For children, there are no two better words than ‘summer holidays’ but for parents of young kids in GI, you may be dreading the words ‘I’m bored’. To help ease the boredom and build the excitement, Overherd’s Summer Series brings you 10 fun activities for kids over the summer. Some are for lazy summer days at home, while others are for special family days out.

1. Grow your own

Growing your own fruit and vegetables is a great way not only to keep your kids entertained but also to give them an appreciation for the great outdoors. You don’t need to have a large garden to be able to grow your own produce; herbs such as parsley, sage, coriander, mint, tarragon and chives can be grown in small window boxes and they often grow quite quickly, which is exciting for kids who want to see the results of their labours fast. For those of you fortunate enough to have larger gardens, fruit and vegetables can be grown over the summer months such as carrots, beetroot, beans, lettuce, strawberries and raspberries. Check out countrylife.ie for lots of seed packs and tools to get you started!

2. Visit a zoo or farm

We’re lucky in Ireland that there are a number of zoos and wildlife parks dotted around the country such as Dublin Zoo, Fota Wildlife Park, Belfast Zoo, Tropical World Donegal and Wild Encounters Limerick. When it comes to visitor farms there are even more options. Some of the must see farms are Kia Ora Mini Farm, Wexford; Airfield Estate, Dublin; Leahy’s Open Farm, Cork; Tearaways Pet Farm & Activity Centre, Tipperary; and Loughwell Farm Park, Galway. A nice alternative for older kids would be to take part in one of the many Alpaca walking tours now available – K2 Alpacas Co. Wicklow, The Wild Alpaca Way Co. Donegal and Long Acre Alpacas in Co. Louth are just some of the options available. A backup plan in the event of bad weather may be to visit an aquarium such as Dingle Ocean World, Sea Life Bray, Aquarium & Visitor Centre are just a few.

3. Take part in water sports

When planning this sort of activity, it is always important to remember the importance of water safety and for this reason, it can be a good idea to partake in a planned activity with trained instructors. The Lagoon Activity Centre in Co. Cork has a floating water park, kids pedal boating and stand up paddle boarding are perfect for a fun-filled family day out. On Ireland’s west coast, you’ll find countless surf schools which could provide your teenager with hours of entertainment, while younger kids can enjoy a number of aquatic centres with slides and lazy rivers. The National Aquatic Centre in Dublin, Bangor Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Complex and the Aqua Dome in Tralee could provide an exhilarating day out for younger children.

4. Have a teddy bears’ picnic

Children are known for having a great imagination, so why not make the most of this and let your little ones enjoy afternoon tea with their favourite cuddly toys. This could be an inexpensive and simple way to entertain your kids for an hour or two. All you need is a blanket to sit on and a few tasty refreshments. This afternoon tea could take place from the comfort of your own garden or for a bit more adventure, why not hold your teddy bears’ picnic in your local park or along one of the many walking trails spread across the country.

5. Visit an adventure centre

Dunmore Adventure Centre in Co. Waterford offers guests a variety of experiences such as sailing, kayaking, caving, paddle boarding and climbing. They also have the biggest “wipeout” course in Ireland, an obstacle course on the water with swings, slides, spinners and a massive action tower. Lough Key Forest and Activity Park in Boyle, Co. Roscommon will provide your children with hours of entertainment as they take part in zip lining, nature walks and archery, to name just a few. Tanagh Outdoor Adventure Centre, Co. Cavan offers mud slides, raft building, mountain biking, electronic orienteering, white water kayaking and rock climbing.

6. Go camping

Why not let your children camp out? It could be as simple as setting up a tent and letting your children camp out in the garden with cousins or friends but you would be surprised how this could be the source of lasting childhood memories. For those who have the resources, it could be even more exciting to bring your children on a camping trip to a local woodland or national park. Some important points to remember are to always ensure camping is allowed where you choose to set up, never leave a trace and always bring plenty of supplies. For more information on where you are permitted to camp, visit https://outsider.ie/ireland/wild-camping-ireland/

7. Try something new

Ireland mightn’t get buckets of snow in the winter time but fear not – you can still take the kids skiing! The Ski Club of Ireland is situated at Kilternan Golf and Country Club and offers ski and snowboard lessons for kids of different ages as well as day courses, freestyle nights and practice sessions for those that already have the hang of the basics. Jump Zone is Ireland’s first trampoline park and has three locations – Sandyford, Santry and Liffey Valley. There are also a number of “foot golf” courses dotted around the country, which provide the perfect opportunity to show off football skills outside of the football pitch! Foot Golf courses can be found in Limerick, Cashel, Cork and Dublin.

8. Become a wildlife conservationist for the summer

Children learn so much about protecting the environment and biodiversity in school so why not let them put this into practice? You could help your child protect our precious pollinator population by planting an area in your garden dedicated to pollinators who love purple flowers such as lavender, alliums, foxglove and catmint. Your child could improve the biodiversity of your garden by making their own “insect hotels” using bits of wood and twigs, egg boxes or anything suitable you might find around the house.

9. Relive the past by visiting a historic sight

Although the prospect of visiting a historic site may not seem too exhilarating, you would be surprised how engaging some of the visitor centres around the country are. Many of these places are set up to engage a younger audience and to keep them amused. EPIC, The Irish Emigration Museum, Dublinia and Kilmainham Gaol are just a few of the great attractions located around Dublin city. As you move away from the city, there are a number of other heritage parks and museums set up to cater for kids such as Ferrycarrig, Co. Wexford, the Titanic Museums in Cobh and Belfast, Foynes Flyingboat Museum, Co Limerick and Tara’s Palace Museum of Childhood, Co Wicklow.

10. Arts and crafts

Why not take your arts and crafts to the outdoors over the summer months. Make tie-dye clothes, do rock paintings, do leaf prints, splatter paintings or water balloon paintings in a paddling pool – the options are endless!