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October half term always seems to sneak up on you. The minute you get the kids back to school, you are ready to have them home with you again for a week or two. It isn’t always an easy time to plan for either, as the weather can be up and down. However, having a plan, and a few ideas up your sleeve can help you make the October half term fun. I wanted to share with you some of the fun ideas for the October half term to keep you inspired.
Tips for days out:
- Look out for promotional vouchers and codes, or use loyalty points for meals out or entrance fees.
- Check cashback websites when booking to recoup some of the money you will be spending.
- Check the attraction website to see if there are days with specific events.
- Pack a lunch, snacks, and take drinks with you to avoid having to pay out constantly.
Fun ideas to do during October half term
Pumpkin patch
One of the obvious things to do during the October half term is to head to a local pumpkin patch. These are usually PYO farms or local farm attractions that host these sorts of events. You can take the kids to pick a pumpkin, and in some cases, there will be fun activities taking place during your visit. They might be able to calve the pumpkin there or it could then be a fun activity you do at home.
Halloween events
You could also look to see if there are any Halloween events taking place in the week leading up to the 31st. This will give you a chance to do something fun and topical. It might be dressing up or heading to an attraction that is hosting Halloween-inspired activities. Many attractions that you may have visited in the past will make an effort for something like Halloween so don’t discount a place that you have frequented before.
Farm visit
Another great option for children is to take them to a farm. Many will have specific activities taking place throughout the day and you can plan your visit based around talks and different feeding times. Farm visits are great for kids as they get the chance to be outside and some even have petting areas where you can spend time with some of the smaller animals. This is a great way to have an interactive day out and the kids will love it.
Head to the zoo or a safari
If your family loves animals then why not head to the zoo? Again, many like to have different activities going on for the October half term holidays and it is always worth checking the website ahead of your visit. The zoo is full of different animals and can often be a great outdoor adventure for the whole family.
If the weather isn’t so great you could consider heading to a safari. You can use your car to be around the animals and see them from the comfort of the vehicle. Some safari parks have areas you can walk in as well, so if the weather does pick up, you can enjoy some time outside as well.
Visit an aquarium
An aquarium is perfect for visiting if the weather isn’t great. Most places have school holiday events or activities, so it is worth looking online. You can visit plenty of aquariums, so check out Google to see which local aquariums are open. You might find that there are smaller establishments to visit rather than some of the more prominent, more well-known locations.
Enjoy a reading challenge
If you don’t want to go anywhere or feel the pressure that often holidays can bring then why not encourage your kids to take on a reading challenge? You can join the library and find some challenges online that will interest them. You can head to the library to find the right books and then enjoy some quiet time. School is a busy time for everyone, so it can be nice to use the holidays as a chance to recharge.
Baking
Baking is a fun activity that many kids enjoy doing. You don’t need to do anything fancy, you can buy a cupcake box mix from the local shop and let the kids decorate them with icing and fun edible decorations.
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Head out exploring parks or go for walks
If you are looking for some free activities then why not head out exploring parks you might not have been to before? This could mean looking online and checking out the next town or village and heading to a new park. You could also look to go on some new walks. But on your boots, and even if the weather isn’t so great, the family can still enjoy being outside in the fresh air.
Crafts inside
The weather isn’t always so great, so why not use the holidays as a chance to enjoy some crafting? There will be plenty of ideas online to inspire you with autumn crafts or crafting to do with Halloween. Some children won’t need too much adult supervision or intervention so this can be a great way to enjoy some quiet time.
Play tourist in your own town, city, or village
When it comes to organising things to do, we can all be guilty of heading to specific areas or well-known attractions, but why not play tourist in your own town, city, or village? You might be surprised to find attractions close by like small museums or galleries, or you may be able to jump on a train or bus and head to the city and enjoy walking around. There are usually lots of places that offer free entry and with a bit of planning, this can be a great day out.
Camp in the garden
Finally, if the weather holds up, then why not do some camping in the garden? If your kids are old enough, they could camp outside themselves. A tent and some fun activities can be a great way to embrace time at home without it costing too much. Especially if you have all of the gear.
Hopefully, these ideas have inspired you for the October half term.
Image Credit: depositphotos.com
