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Remember to have enough drinks available as they get dehydrated quickly when they’re running around, especially on a hot day.
A simple summer pleasure is blowing the "clocks" off dandelions. Teach them how to blow the downy white seed ball and see if they can scatter the fluff in one puff. Folklore says that if you make a wish when blowing, your wish will come true! Toddlers are enchanted by bubbles, so it’s a good idea to take a few bubble kits on the picnic. You can blow for them and let them try and catch the bubbles.
To make your own bubble solution mix 500 ml of water with 125 ml of washing-up liquid and 175 ml of glycerine (buy at chemists). Glycerine makes the bubbles bigger and longer lasting. Add different scent extracts to make scented bubbles - orange, vanilla, mint, lemon or almond. See if your children can guess the scent in each pot.
As far as childrens games go, nursery rhyme games like Ring-o’-roses and Three Blind Mice are always popular and small children will always have fun on a picnic just by running around, chasing each other or playing Follow my leader. After a spell of energetic childrens games, sit them down on the picnic rug, and read them some stories.
Face painting is also amusing for little ones – remember to add a mirror as well as the face paints to your picnic list.
Or take a few things from the dressing-up box and let them play make-believe. With a few scarves, shoes, hats and costume jewellery, then can transform themselves! Not really classed as a childrens game, but a Teddy Bear’s Picnic is of course a classic way to entertain both toddlers and bears! Let them feed their bears with milk and biscuits. Read them a copy of The Teddy Bears' Picnic or sing along to the cassette if you have it. ![]() ![]() You can also make a game out of part of the menu, by hiding items such as carefully wrapped pieces of fruit, marshmallows, or sweets around the picnic area and letting them play hunt for pudding!
If the little ones need an afternoon sleep, they should be well protected from the sun – and warm enough if it’s chilly. A play-tent or “den” made out of material draped over sticks can provide shelter as well as fun for them.
Go to picnic games for the under 12's
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