Still on the lookout for half term activities? Here are some bank-balance-friendly ideas to keep the kids entertained over half term.

Things to do at home:

  • Get crafty with autumn leaves, conkers, acorns and twigs. Their different textures make great paint or play doh stamps and you could even turn them into decorations for Christmas if you’re feeling organised. Pinterest has lots of ideas!
  • Baking is fun and messy for kids of all ages. If you can’t bear the mess or don’t enjoy baking you could buy pre-made cakes or biscuits and let the children go to town with icing and sprinkles!
  • Junk modelling is a fun activity that involves using rubbish to make something new. It’s a nice way to start talking about recycling and the environment.
  • Who doesn’t love a den? Set aside a morning and lots of blankets and pegs to make a den in the house or garden, then enjoy a picnic lunch inside.
  • Make a bird-feeder out of half an orange (with flesh removed leaving a bowl shape) and any combination of peanut butter or lard, raisins, seeds, bread crumbs and oats. Then hang in the garden and watch the birds and squirrels enjoy.
  • Get ready for Halloween by making spooky decorations, costumes and creepy treats. Think green and orange jelly filled with bug sweets, spiders made from pipe cleaners and googly eyes, and a black paper version of the classic Christmas paper snowflake for a spider’s web. Again, Pinterest has the answer to your Halloween crafts and activities.

Cheap days out:

  • Walking is great for getting everyone out the house, away from screens and squabbles! The colours are amazing at the moment and there’s loads to collect (conkers, acorns, leaves, pine cones, apples, chestnuts, shells, pebbles etc). Why not do a treasure hunt and write down a list of things for the children to collect? You could also try spotting different animals, bugs and birds that are busy getting ready for winter.
  • Get in the Halloween spirit with a trip to a castle. Bodiam Castle has a special half term black cat trail where you can learn about the superstitions of Medieval England and find a hidden prize for just £2.50. There are also castles in Lewes, Camber, Hastings, Herstmonceux, Pevensey and Rye.
  • Wilderness Wood is a lovely place to walk, play in a plastic-free playground, see Christmas trees growing and enjoy an excellent slice of cake. All half term they are holding ‘chestnut celebration’ where you can forage for chestnuts, learn about them and try chestnut cake and ice cream. On 25 and 26 October they are running Halloween decoration-making sessions too.
  • Discover a new playground. We have some amazing playgrounds in East Sussex. Our current YES Headquarters’ favourite is Peacehaven’s ‘Big Park’ which as the name suggests is huge, has equipment for all ages, a lovely café, lots of parking, clean toilets, and even sells dog ice cream!
  • The Herstmonceux Observatory Science Centre is running various child-friendly tours and shows over half term, all included in the entry price of £6.25 per child and £8.25 per adult.
  • Knockhatch and Drusillas both have Halloween activities running, and if you already have membership, it’s a very cheap day out! If not, you can sometimes find online deals or use Clubcard vouchers to get prices down.
  • Eastbourne Zombie Walk takes place on 27 October from the Crown and Anchor Pub to the Pier. Your children will love getting dressed up all spooky and can get make-up done from 1pm. The free walk starts at 3pm.
  • If you’ve got a dog, why not enter them into a Halloween dog show on 28 October at 10am!? Best baby werewolf and handsome toad are just two of the categories at Polegate’s Cuckoo Shack Café dog show!

We’re sure you’ve all got plenty of other ideas! Leave us a comment and let us know how you’ll be keeping the kids entertained this half term.