6 book-related things to do during half term

 

It’s half term next week – which means we’re halfway through the school year already! We’re staying put at Parrot Street HQ next week and hoping for some lovely Spring weather, but of course February can be a bit miserable, so we thought it would be useful to have a few book-related activities up your sleeve in case you are looking for things to keep the kids busy over the break.

Get crafty

Craft activities inspired by a book you’ve read are a great way to encourage your little bookworms to engage a bit more deeply with what they are reading and to keep them talking about books even after they’ve closed the cover. All our activity packs include ideas for craft activities inspired by the books we send our subscribers and we’ve shared a few examples on our blog. Why not have a go at making your own comic strip or a woodland creature hand puppet?

Get outdoors

It might still be a bit chilly outside, but at least it’s dry and sunny! Time to brush off the cobwebs and get the kids outdoors. Why not suggest a book-inspired treasure hunt? Hide clues representing different book characters around the garden – you could use props or write a question on a piece of paper. Don’t forget to give them a hint as to where the next clue can be found. If you’ve got slightly older children, why not suggest that they write the clues and set a treasure hunt for their siblings? (NB. This would work just as well indoors too!)

Go on a literary adventure

Pairing a book with a day out is a great way to build the excitement and anticipation for your trip - plus we know that encouraging children to think a bit more deeply about what they’ve read, and connect it to their own experiences, is hugely beneficial. Check out our literary adventure blog post for some ideas on how you can tie-in a book with a museum trip. Or browse your own bookshelves and see where they might take you!

Pay a visit to your local library or bookshop

Your local library is the perfect place to while away a couple of hours, especially if the weather is not so great. It’s also worth checking with your local bookshop as many have events on for children and families during half term. Getting to meet an author face-to-face is an incredibly inspiring experience for kids and grown-ups alike!

Plan your World Book Day costume

World Book Day 2019 is just around the corner on Thursday 7th March and of course most schools will be doing something to celebrate in the couple of weeks after half term. So why not take advantage of the time at home and get ahead with your World Book Day costume preparation? Even better, sign up to our newsletter and next week we will send you 40+ World Book Day costume ideas – all super easy to recreate, nothing that will cost a bomb and all celebrating everything that is fun and fantastic about books.

Head to the box office

There are some fantastic stage and screen adaptations out there at the moment. We definitely will be heading to the cinema this half term to check out the third and final instalment in Cressida Cowell’s How to Train Your Dragons trilogy. We’re also hoping to make it up to the South Bank in London to visit the Imagine Children’s Festival, which has a brilliant line-up of author events this year, including Philip Ardagh, Malorie Blackman, Chris Riddell, Jacqueline Wilson, Jeremy Strong, and Lauren Child. Watch out for stage shows inspired by your favourite books too – there are productions of Tom Gates, Zog, Cat in the Hat, and Billionaire Boy amongst many others out right now. There’s bound to be something on near you!

Wherever you go and whatever you’re doing this half term, don’t forget to pop a book in your bag. Reading with kids is not just for bedtime – it’s also a great way to keep them busy wherever you are!