GARDEN LEAVE: HOW TO KEEP THE KIDS COOL, BUSY AND OUT OF YOUR HAIR THIS SUMMER
Because six weeks of school holidays doesn't have to mean six weeks of "I'm bored"
Right lads, summer's nearly here, and with it comes the annual challenge every dad knows too well: how do you keep the small people entertained, cool and (crucially) outside for more than eleven minutes at a time? We've done the legwork so you don't have to, rounding up the kit that'll turn your garden into the best free childcare going.
Dress them for the heat, not just the heatwave
First things first — clothing. PO.P, the Swedish childrenswear brand doing serious work in the circular fashion space, has dropped its high summer collection, and it's exactly what you want your kids living in from June through August. Organic, recycled and certified materials across the board, covering sizes from newborn right up to age 10, so the whole brood's sorted in one go.
If you've got a baby in the mix, the 100% GOTS Organic range is soft enough for preterm babies up to a year old, with prints ranging from crabs and jellyfish to a strawberry design that comes with a matching hat worth grabbing before it sells out. The muslin garments are back too — light, breathable, and there are matching styles for older siblings so you can get the full family photo without anyone melting.
For the older kids, think strawberry prints, banana motifs and sea life designs in 100% organic cotton tops that pair with coordinating bottoms — an easy way to look put-together without actually trying. Shop the full PO.P summer collection here.
Give them a job to do
Once they're dressed for the occasion, they need something to actually do — and nothing buys you more peace than a mud kitchen. This one's built from FSC-certified wood and green PE, so it's as tough as it is planet-friendly, with a working water tank and sink plus hanging flower pots for anyone with genuine growing ambitions. It's rated for ages 3+ and measures 77 x 99 x 46cm, so it'll hold its own in a corner of the garden through rain or shine. Take a look at the Hape Outdoor Kitchen here.
And somewhere to swing it out
For the 5+ crowd, the Hape Pocket Swing is a genuinely brilliant bit of kit — a portable swing that straps between two trees 2-3 metres apart, made from recycled polyester and packed down into its own pouch for days out too. It's £21.99 exc. VAT (£26.39 inc. VAT), or £19.99 each if you're buying three or more. Adult assembly needed, obviously — but that's a small price for the silence that follows. Grab one here.
Sorted, dressed, occupied. Now go and enjoy that beer.