Saga Magazine – August 2018

(^2018) I SAGA.CO.UK/AUG-MAG 49
Rainy-day ideas
Garden centres
These days, they are so much more
than purveyors of plants and lawn
seed. Many have pet corners with
reptiles, rabbits and exotic birds.
‘Garden centres are places of
wonder to a small child. If you ask
my three-year-old grandson where
he wants to go, he usually asks
to go to a local garden
centre where he can
feed the huge koi
carp – 50p well
spent,’ says retired
civil servant Jan
Titcombe, 67, from
Bromley in Kent.
Arts and crafts
When it’s tipping down
outside, that’s the time to put
all your naturally foraged items to
good use. Buy a cheap scrapbook
and glue in all the things you’ve
found. Do leaf rubbings or get the
paints out and decorate stones
you’ve picked up. Websites such as
Pinterest can be a great source of
creative ideas and projects.
Try taking a step
back in time
Children are fascinated by
stories about when you
were the same age as
them. Go through old
photo albums or, if
you’ve kept some of
your old toys in the
loft for nostalgia’s
sake, get the boxes
down and unpack
them. Traditional
games and rhymes can be
good fun. ‘Think about how
differently we played in our
childhood – and teach them games
you played,’ suggests Mick Conway.
Home and garden
Extra online
For more ways to
entertain the kids, visit
saga.co.uk/aug-mag
them to help with garden jobs with the
incentive of extra pocket money,’ advises
Amanda Gummer from toy and activity
specialists Fundamentally Children.
‘If they’re interested in design and colour,
get them to help plan a garden border.
If it’s machines that appeal, show them how
to use garden or DIY tools.’ If you’re
feeling really ambitious, you could build
a treehouse or garden den together.
Amanda continues: ‘They’ll be more
inclined to get involved if they feel they’re
being treated as grown-ups.’
For children who have outgrown
playgrounds, outdoor gyms can be a great
alternative. Many enlightened local
authorities have installed gym equipment
such as cross-trainers, arm-and-pedal bikes
and rowing machines in parks, giving you
the chance to exercise in the open air.
And it’s free – no membership required!
If you’re feeling
really ambitious,
you could build
a treehouse or
garden den
together
GAP PHOTOS, GETTY