10 Free - or Nearly Free - Things To Do With Your Energetic Kids

If You Go Down to The Woods Today..........

There are lots of ways you can get involved with the work of the Woodland Trust, and really make a difference. So if you want to get out there and get muddy!  Now is the best time of year to plant trees. Find out how you can get involved with the Tree For All campaign Want to join an event near to where you live? Whether you would like to get muddy and get digging at a planting event near you; join a walk around an existing wood or get involved in one of the many other events then this is the place to look. From tree planting to woodland walks, click here!

Go Wild

There are lots of opportunities to get involved in watching wildlife, from butterflies to bats, or looking after farm and nature reserves. Whether you have an hour to spare or a day a week, there will be an activity for you.  There are 47 local Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man & Alderney. They are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone.

Swim Free

More than 1,000 pools run by almost 300 local councils nowl offer free swimming from  for people under 16 as part of the new Government scheme. Four out of five local councils in England have signed up to provide free swimming for under 16's. People will also be able to use pools in other areas if their own council is not taking part in the scheme. Find out if your local council is offering free swimming in you area here.

Take a Look Around

How many of us live near places of historical or cultural heritage and just walk on by every day?  Take a fresh look around you! As you wander through the streets take note of plaques on buildings of interest, your town may have a Heritage centre where you can ask questions, go on, you never know, you may even learn something.  With over 400 historic properties to visit including abbeys, castles, ruins, stately homes and palaces, days out with English Heritage will stay with you long after you've visited. There's something for everyone, from great family days out with the children to inspirational day trips for the real history buff. Why not have a look at their events search to see what's coming up in the next few months.

Get Together

Why not get together with other parents and organise a game of football or rounders at the local park or green? You'll keep fit and have fun and you'll get a chance to get together with all the Mums and Dads that you hear your kids talk about.   And don't forget the bat and ball.

On With the Show

We all love dancing, singing and acting.  Choose your favourite stage show (ours is Joseph and the Amazing technicolour Dreamcoat), pick a character or two to play, you can even get dressed up, then turn up the ipod or CD and off you go.  You never know the neighbours may actually enjoy listening to your performance! You can find lyrics here.

Movie Mania

If the weather's not so good turn your lounge into a cinema.  Let the kids invite their friends and get the popcorn on!  The best all round movies are: Grease, Mumma Mia, High School Musical, Star Wars or how about a Herbie film?  I'm sure you'll all have your favourites.

Get Gardening

It's time to get the garden sorted and it's so much more fun if there's a group to muck in. Once you've got the garden looking like it should be in the Chelsea Flower show why not have a Sunflower growing competition. You just need some small plastic flower pots,a small bag of compost and sunflower seeds.  Put the compost in the pots and push down fairly firmly, make a hole with your finger and put in a sunflower seed, fill the hole up and water well.  These can be placed on a window sill and will grow in a couple of weeks.  Once several leaves have formed they can be moved to a larger pot outside in a sunny position.  Encourage your children to water them and measure how tall they are getting!  The stem may need to be supported by a stick or cane as it grows. Don't forget to send the photo's of your flowers into Blue Peter, there's a chance your budding gardeners could get their hands on a Blue Peter Badge allowing free entry into loads of attractions that you'd otherwise have to pay for. You can then save the sunflower seeds for the birds in the Winter. And why not get your school involved?  The RHS are campaigning for school gardening, to find out more and how they can support your school visit their website here.

Bright lights big City

Get to your nearest city and take advantage of the attractions, why not try: National Gallery-London Science Museum-London Tate Gallery-London Natural History Museum-London National Potrait Gallery-London Museum Of London-London Victoria & Albert Museum-London British Museum-London World Museum - Liverpool Tubes in London are now free for the under 11's and buses in London are free for all children under the age of 16-ID may be required if children look older. We normally take a packed lunch with us as the prices in these places are normally very expensive!

Treasure Hunt

Make up your own treasure hunt, or the older children make one up for the younger ones.  This could be a really easy local walk or cycle ride...perhaps get the children to use mapquest so they have to follow instructions?  Get everyone involved easy clues for the little ones and much harder ones for the bigger kids. Just remember to have a handy prize for all that took part, it's not a Treasure Hunt without some treasure!! Don't forget your helmets and check out Bike For All, a fab site with loads of info for cyclists young and old.