This half term is a bit of a tricky one in the UK. The weather is really unpredictable and it can be a bit wet and cold outside. It is not one of those half term breaks where you will want to spend hours outside. So we have compiled a list of creative and engaging half term activities that will keep your children busy this February.

Check out our top 10 ideas: Arts and crafts with kids

1. Crafty Creations

Unleash your child's inner artist with some fun craft projects:

• DIY Greeting Cards: Let kids create cards for Valentine's Day, Easter, or Mother's Day. These holidays are coming soon! You can also have them make a set of cards for upcoming birthdays or celebrations.
• Nature Art: Collect leaves, twigs, and flowers from the garden or the park and use them to create unique collages.
• Paper Crafts: Origami animals, paper flowers, or even simple paper chains are always a hit.

Tip: Don’t forget to lay down old newspapers to cover your table to make cleaning up easier!

2. Baking Bonanza

Get your little chefs involved in the kitchen:

• Decorate Cupcakes: Bake a batch of plain cupcakes and set up a decorating station with icing and sprinkles.
• Pizza Making: Provide toppings like cheese, pepperoni, and veggies for a DIY pizza night.
• Cookie Creations: Use cookie cutters in fun shapes and let the kids decorate their baked masterpieces.

Not only will they learn valuable cooking skills, but they’ll also love tasting the results of their efforts.

3. Indoor Treasure Hunt

Create a treasure hunt with clues hidden around the house. Write simple riddles or instructions to guide them from one location to the next until they find the final ‘treasure’ — perhaps a small toy, a treat, or a family movie night ticket.

Tip: Tailor the difficulty of the clues to your child’s age for maximum engagement.

4. Home Science Experiments

Bring out the budding scientists with simple and safe experiments:

• Volcano Eruption: Create a fizzing volcano using baking soda and vinegar.
• Rainbow Milk Experiment: Watch colours swirl when you add dish soap to a mixture of milk and food coloring.
• DIY Slime: Combine glue, water, and activating solution for endless gooey fun.

These experiments are not only fun but educational too.

5. Family Movie or Game Night

Transform your living room into a cozy cinema or game zone:

• Movie Night: Set up blankets and pillows, make some popcorn, and let each family member pick a movie.
• Board Games: Classics like Monopoly, Scrabble, or Pictionary are great for family bonding.
• Video Game Tournaments: If your family enjoys gaming, organise a friendly competition.

6. Get Moving with Indoor Exercise

Burn off some energy with physical activities:

• Dance Party: Create a playlist of your family's favorite songs and dance like nobody’s watching.
• Obstacle Course: Use cushions, chairs, and tape to create a fun indoor course. We love to make up our own game of 'floor is lava' in our house. Endless fun!
• Yoga for Kids: Follow along with kid-friendly yoga videos on platforms like YouTube.

7. Storytelling and Reading Time

Encourage a love of books:

• Pop down to your local library: Borrow some books at the beginning of the half term to enjoy at home.
• Read-Aloud Sessions: Take turns reading chapters from a favorite book.
• Story Writing: Have kids create their own stories and illustrate them.
• Puppet Shows: Make puppets using socks or paper bags and act out stories.

8. Gardening Fun (Even Indoors)

Teach kids about plants and nature. Now is the time to start sowing seeds:

• Plant Seeds: Start a windowsill herb garden with easy-to-grow plants like basil or cress. Now is a great time to sow tomato seeds, chit potatoes and peppers.
• Mini Terrariums: Create tiny indoor gardens using jars, soil, and small plants.
• Nature Observations: Keep a journal to record changes in plants or weather patterns. A fun activity we used to do in lessons at school was to record how much rain water we can collect over a week. Another great activity is to observe and record how a plant grows. You can do this using a clear class, kitchen roll and a red kidney bean.

Here's what you need to do:

1. Place the kitchen roll inside the clear container, this could be a glass, plastic cup or an empty jam jar.
2. Wet the kitchen roll and drain any excess water.
3. Place the red kidney bean (a dried one from your cupboard will be perfect) in between the glass and the kitchen roll, so that you can see it.
4. Keep the kitchen roll damp and watch nature take its course.

(Kidney beans grow really fast so you will start to see roots and shoots growing quickly. Keep a little bean diary for your observations and notes.) Check out our FREE bean diary template here

9. Puzzle Fun Club

Encourage children to build their problem-solving skills, fine motor skills, and spatial reasoning with a fun puzzle club.

• Puzzles are such great fun and offer up a plethora of benefits for the mind and body! We love a good puzzle at home.
• Pop to a local charity shop and buy a preloved puzzle for a fraction of the price of a new one.
• Get a puzzle roll to easily store your puzzle. This is helpful if it takes up space on the dining table. If you can, leave the puzzle out. This way, you and your kids can keep adding pieces whenever you want.
• You might be surprised at how time slips by because you all are so engrossed!

10. Mindful Moments

Incorporate some relaxation:

• Gratitude Journals: Encourage kids to jot down things they are grateful for each day.
• Meditation for Kids: Short guided sessions can help promote calmness.
• Nature Walks: If possible, take a stroll around the garden or nearby park.

Half-term doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. With a little creativity and planning, you can keep your kids entertained and happy.

If you want art classes for your kids, check out our blog. "Unleashing Creativity: Art Classes for Kids in North London."

Happy half-term!