These are the words that every parent, grandparent or child carer dreads, especially in the midst of the long summer holidays.

  With those long summer days stretching ahead a bank of tried and tested activities for children is essential. Even better are those that are cheap or free. Frugality is affecting all our lives and all areas as the global economic crisis continues. So what can we do with the kids without breaking the bank?

Here's a great activity to help the time pass quickly. It's also a great way to introduce children to maps, routes and types of settlements. Fun and educational too!

Find the Place

Make a map of where you are going, but make it simple for the kids to understand. Write down names of cities, towns and villages that you will pass through on the way to your destination. Give the kids a pen/marker so that they can check off each place as you reach it. It’ll make the journey seem a lot shorter for them.

Eye Spy

Always a favourite with old and young alike. I'm sure you don't need instructions but just in case...

One player chooses an object that they can see and says, "I spy with my little eye something beginning with..." (the beginning letter of the word chosen, for younger children let them say the sound rather than the name of the letter). Everyone has a guess as to what the object is. If someone gets the answer they get to spy next.

The Licence Plate Game

Get the kids to look out for double letters or double numbers (you choose) on licence plates. The first person to call out the double letter or number gets the point. The winner is the player with the most points.

 These days keeping the children occupied without the use of technology such as televisions, computers, Playstations etc. is tricky. Children aren't used to amusing themselves. Many aren't too good at socialising either. Make believe is still a powerful tool to engage children, stimulate minds and encourage thinking and cooperation.

Magic Carpet

An old rug or mat can be transformed into a magic carpet. Spread it out and get everyone to sit on it. You, or one of the children, can choose the destination. Over the years I've been taken to magical lands made of sweets, exotic destinations like the Taj Mahal and even back in time to the age of the gladiators. Make sure that all senses are used by asking children what they can see, hear, smell, taste and touch. How do they feel as they go through the different stages of the journey. I've done journeys with as many as 32 children - a bit squashed but enormous fun.

Imagine

This is such a simple yet creative and thought provoking activity. Children of all ages (and even adults too if truth be known) simply love this. Draw a simple shape on a piece of paper. Ask the child to finish the picture. You can give each child the same shape, in the same position and see what different pictures they come up with - great talking points at the end. On the other hand you can give each child a different shape. To extend the activity get them to colour the pictures in and mount them in a book for posterity.

 Fresh air is essential for healthy children. So is space to run around and exercise. Many children miss out on these essential elements due to the fact that they sit for hours in front of screens playing or watching games and videos.

  It isn't necessary to have a load of expensive equipment for children to have an enjoyable and worthwhile experience outdoors. Below are just a few ideas for activities and games that can be enjoyed outdoors.

Cloud Watching

  As a child (and even now I'm grown up!) I used to spend ages lying on my back on the grass staring at the sky, watching the clouds and imagining the different things I could see in them. Get children to share what they can see. Learn to identify the different types of clouds and the weather associated with them - what a great fun way to learn about the weather.

Sensory Trail

 Take the children outside with a pencil and paper for each of them. Walk around the garden or yard stopping every so often. Ask the children to draw or write what they can see, hear or smell at that point.

Secret Hideout

  When I was little I always wanted a secret hideout. I avidly read Enid Blyton and longed for a clubhouse, treehouse, den or anything house where I could meet with my friends and have drink and biscuits just like the children in the books. A den can be made from anything and be placed anywhere; old boxes, draped sheets or hidden amongst bushes. A few resources, ingenuity and lots of imagination.

Bear Hunt

   Why not go on a bear hunt? If you don't know the story then borrow the book from the library and read it together. It's wonderful. My class of 7 and 8 year olds love to share the book with me. Hide a bear somewhere in the garden and go hunt. Don't forget to describe your journey as in the book! This works really well if you haven't cut the grass for a while as it does go 'swishy, swashy'.

I hope you feel inspired to join in some fun and games with the children this summer. I do but I fear that maybe my two boys are just a bit too old but hey what are friends and neighbours kids for? I also know a young man, who truth be told, despite his 15 years will still enjoy many of these activities. Lots of these activities can be used with older children with learning difficulties, emotional problems or other needs. My youngest is 15 but has the emotional age of an 8 year old due to ASD & Asperger's. We still cuddle up and read picture books together. We also play games when we are alone and he feels up to it. You are never too old to play or to enjoy yourself.

I have only touched the tip of the iceberg here on this hub so if you are looking for more free, frugal, fun and creative ideas to entertain the children and to help build relationships why not visit My Personal Tutor? This new blog has been created to provide resources, links, hints, tips and articles to support and inspire parents and educators, by an experienced and qualified primary teacher and secondary homeschooler who's raised kids of her own and worked as a childminder for children aged 0-11 years.

The Freebie Friday download is a brand new free report: Beat the Holiday Blues - 32 Activities to Keep Your Children Occupied. The report is divided into 3 sections: indoor activities, outdoor activities and activities on the move. All of the suggested activities have been tried and tested by children and grown-ups and given the thumbs up. All the activities are free or very frugal, they don't require expensive resources or purchases and best of all, don't include the television or computer.