Cheap and Cheerful Bank Holiday Ideas for Entertaining Kids

Quickly approaching is the last bank holiday before Christmas - the 25th of August. Officially the last summer bank holiday, the extra day off is a chance to make the most of the last bit of sunshine before the colder months set in. However, after 6 weeks of entertaining the kids over the summer holidays, it’s not surprising that many people end up struggling for ideas when it comes to bank holiday events. Leading discount retailer SportsDirect.com have made the task easier with their suggestions on some cheap and cheerful bank holiday activities.

The Great Outdoors
Teaching kids about the ‘great outdoors’ can be difficult when computer games are only increasing on the popularity scale. This year, Sportsdirect.com have made sure that there are plenty of online options to encourage kids to get out and enjoy their surroundings. Junior walking boots like the Campri Snowdon Walking Boots for children are ideal for those wanting to make the most of woodland wanders and days spent exploring. For making a full day of it, pack kids their own picnic in a rucksack like the Reebok Volume Backpack and head off for a day in the fresh air.

Sport
Another great way to get the family out in the sunshine is through sport. SportsDirect.com knows just how important it is to encourage kids with sport, constantly coming out with ranges to get them equipped for everything from football to table tennis. Whether it’s a quick game of badminton at the beach or a kick about in the park, there’s something that all the family can get involved with.

Rainy Day Camping
With weather in August often being unpredictable, getting outdoors isn’t always an option. For a rainy bank holiday well spent, get the kids to make their own den and camp out in the living room. The Edco Play Tent makes an excellent starting point for a spot of ‘indoor camping’ – just add board games and hot chocolate for the true rainy day experience.

Sportsdirect.com have a vast selection of sports clothing and accessories, these can be found online at http://www.sportsdirect.com/sport 

Join in on the conversation at www.facebook.com/SportsDirectUK orwww.twitter.com/SportsDirectUK 

SportsDirect.om’s Guide to Keep the Children Active During the Half Term

For most, February half term will begin on Saturday 15th February for one whole week, and keeping the children occupied and ensuring their days aren’t filled with video games, computers and the TV can be a challenge. However, there are plenty of sporting activities that kids will love to try out. SportsDirect.com take a look at just some on offer.

With the weather forecast not looking any brighter for the next couple of weeks, the options of going camping or heading to the local park for a kick about have gone out of the window. However, there are plenty of sports or activities that children can do indoors.

Free
Doing something everyday costs a small fortune, however there are activities available for free. The majority of leisure centres have offers on during the school holidays which entitle children to swim for free. Whether it’s fun swim, lane swim or public swim, it doesn’t matter, swimming has so many health benefits and is a great way to get children active as it is fun, and most importantly doesn’t feel like exercise. Alternatively, many leisure centres also offer free incentives, such as free badminton or squash court hire to their members, so it is worth checking out.

Spend
For families who are planning to have a few days out during the half term then there are a whole world of indoor activities that won’t cost the earth. Indoor climbing walls are situated up and down the country and are great fun for children and parents alike. Similarly, indoor skate-parks are just as exciting and thrilling, with sessions costing around £13.00 and lessons being available, indoor skate parks are perfect for both beginners and children who have tried it out before.

Treat
With the Winter Olympics underway, heading ice-skating or to the dry slopes is the perfect option for the school holidays. With prices starting around £15.00-£25.00per person for recreational skiing, it is a great treat option. Also, many ice-rinks offer themed days and evenings to make the experience even more fun.

Research the local leisure centres and area to see what they have on offer, it may come as surprise how much fun the children have trying out a new sport!

Visit http://www.sportsdirect.com/sport for more ideas and equipment on what activities to do during the half term. Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/sportsdirectuk and www.twitter.com/sportsdirectuk.

SportsDirect.com’s Guide to Getting the Whole Family In The Pool

Recent articles have expressed that children, all around the World, are physically less fit than what their parents were when they were the same age. Higher body mass index and increased weight has been made accountable for this, according to exercise physiologist, Grant Tomkinson, as well as lower levels of exercise. SportsDirect.com take a look at how family swims can tackle this issue.

Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise when it comes to utilising the majority of muscles in the body and  helps improve aerobic fitness. Being a low-impact sport, it is not too strenuous on children, but it will make a difference to their overall level of fitness and keep them active.

Aerobic fitness levels have also decreased in adults, and lack of exercise could increase chances of a heart disease or stroke. Swimming for an hour burns approximately 500 calories and acts as a mini resistance workout, due to the fact that water is about 800 times denser than air, so it is a great way to shape up.


Going swimming as a family has numerous benefits. Parents will be motivated to go and do exercise and it will be more of a fun and sociable activity for children, instead of them sticking to just swimming lessons. By the whole family heading down to the local pool, it will also help children’s confidence in water as they will become more familiar with it, and it will help to develop their swimming skills.

Children won’t necessarily see swimming as a chore either as it can be made fun too. Parents can alternate between more ‘serious’ swimming, such as lane swimming and ‘fun swim’ which involves slides and inflatables. Therefore they will be increasing their aerobic fitness as well as having family fun.

For a range of  swimming and buoyancy aids, as well as swimsuits and accessories visit http://www.sportsdirect.com/pages/swimming. Keep up to date with SportsDirect’s competitions and get ideas on staying healthy and fit at www.facebook.com/sportsdirectuk or www.twitter.com/sportsdirectuk.