Swimming in the sea, picnics and bike rides are among the top activities’ families want to experience this summer.
Outdoor pursuits are among the 50 things families plan to make the most of after more than a year of restrictions.
Other top activities to do this summer included watching the sun rise (30 per cent), a trip to a theme park (28 per cent) and a quintessential trip to the British seaside (24 per cent).
It also emerged that six in 10 families want to spend more quality time together outdoors this summer, after enjoying nature became more important than after the start of the pandemic.
The research was commissioned by sun cream brand Soltan, which has partnered with TV presenter and nature enthusiast, Helen Skelton, to inspire families to have adventures as parents plan activities for the kids this summer.
Helen Skelton said: “Getting outside and enjoying nature is great for physical and mental wellbeing,
“I have always been someone who has made the most of the great outdoors and enjoy an adventure.
“The research shows that families want to make the most of getting outside but are sometimes lacking some inspiration for how to turn a day out into a really fun adventure.
“I think over the last 18 months we have exhausted our ideas bank, so I have teamed up with Soltan to come up with some top tips to help parents this summer – from fossil hunting and obstacle courses to cloud spotting and treasure hunts.”
The study also found nearly a quarter intend to build sandcastles on the beach while bird watching, building a den and going on a treasure hunt were other adventures families hope to experience this summer.
And glamping and a UK safari were the top activities families have never done but would consider for the first time this year.
It also emerged 67 per cent of parents have struggled to come up with ideas to keep their child amused since the pandemic began.
The findings come after it was revealed that searches for sun cream on boots.com increased by more than 7,120 per cent year-on-year.
Clare O’ Connor, Boots Soltan suncare expert, said: “It is lovely to see people enjoying being outside and making new memories with their families.
“While out adventuring, it is important not to forget to keep yourselves and your little ones protected as you are just as vulnerable to burning in the UK as you are abroad.
“Our message to everyone this summer is to apply a sunscreen with full SPF 5 Star UVA and UVB protection like Soltan, when enjoying everything that the great outdoors has to offer.”
You can see Helen Skelton chat through her top tips here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VTY6R0vAUk]
Top 50 outdoor family activities to do this summer according to parents
1. Have a picnic
2. Watch the sun rise and set
3. Go to theme parks
4. Bike rides
5. Swim in the sea
6. Go to nature reserves
7. Sightsee in a city
8. Jump in the waves
9. Fruit picking
10. Build sandcastles
11. Star gaze on a clear night
12. Go to an adventure playground
13. Fairgrounds
14. Play in a paddling pool
15. Go searching for creatures in rock pools
16. Dig huge holes on the beach
17. Hiking
18. Camping
19. Bury your legs in the sand
20. Bird watching
21. Play tennis
22. Water balloon fights
23. Slide down a water slide
24. Play swing ball
25. Caravanning
26. Mountain biking
27. A UK Safari
28. Play on a bouncy castle
29. Glamping
30. Build a den
31. Jump into a river
32. Climbing
33. Fishing
34. Go on a treasure hunt
35. Hunt for bugs
36. Play on a rope swing
37. Cloud spotting
39. Snorkel in the sea
39. Fossil hunting
40. Bodyboarding
41. Kayaking
42. Play a big game of rounders
43. Trail runs
44. Pedalos
45. Build nests for wildlife
46. Make an obstacle course
47. Ride on electric scooters
48. Roller blading
49. Surfing
50. Learn a new sport
Helen’s top activities to keep children entertained this summer:
*Become a wildlife ranger – When out exploring, take a closer look at the nature around you. Before you head outside, make a list of the creatures you’d like to spot and see if you can find them all during your adventures.
*Create a nature obstacle course – Use the landscape around you to create the ultimate obstacle course.
*Nature bracelets – Before heading off on your adventure, take a piece of masking tape and put it around your wrist, sticky side out. Once you’re out and about, find pieces of nature to stick onto the bracelet: twigs, grass, fallen petals.
*Go on a rainbow hunt – Go for a walk with your family and find something from every colour of the rainbow to create your very own wildlife museum. It could be a pink petal, some yellow straw or a green leaf.
*Learn to find your way with a map – Find a map of the area and start off by working out where you are right now on the map. Choose an end point and plan your route there – remember to have the map facing in the right direction.
*Cloud spotting – The aim of the game is to see what unusual or unexpected things you can see in the clouds. Do you see a snake, a star or a face?
*Make natural art – When out and about, collect fallen leaves, petals and sticks and use them to make a picture when you get home.
*Build a twig raft – If you come across a source of water like a river or a lake, build a raft using objects you find around you and see how long it floats for.
*Go fossil hunting – Go on a time travelling expedition and uncover clues to the secret life of animals and plants from the past.
*Build a wildlife hotel – Collect fallen branches you come across when you’re out exploring to build a wildlife den that small animals can use for protection and shelter.
