Down with the kids

The summer holidays are in full swing, and if you’ve got kids – of any age – that means you’ve got a dilemma.  What on earth to do with them now that school’s out, the playgroups are closed, and you’ve got six or more weeks of empty days to fill?

The answer, my friends, is to get yourself down to HEMA (or shop online here). My new favourite place to go for brilliant, bright, bargainous bits’n’pieces, it’s a treasure trove of a place for kiddy craft bits, stickers, paper, stampers, paint… you name it, they have it. And all for just a few quid.:

Take the amazing glitter foam alphabet stickers above (£2.50 for a massive pot); or the fun ink stampers below (£2.50 for a big box):

Then there are these animal-shaped foam stickers (£1 per pot), which my toddler LOVES; big packs of coloured paper, and this fab air-dry modelling clay (£1.50 a pack):

We had hours of fun with the modelling clay, making ‘energems’ from Power Rangers Dino Charge, which we then painted with sparkly nail polish (not a Power Rangers fan? Try pressing leaves into a rolled up piece of clay, cutting round them and leaving them to dry to  make little trinket dishes instead):

HEMA also sell pavement chalk in a handy reusable storage box (£2), which keeps my two happy for hours in our garden, and went down a storm at our recent summer street party:

Ooh and they also sell fab pineapple or camera-print tin suitcases for your kids to stash all their crafty bits in, for just £2.50 each:

So, if you’re stuck for something to do with the little ‘uns this summer, take a tenner and load up your basket in person or online. And if you’re on Instagram, tag me in (I’m @woodyjen here), and show off your goodies with the hashtag #HEMAhaul.

Happy holidays!