February half term: 9 family activities to do at home
If you’re spending February half term at home, it helps to have a few ideas to fill the days - keeping everyone entertained (especially on a budget) isn’t as easy as it seems. The weather can be unpredictable, days can feel long, and the kids’ energy levels don’t always match your to-do list!
That’s why we’ve pulled together nine low-faff activities, from arts and crafts to outdoor exploring. There’s enough here to cover every day of half term (including the weekends), so you can mix and match depending on what everyone’s in the mood for.
1. Create some paper animals
Paper craft kits are perfect for half term because they’re engaging and creative - without the mess of drawing or painting. And the fun doesn’t stop once they’ve been built! Encourage your little ones to create a story together - if they need a helping hand, suggest setting up a ‘pet shop’.
Top tip: keep everything together in a zip pouch, so the kids can continue playing the next day without bits going missing.
Children's origami kit - Animals, £6.95
2. Go on a mini nature trail
A bug viewer or magnifying glass can make even a short walk feel like an adventure. Give them a few things to try and spot - something smooth, something tiny, something with an interesting pattern - and let the kids take the lead.
Top tip: If it’s really cold, do the same thing in the garden, or even from a doorstep window with a ‘things we can spot’ list.
Shop our exclusive 'Nature Trail' range now
3. Build a living room den
Fill a whole afternoon - without much effort! A few blankets and cushions can become a reading corner, a cosy hideaway or their very own hideout spot. Bring it to life with a stack of books, a board game or even an at-home cinema if there’s a laptop going spare.
Top tip: Add a lunch box or snack box for their den supplies - it will help it feel like a proper set-up.
4. Be a grown-up for the day
Kids love being trusted with ‘proper’ jobs - and it can be a great way to get things done without it feeling like a chore. Let them choose a role for the day (laundry assistant, recycling officer, packing supervisor) and give them a short list of tasks they can actually manage, like matching socks, sorting the recycling or helping you pack a bag for your next trip.
Top tip: make it feel official with a simple checklist and a sticker for each task ticked off.
Pink and green daisy weekend bag, £29.95
5. Make easy play dough
Play dough is a great activity to pull out just as the kids are getting bored (it was only a matter of time). All you need is flour, salt, water and a few drops of food colouring.
Once you’ve mixed it all together, bring out some fun cookie cutters - why not surprise the kids with them - and let them make their own creations. It quickly turns into imaginative play too.
Top tip: store the dough in an airtight tub so it’s ready to use again the next day.
Sausage Dog cookie cutter & spatula, £3.95
Unicorn cookie cutter & spatula, £3.95
Baby Dinos cookie cutter & spatula, £3.95
6. Get moving (even with awful weather)
A bit of fresh air and movement can make all the difference to the week - especially when the kids start to get restless. A bike ride is a great way to reset the day, even if it’s just a loop round the park or a quick cycle to the shops and back.
Top tip: have a back-up in case the weather’s not on your side. A kids’ online yoga class is a calming option, or try a few games like balloon keepy-uppy or ‘stop and go’ dance if you want to embrace the chaos!
Fairies in the Garden bicycle streamers, £4.95
7. Prep for an upcoming party
If you’ve got a birthday or family get-together coming up, getting the kids involved early can help get everyone excited. Let them help choose a theme, write invitation cards, or plan the party snacks - they’ll love having a say, and you’ll sneakily tick off some jobs at the same time.
Top tip: give them one thing they can own from start to finish (like making the invitations or choosing the snack ideas) so it feels like their own project.
Wild Wonders paper tablecloth, £6.95
8. Baking with a twist
If you want your holiday baking to feel a bit different this year, make cupcakes with a hidden centre. Bake a standard batch, then add a spoonful of jam, chocolate spread or something more strange - right before they go in the oven. The fun lies in biting into it without knowing what you’ll get.
Top tip: use the end of a wooden spoon to make a small dip in each cupcake, add the filling with a teaspoon, then pop a little bit of sponge back on top.
Wild Wonders cupcake cases (pack of 50), £1.95
9. An ‘activity’ drawer
Now you’ve got a few ideas up your sleeve, put them all in a drawer, so the kids can pick and choose what they fancy - everything feels more exciting when it’s your own decision. Open the drawer together first thing in the morning, and let the kids take turns deciding what to do for the day.
Top tip: halfway through the week, add a new activity into the mix to keep excitement levels high!
Magic colour felt tip pens, £5.95
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