What to do with the kids during the school holidays? Do it the Phyto way

With a little effort and time, you can make sure that your children spend their holidays the Phyto way - and I'm absolutely sure that they and you will enjoy the Christmas school holidays far more than usual.  The Phyto approach is also great for getting the family to do things together - you might even find that your friends and neighbours will want to join in the fun.

None of the Phyto holiday activities need to be expensive - quite the opposite.

Kids are tough.....  It's good to wrap up warm and go outside, even on a cold day.  Help them to make their own Christmas grotto in the garden made out of a tarpaulin draped over a tree branch,  you will need to put something waterproof on the ground - but would be great fun for the kids over Christmas.  Kids can decorate with their own homemade decorations.  Keep them happy with warm soup or drinks and spicy winter biscuits.

Kids of all ages love a day at the beach and with more than 31000 kilometres of coastline on our mainland, there are plenty of beaches to explore.  Why not make a weekend of it?  Or stay at a farmhouse b & b for a real break and a great breakfast.

Our beaches are full of shells and pebbles to collect, even in wintertime.  We have miles and miles of coastal paths with breathtaking views.  Winter walks are as good as a summer walk. Encourage kids to take notice of the different trees and plants, and collect leaves and pine cones so they can make their own decorations.  Phyto foraging is good fun.  When they get home get them to recognise or search for the leaves that they have found and identify them in a book or on the Internet.  They can also start a scrapbook or encourage them to build their own nature journal.  After identifying winter leaves press them in a book and either paint or glitter them to make your own Christmas decorations  Bare branches mean birds can be seen more easily - get the kids to photograph them and later name them. 

With Winter drawing in and temperatures across the country plummeting, life is once again about to get tough for the UK's bird population.  The natural nest sites on which many of our bird species depend such as holes in trees and buildings, are fast disappearing as gardens and woods are "tidied" and old houses repaired.  Fat balls are so easy to make providing birds with a nutritious prime food source - kitchen scraps such as bread, fat, suet etc.  Make a ideal snack or food for any bird.  In return for the favour the birds will also eat many garden pests such as slugs, snails, caterpillars and many other garden insects.  They are also fascinating for your kids to watch.  Why not make a wooden nesting box for them or alternatively buy a nest box which is easily fixed to walls, trees or buildings. 

Kids can get very bored especially when it rains.  Why not get together with your neighbours and organise a weekly talent night for the children to let them show off their dancing and singing talents - or any other talents the room can cope with!  Rehearsals and costume making will keep the children amused all week. 

Or, what about a crafts day - get the kids together with items they have made using materials from around the home, garden or beach...  Greetings cards or collage posters.  Homemade Christmas presents are wonderful to receive.  It's all their own handiwork.

 Winter indoor games keep the kids away from the television/computer - rediscover some old family games like charades, pass the parcel or make up your own homemade general knowledge quiz.

If you can cope with the noise, what about encouraging them to make their own musical instruments and make up a song?  A plastic bottle filled with dried beans make a great shaker, an upturned bucket and two wooden spoons makes a drum, saucepan lids can be used as cymbals.

All these ideas are low cost, healthy, sociable and educational ideas which will make your Christmas holidays with the kids a lot of fun.