, Asda, Tesco and Dunelm, plus at Bill’s and Bella Italia.
Check their websites first.
CREEPY CRAFTS: Make some DIY decorations.
Get creative with some creepy decorations[/caption]
Ghostly paper chains look spooktacular, or use black paper to cut out a chain of witches or spiders.
YouTube and hobbycraft.co.uk have some great ideas.
FARMS FOR FREE: Find out the Halloween fun planned at your nearest city or working farm.
Many are low cost or free (though they welcome donations), including Swansea Community Farm, Bath City Farm, Heeley City Farm in Sheffield and Balsall Heath City Farm in Birmingham, plus others in London.
DINNER DATE: Host a “dinner party” for your children and their friends.
They’ll love playing at “grown-ups”.
Plan an interesting menu you can all cook together, then decorate the house and invite everyone to dress up.
TREE FUN: The forest floor is filled with brightly coloured fallen leaves, twigs, seeds and conkers you can take home to create a masterpiece.
Try leaf printing, leaf rubbing or make a leaf crown[/caption]
Try leaf printing, leaf rubbing or make a leaf crown.
Search “autumn leaf craft” at woodlandtrust.org.uk.
ANIMAL MAGIC: Animal-mad kids will love the free My Pet Pals workshops at Pets At Home.
This half-term they have a fun Halloween theme.
They run every day from October 26 to November 3.
Visit petsathome.com to book and find out more.
