RECENT research found that the average cost of entertaining children over half term is almost £25 a day so it’s no wonder that almost half of parents keep their kids at home to save money.

Keeping the family cooped up indoors is a recipe for more stress – but there are plenty of cheap and free options right on your doorstep to keep the little ones busy and wear them out.

If you have not already it is time to Make a Wild Change.

All the experts say that children just are not spending anywhere near enough time outside – probably through a combination of reliance on smartphone and television screens, fewer green spaces for children to use and a whole host of other factors.

But getting involved in nature is not just about going on day-long treks around the countryside – there’s plenty to amuse and engage kids right on your doorstep.

Even in these cooler months, you can get out and about right now in your garden, local park or other nearby green spaces.

With that in mind here are some simple free activities for keeping kids busy outdoors in the last few days before they go back to school:

Rope trails (children aged 5+)

You will need a long rope or a few ropes tied together plus a scarf as a blindfold. Run a rope at waist height around a safe green area with little undergrowth and no low branches. The blindfolded person follows the rope, experiencing the trail with their other senses.

Bugs in bushes (for 5-11 year olds)

Place a sheet under a branch or a bush, give it a gentle shove and then examine the sheet for interesting bugs. Do not forget to return them safely!

Winter bird feeders (for 7-11 year olds)

Mix together bird food in a bowl – use bird seeds, dried fruits, cooked rice, breadcrumbs, grated cheese and chopped nuts. Mix in cooking fat – like lard, dripping or waste fat from the bottom of a grill pan.

When you have your sticky bird cake mix you can put it out by smothering a fir cone or using a yoghurt pot hung upside down.

Stone towers (children of any age)

While out on a pebble beach try building the highest stone tower by balancing smaller and smaller pebbles on top of each other. You can extend the game by using your tower as a target – sit five metres away and toss pebbles at the tower in turn. Whoever knocks their tower over first wins.

Night walk (for the whole family)

While the evenings are still closing in early it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of the darkness to catch our nocturnal neighbours.

Take torches to look around, and binoculars for stargazing and dress warmly. You could spot glow worms, owls or bats in urban and rural areas.

Do not worry about getting wet or muddy and do not worry if you’re not a wildlife expert either. Making a Wild Change is all about getting active and connecting with nature. Keep it simple, cheap and local and enjoy our great outdoors this half term.

There are also plenty of lowcost activities on throughout half term and the rest of the year at our Blashford, Swanwick, Testwood and Bouldnor Education Centres. These include creating bird puppets from recycled m a terials , making bird feeders, scavenger hunts, and buggy walks.

Find a local wild place, information on what's on at Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust centres, and more tips on how to make a wild change at hiwwt.org.uk