Planning the Perfect Picnic

We all love the chance to eat outdoors, and little ones find it so exciting to have a change of scene as they tuck into their lunch. Now that holiday plans are still somewhat up in the air, it  is the time to pull out all the stops and host a picnic party the kids won’t forget!
 We’ve put together our top tips and crafty ideas to help you turn a sarnie on the lawn to something more spectacular.

Décor and themes
– Bamboo plates and cutlery are ideal in the garden, as they won’t break if dropped on the journey from fridge to blanket.
– Build a fort! It can be as simple as tying up an old bed sheet or putting up a tent, just fill with fairy lights, blankets and cushions for a cosy feel. 
– Themes are great for little ones, it gives the picnic a sense of occasion! Here’s our suggestion of themes to pick from:
Their favourite story – think, Where the Wild Things are, Winnie the Pooh stories and of course Harry Potter.
Space – you can’t have a space theme without fizzing flying saucer sweeties
Treasure Island – the blanket is the island and lawn is shark infested waters. You might need some stepping stones to get there safely!
Dinosaurs – we all know those kids who love all things prehistoric.
Magical woodland – a tree stump makes the perfect table top!
Teddy bear picnic – it’s a fail safe classic. They bring the teddies, you bring the treats!

Games and Activities
– Old classics work just as well these days, so try and keep up with the little ones as you play:
Wheelbarrow races – Great for keeping active!
Hopscotch – chalk the hopscotch on your pavement or patio.
Egg and spoon race – try to keep the egg on the spoon.
Sleeping tigers – great game for when they need a little calming down!
Wellie wanging – a throwing game, so make some space!
Water fight –either shoot a water pistol or bust some waterbombs. Great for cooling down.

Make sure to head to our toy departments to see what garden games are available.
Here’s our selection of favourites right now.Some items may not be in stock at all stores. Please call your local store before visiting to check availability. 

Don’t forget we have plenty of downloadable activity sheets from colouring-in to word searches and puzzles on our Children’s club page.

Treats to Eat!
–  Make frozen treats – blitz your favourite fruits with milk, fill a lollipop mould and freeze. Throw in some sliced fruit or berries for a hidden surprise!
– Have you heard of a Bento Boxes, they’re a Japanese take on the humble lunchbox. Simply put together your usual healthy lunch box, but with the help of some shaped cutters, food dyes and imagination the lunch box is transformed into a fun character or scene.
   Why not get the little ones to make their own favourite animal or character to complete your freshly prepared lunch box.
–  Freshly picked! Take the little ones to your veg and fruit patch to pick what’s in season. This will help teach them where their food comes from and is a bit of a competitive hunt for grub.
 This works with herbs too, try adding a fresh sprig of mint to lemon water or for a fizzy treat, lemonade.
– As the evening draws in light a firepit or large candle – make sure an adult accompanies the children for this. Skewer marshmallows on a kebab stick (soak in water for a few hours to prevent it catching fire) or metal skewer and toast over the flames! Try adding strawberries to make dessert kebabs.
– Theme the foods to match the party theme. Chocolate coins would be ideal for a treasure island, serve snacks in terracotta pots for a Mr. McGregor’s veg patch theme inspired by Beatrix Potters infamous rabbit!
–  Keeping it simple? That’s fine, you can turn a sandwich into something more exciting by cutting it with a cookie cutter.

We hope we’ve inspired you and your little ones to create many memorable picnics this summer and if you do, make sure to take a photo to share with us on Facebook or Instagram.

Happy picnicking!

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