Looking forward to another summer where the kids have nothing much to do? Six weeks where the word entertainment is synonymous with television, play stations and if the weather's fine - hanging around outside getting up to who knows what sort of mischief?
Yes of course there's the obligatory family holiday and if you book up far enough in advance, the local play scheme. But apart from an occasional weekend's reprieve when the ‘little un's' go off to their friends or relatives; six weeks of ‘Mum I'm bored!' or ‘Dad play a game with me!' can test the resolve of even the most devoted parent.
Yet there are all sorts of activities for children to do during the summer holidays (besides spending valuable quality time with parents). Choose the right hobby and enjoyment can last throughout the year into the following year; indeed for as long as they like. Often kids will start something new having heard about it from a friend, but there are also all sorts of other activities they can do with a new group or by themselves - either at a central venue or in the comfort of their own homes and gardens. Whether they are physical, creative, thoughtful; social or independent - there is something out there for everyone. To start with all you need to know is where to find out about it and, just in case ‘little Johnny' comes running in one day convinced he is going to take up digital photography or alpine skiing, some idea of the costs involved.
Any sort of physical activity has many benefits that go beyond the simple enjoyment of playing a game or emulating a hero. Get healthier; learn self-control and the discipline of abiding by rules and focusing on improving your own performance whilst also contributing to team success. Working with others when under pressure is not always that easy but this is a crucial life skill - relevant in both home and workplace - that sport can teach extremely well. Take an interest further and learn how to be competitive whilst also setting realistic personal and team goals; how to use and adapt skills to different situations and also about how the body reacts to and benefits from physical activity.
If there is a big sporting event on it could be a great time to encourage your child to get into that sport. For example around the World Cup, your child could try learning football. (Nearly everywhere there is a club to join and these days many run teams for girls as well as boys). Or if there
‘Until I was 10 I was playing in boys' teams,' says Rosie Chesterton. ‘At first I thought it's not fair when the rules said I couldn't play anymore, but now I've joined an all-girls team I'm enjoying it more than ever and I get picked for the team more often, too.'
As with any sport there is more to football than just playing. Why not ask a local club or school if they would like someone to take photos or write up match reports or player profiles either for a newsletter or perhaps the local paper. A good communicator - then why not get into coaching? There are courses on offer in school and in the community for over 15s but there is no reason why someone younger can't help out under the guidance of a qualified adult coach.
What about cricket? The England team might not be doing quite as well as last year, but there is another Ashes tour to Australia on the horizon, not to mention the World Cup in the West Indies around the corner and cricket, like football is something that can be played on the local field, an abandoned car park or if very careful, even in the street.
Soft balls, plastic bats - that can still smash the ball many a mile - and plastic stumps are readily available so this is a sport that no longer needs a kit bag full of expensive equipment in order to play. Join a club - most will have their own equipment - or go on a course so more matches can be played and skills improved.
‘I'd always played cricket on the green with my friends and family,' says 15-year-old Wasif. ‘But as soon as I joined a club I found out I was really good at it. Now I'm in the county team and also play every week in the club men's team,' he adds proudly.
With so many sports why not choose something a bit different; something unlikely to be going on at school. Perhaps something like archery! Archery requires intense concentration and to prevent someone ending up with an arrow in the backside - much self discipline. It combines the challenge of competition with the romance of an ancient past time that has one foot in the world of folklore and the other in the realms of fantasy. It doesn't however take a budding Robin Hood or Legolas to get involved.
Relying less on physical strength and fitness than many other sports, anyone can take part. Contact the local authority to arrange for the kids to go on a course or join a club. Clubs will all have their own kit, so initial expense is once again minimal.
‘Archery's something you can do on your own not just in a team,' says 10-year-old Ryan Jones. ‘It's great just trying to beat your own score and not worrying too much about what everyone else is doing.'
For those not into sport there are other ways of exercising and having fun. Horse riding can be expensive but it enables children to combine a love of animals and the outdoors with a desire or need to exercise. Contact the British Horse Society at bhs.org.uk to find an approved riding centre which will provide saddles, riding hats - and of course, the horse! All that is needed to start off will be a pair of long trousers, a t- shirt that covers the arms and a pair of shoes with flat soles and a small heel so that it doesn't slip through or get stuck in the stirrup.
‘Riding a wild animal, something else with a brain, is so much more fun than just going around on a bike,' says 12-year-old Bryony Thomson. ‘You can't just make it do what you want - you have to ask it. It's like the horse is your friend!'
Young children love to run and jump about to music so why not make the most of their natural rhythm. There are so many forms of dance that everyone can find a class or club to their taste. No longer just a past time for girls and ‘wusses', boys and girls of all ages can enjoy and benefit from dance. With friends there is nothing better than dancing to your favourite music, but heavy metallers should consult their chiropractor before embarking on an extensive air guitar and head banging session.
‘I love performing in front of people,' beams 14-year-old Megan Wood who, for the record, is not a head-banger. ‘Taking in all the applause and looking fantastic in front of everyone just gives you the shivers. How great must it be to be a professional dancer?'
What about circus skills? You don't have to be a clown to enjoy juggling, unicycles diablos, even those wibbly-wobbly bikes on which handlebars and peddles never quite seem to find alignment. All of this can be great fun and can also allow balance and coordination to be developed. Whether spinning plates, walking on a tightrope - only a foot from the floor of course - or juggling, the relationship between hands, legs, eyes and brains is crucial.
Keeping your head still and ignoring outside interference is a start. How do those clowns do all this, laughing and joking about at the same time? Juggling is also an activity that can be accessed by anyone. Eight-year-old Danny has physical impairments that prevent him from walking. Whilst seated however, he is able to juggle with two soft balls for just over a minute.
By the end of his juggling course he hopes to be able to extend that record for another thirty seconds. ‘I like the courses because mum won't let me juggle with the apples and oranges in our fruit-bowl,' he chuckles.
Whatever the sport, look for clubs that have achieved Club Mark accreditation. This will reflect a proven high quality set up, with qualified coaches and child protection procedures in place. To find out which local clubs have this accreditation contact the local authority leisure or sports department.
