Many thanks to everyone who's taken the time to send us their ideas for keeping the children entertained for the summer.

At Home - Indoors

"My tip for keeping the kids amused in the holidays is to write a long list of activities, things like: jigsaws, make play dough, make a children's garden, paint, Lego, treasure hunt (my kids love these), baking biscuits, picnic etc etc. The children shut their eyes and pick one. Funnily enough, because they pick this way they seem to enjoy an otherwise 'boring' activity. It's never failed for me!"

"A few mums could arrange a cookery class once or twice a week. Simple salads, sandwiches & easy desserts can be taught. You can also take the children shopping as well for the ingredients."

"My tip for keeping kids busy is to get them to do a summer scrapbook. They can stick/draw pictures and write about what they do during the holiday."

"We live on a busy main road, and so my children can't play out on the street. What I've found useful this summer is a Scavenger Hunt. I give them a list of things they have to find, and once they have completed it, they get a treat. The treat ranges from ice-cream for my son who's 4½ to an hour on the Internet for my 7yr old daughter. The list includes things like a fire engine, a blue bus and a purple one, two ambulances; passers-by who have: two shopping bags, a double buggy, a hat; and also things they have to search for in the garden: a ladybird, washing on a line, a daisy, etc. This gets them out of the house for a while, and out of my hair!"

At Home - In the garden

"Hot summer's day? Slap on the sunscreen and then let your child loose with a large household paintbrush or two and buckets of water tinted with food colouring or with washable watercolour paint. Let them paint pictures on paths, doors, walls or even themselves. It'll keep them happy and cool, especially if you join in too! Don't worry it'll all wash off!"

"Keep your kids occupied and stop the dandelions going to seed. Get them to collect all the dandelion flowers in your garden. For each flower picked they get a sweet."

"Collect empty plastic juice bottles. Fill one third full with water, sand or anything heavy. Then use these as indoor or outdoor skittles, you can even involve the children in the decoration. Start your own mini-league and hopefully keep them quiet for 5 minutes!"

"Re-enact your favourite nursery stories - my son loves to hop round the garden with me chasing him shouting "who's seen Peter Rabbit, come here you pesky varmit""

"A fun way to keep toddlers entertained in the garden is to tie a balloon on a long piece of string and suspended it from your washing line. Make small bats out of strong cardboard or use long cardboard tubes (such as from the tinfoil). This sounds simple but I guarantee they will be over the moon with this idea, hitting the balloon. This can be played by one child or more, just put a balloon up for each child."

"One way of entertaining children is by putting up a tent at the bottom of the garden and pretend that you are camping, take lots of food, drink etc and have lots of fun.

"Give them a patch of the garden each to grow simple flowers, vegetables and herbs. It gives them something to do every day tending, watering and picking them. They're much more likely to eat vegetables that they've grown themselves too."

"Water play in the garden. Either a bought paddling pool or even a plastic storage box with water can be used. I've found that my daughter loves bathing her "baby" and washing her clothes although she doesn't always want to get in it herself! Also, a gazebo on really hot days is practically essential because it provides a lot of shade so that children can still play out - but remember to take young children inside around mid-day, and I find a cool shady room is best for naps no matter what."

If you'd like to share you own ideas please email the site at contributions@forparentsbyparents.com