From scrapbooks to garden games: 17 tips for keeping kids entertained over summer (some are even free)

Feeling frazzled at the thought of the school summer holidays? Try these parent-tested tips and tricks

• How to get kids outdoors: 11 simple tips and tricks, recommended by parents

It’s coming – can you feel it? That looming dread: a whole summer during which you are expected to be Super Parent. Six weeks to fill with entertaining, educational activities for your children, while juggling work, not spending a fortune and trying to find a bit of time for yourself as well.

While I can’t promise to completely solve your summer holiday dilemmas, I can offer some advice and tips, as road-tested by real parents. So, dust off that bucket and spade, pull up a deckchair and dive in.