October half term is nearly here, and if you are already wondering how to fill a whole week without the tablet doing the heavy lifting, you are not alone. The good news is that keeping kids busy does not need to cost a fortune or involve a big day out every day. A bit of planning, a few simple supplies and a list to pick from can turn a long week into one of the nicest of the year. Here are 25 screen-free half term activities we love, from cosy indoor crafts to autumn adventures, with a few slimy favourites from us at Bezzie along the way.
Cosy Indoor Crafts
Autumn days get dark early, so having a handful of indoor crafts ready to go is a lifesaver. These are all easy to set up at the kitchen table.
- 1. Make a batch of slime. It is hands-on, squishy and endlessly customisable with colours and glitter. If you are new to it, our complete UK beginner's guide walks you through it step by step.
- 2. Leaf rubbings and leaf collages. Collect fallen leaves, pop them under paper and rub over with the side of a crayon. Then glue the best ones onto card for an autumn collage.
- 3. Paper plate masks. With Halloween around the corner, a few paper plates, paint and some string make brilliant pumpkin, cat or monster masks.
- 4. Salt dough decorations. Flour, salt and water, baked low and slow, then painted. Kids love making shapes, and they can even save some for the Christmas tree.
- 5. Pine cone creatures. Googly eyes, pipe cleaners and a few pine cones from the park make the funniest little woodland friends.
Glow in the Dark Fun for Darker Evenings
One of the best things about October half term is that it gets dark early, which makes it perfect for anything that glows. Turning the lights off and watching something light up in your hands never stops being exciting.
- 6. Glow in the dark slime. Make it in the daylight, then take it into a dark room and watch it glow. It is a proper wow moment.
- 7. Torchlight shadow puppets. Hang a sheet, grab a torch and make animals with your hands, or cut shapes out of card and tape them to sticks.
- 8. A glow stick treasure hunt. Hide glow sticks around a dark room or garden and let the kids find them with a torch.
- 9. Stargazing. On a clear night, wrap up warm and see how many stars and constellations you can spot from the garden or the window.
Our Bezzie Glow in The Dark Slime Kit (£17.99) has everything you need to make slime that glows, so you can skip the shopping list and get straight to the fun. It is a lovely one for a half term afternoon, and it means loads of creative crafting with the lights turned down.
Get Outside for Autumn Adventures
Fresh air does wonders for everyone, and autumn is full of things to find. Wrap up, pull on the wellies and head out.
- 10. An autumn scavenger hunt. Write a list: a conker, a red leaf, a pine cone, something smooth, something spiky. First to find them all wins.
- 11. Conker collecting. A classic for a reason. Count them, sort them by size or use them for counting games back at home.
- 12. Puddle jumping. If it has rained, embrace it. A good puddle splash is pure joy for little ones.
- 13. A bug hotel. Stack sticks, bark, leaves and pine cones in a quiet corner of the garden and see who moves in.
- 14. A pumpkin patch visit. Lots of farms run pumpkin picking in October, and carving or painting them afterwards is a great second activity.
Kitchen Science and Messy Play
Kids love an experiment, especially one that fizzes, oozes or changes colour. These are simple, with adult supervision recommended.
- 15. Slime science. Slime is a brilliant way to show how mixing two ingredients creates something completely new. Add the activator slowly and watch the glue turn from runny to stretchy.
- 16. Baking soda volcanoes. A bit of baking soda, vinegar and food colouring makes a very satisfying eruption.
- 17. Rainbow walking water. Line up cups of coloured water with paper towels between them and watch the colours travel and mix over a few hours.
- 18. Bake and decorate biscuits. Spooky shapes, autumn leaves, whatever they fancy. Decorating is the best part.
If slime is going to be a regular half term activity in your house (it usually is once they start), the Bezzie Slime Activator is the one to have in the cupboard. The 1L bottle is £13.99, and it is ready to use, so you just mix it with PVA glue. Have a look at our slime activator explainer if you want to know how it works.
Quiet Time and Calm Activities
Holidays can be busy and a bit overstimulating, so it helps to build in some calmer moments too. These are perfect for winding down in the afternoon.
- 19. Build a reading den. Blankets, cushions, fairy lights and a pile of books. Simple, but kids adore it.
- 20. Colouring and drawing. Put on some music and get the pens out. You might find you enjoy it just as much.
- 21. Squishing slime. Lots of children find stretching and squishing slime a calming, hands-on sensory activity, especially after a busy morning.
- 22. Jigsaws. Pick one that suits their age and work on it together over a few days.
Family Games and Little Projects
Finish the week with something everyone can join in with.
- 23. A family games afternoon. Card games, board games or charades. Let the kids choose the rules.
- 24. Put on a show. Give them an afternoon to rehearse a play, a puppet show or a magic act, then sit back and be the audience.
- 25. Start a half term memory book. Stick in leaves, tickets, drawings and photos from the week. It is lovely to look back on.
Got a few slime fans in the family, or planning a half term get-together with friends? The Bezzie Slime Activator Value Starter Pack (£29.99) gives you four bottles of activator, so there is plenty to go round.
Tips for a Calmer Half Term
- Make a loose plan. Pick one main activity a day and let the rest happen naturally.
- Prep the night before. Getting supplies out ahead of time makes it easier to say yes when they ask, "What can we do?"
- Protect the table. An old tablecloth or a tray makes clean up after messy play much quicker.
- Let them lead. Kids often have the best ideas, so ask them to pick a few from this list.
The Bottom Line
Half term does not have to mean screens all day or expensive trips. A mix of crafts, outdoor adventures, kitchen science and quiet time will keep kids happily busy all week, and slime is always a winner. All Bezzie products are kid safe and non-toxic, suitable for ages 6+ with adult supervision recommended, and come with free UK next day delivery. Bezzie is a proud UK Brand, started by our founder Lydia.
Get the Glow in The Dark Slime Kit or Shop all Bezzie.
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