March has finally arrived, and with it the sun! Some parts of Britain have been basking in temperatures higher than those currently being enjoyed in the Greek Islands. After our wettest winter since 1776, it’s fair to say that we’re due some decent weather, and if the early March sunshine can continue for the rest of spring, we’ll all be in for a treat.
As we all know, the best things in life are free and, if you have the sun on your side, there’s an even greater range of cheap family excursions for you to enjoy.
Here’s our guide to making the most of the weather at a price that everyone will find appealing:
Bike Rides
The humble bike ride really is one of the best family days out you can ask for. Not only is it a brilliant way to get fresh air and exercise, but it also offers you an invaluable way of educating your children. The inquisitive and curious nature of a child is a thing of real beauty and something that can be brought out by a bike ride. Whether you pass an ancient relic or a serene place of natural beauty, you can enlighten your children as to local history, nature, and art. Information picked up during these formative years usually sticks with a child for good, so not only are you and your family having a healthy, fun afternoon, but you’re enjoying some hands-on education as well.
Of course what makes bike rides even more appealing is the low cost. Food wise, a homemade picnic more than suffices. And, if you’re concerned about the cost of buying a bike in the first place, don’t fret! Places like Argos offer a fantastic range of bikes that start as low as £80 for an adult model, but more often than not you can find Argos vouchers that provide significant discounts.
The start-up costs for going on a bike ride are cheap and should be exploited. After all, there is no better way to provide an educational, enjoyable experience for your child than on the saddle of a bicycle.
Crafts
This is Britain, so it would be foolish to think that we won’t experience rain at some point. If the infamous April showers do come along to pay us a visit, then going outside becomes pretty much impossible.
However, with numerous craft activities easily at your disposal, you can still make the most of the school holidays. Crafts have come a long way since painting by numbers, and retail outlets such as Argos and Littlewoods offer new and challenging craft activities that are simply perfect for both parent and child. If you are familiar with 3D jigsaws, you’ll know how far the crafts market has come.
You can also class craftwork as cooking, something that all kids love to do. We would all love a good cooking session if we knew we weren’t going to be the ones cleaning the mess up! Crafts offer you the perfect way to challenge the right-hand side of your child’s brain (the creative side). Everyone loves letting their artistic flair loose now and again, so if the heavens have opened outside, it doesn’t mean that you should look for the TV remote. There is still plenty that can be done inside, and there aren’t many afternoons more rewarding than ones spent building arts and crafts with your child.
Look Local
You don’t need to look far on your quest to find the perfect afternoon for you and your children. Local community groups often put on free open-air shows once the weather is good enough, whether that be the local Thespian company doing an open-air performance or some sort of musical event at the town park.
If you flick through your local newspaper you will see plenty of local activities that are going on, all of which are either free or very cheap. Local productions offer a good tonic to the endless amount of children’s activities you may have to embark on. As a parent, you can let your hair down and have a drink, and for the children there will be plenty of other kids to play with. If you don’t have any time this spring due to work commitments, then look local for local clubs. A week of football is an ideal activity for boys of all ages.
One thing is for sure: in a country that can be as wet and wild as Britain, we should really make every drop of sunshine count. So, this spring, make sure that you and your kids really do make the most of the sun.
Disclosure: This is a guest post.
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