"But one needs a change sometimes. We take everything too much for granted, including each other," muses Moominpappa in Moominpappa at Sea, by iconic children's author Tove Jansson.
During a long school holiday, the pressure of making the most of a summer with children can feel overwhelming. But the key to endless ideas is already waiting for you, on your bookshelf.
Family adventures based on your children’s favourite stories are a great way to show that you care about their beloved characters, and planning them needn’t be complicated. Spur some interest in stories for any reluctant readers, and you’ll enjoy trying something new just as much as the kids do.
The intrepid Moomin family love a good day trip, and they always take along a picnic basket lovingly packed by their Moominmamma. Author Jansson lived out her autumn years on a secluded island, and her love of remote, rugged places informed the whimsical stories of Moominvalley. Take some inspiration from the Moomins and catch the ferry from Howth Harbour out to Ireland's Eye, which runs regularly during the summer months. Read out passages from Moominpappa at Sea on the ferry ride and enjoy the journey. When you get to the island, look for the Martello tower and let the kids imagine it's Moominhouse, the Moomin family home. Settle down for a picnic lunch and bask in the peace of this oasis, mere miles from Dublin city.
Keep it local
If you like the idea of al fresco dining but aren't familiar with the Moomins, recreate an iconic scene from Alice in Wonderland with your very own Mad Hatter's tea party.
Pick up a tea set in a charity shop (charity shops always have tea sets!), and head out to a local green patch with a blanket and some snacks. This is a great time to catch up with some family friends, because the Mad Hatter's party has a whole host of characters. Any newborns in the family can play the role of the sleepy dormouse. Serve juice and cherry bakewells, and settle down for story time with Lewis Carroll's classic. Be sure to pick up a richly illustrated edition, as Alice says herself, "what is the use of a book without pictures?" For a bit of fun after the meal, bring some sports equipment and have an improvised game of "croquet", like the Queen of Hearts!
Remember Alfie and Annie Rose? The siblings in Shirley Hughes' nostalgic Alfie stories spend a lot of time in their local park.
Going to the park never gets old for children, and summer is a great time to while away days in the playground getting to know the neighbours. For rainy days, see if you can get hold of some yellow wellies like Alfie wears. Read a Shirley Hughes story to the kids the night before heading to the park; get them excited about splashing in puddles, finding bugs and petting dogs.
Learn by doing
Every child is an artist, so nurture your little artists by bringing them along to your local gallery. Take inspiration from Miffy the Artist. In this book for very young readers, Miffy the bunny visits an art gallery and decides to become a painter.
Most galleries have children’s areas where budding geniuses can access paper and crayons, so be sure to ask. Once they get the idea, keeping art materials at home will keep children occupied for hours. Encourage them to create their own gallery of drawings in a corner of the house.
This year marks 50 years since the moon landing, so now is a perfect time to read Armstrong by Torben Kuhlmann, which retells the story of the moon landing through the eyes of a mouse.
The book is packed with beautiful illustrations, and has enough text to keep all ages engaged. When they've read Armstrong, take the family to Dublin's Science Gallery, or to W5 in Belfast.
To inspire a love of nature, emulate Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic The Secret Garden by heading to your local garden centre.
Buy some late blooming seeds or ready-to-plant flowers. If you have your own garden, let the kids dedicate a corner of it to their gardening project; but if space is more limited, a few pots will do the trick. Be sure to check for local community groups too, as allotments are popping up all over the country. Planting is a great value project, as weeding and caring for their seedlings will have your kids occupied all summer. Like the children in The Secret Garden, they'll learn about dedication and the rewards of hard work. You'll enjoy witnessing their amazement at the simple wonders of nature.
Sometimes you just need to bring the little ones along while you get things done. If you're heading into town for errands, get hold of Busy Busy Town or Busy Busy World by Richard Scarry. Scarry's detailed illustrations feature loads of everyday things like bicycles and buses; have the kids make a list of things to spot while they're out and about.
When you have a chance for a coffee break, they’ll love pointing out all the things they saw in Scarry’s witty drawings. You’ll likely get a laugh from these illustrations too, and you might even remember them from your own childhood.
What next
“I’m wondering what to read next ... I’ve finished all the children’s books,” says Matilda in Roald Dahl’s classic.
If your children are anything like Matilda they’ll already have hoovered up all the books in your home. When you need more ideas for days out, stop by an independent bookshop for a leisurely browse and ask the staff for some recommendations to keep the family busy. Tales for Tadpoles on Dublin’s Drury Street is a specialist store with a world-class selection of children’s books.