When the temperature soars, keeping children entertained at a holiday club can suddenly become much more challenging.

The footballs get abandoned, the running games lose their appeal, and before long everyone is asking the same question...

"Can we just go inside?"

The good news? A heatwave doesn't have to mean a day of screens or cancelled activities.

Some of the most memorable holiday club experiences happen when children slow down, get creative and work together. Here are five simple ideas that keep children engaged while helping everyone stay cool.

1. Build a Shade City

Instead of one den, challenge groups to create an entire shaded "mini village."

Using blankets, sheets, cardboard boxes, pegs, string and whatever outdoor materials you have available, each team designs their own shaded base camp.

Award points for:

⭐ Most creative design

⭐ Biggest shaded area

⭐ Strongest structure

⭐ Best team name

⭐ Funniest invention

Once everyone has finished, let the children visit each other's creations before voting for the overall winner.

Why it works: It encourages teamwork, problem-solving, communication and creativity without children needing to constantly run around in the sun.

2. The Ultimate Junk Challenge

Holiday clubs often have a surprising amount of recyclable materials lying around.

Turn them into something amazing.

Give each team a box filled with cardboard tubes, cereal boxes, yoghurt pots, bottle tops, paper straws, string, foil and tape.

Then set the challenge:

"Build something that would make summer even better."

Ideas might include:

🍦 An automatic ice cream machine

💧 A water-saving invention

🏖️ A beach buggy

🤖 A holiday robot

🌴 The world's coolest sun shelter

Once complete, each team presents their invention "Dragon's Den" style to everyone else.

Children love explaining their ideas, and it's a brilliant confidence-building activity too.

3. Create Your Own Cool Science Lab

Science activities are perfect during hot weather because they're exciting without requiring lots of movement.

Some easy favourites include:

• Making slime

• Bubble experiments

• Frozen treasure hunts

• Ice cube races

• Water displacement challenges

• DIY lava lamps

• Floating and sinking investigations

Adding a little friendly competition ("Whose slime stretches the furthest?") keeps everyone engaged while staying comfortably out of the midday sun.

4. Create Calm Activity Stations

Not every moment at holiday club needs to be high-energy.

Creating a series of calm activity stations gives children the opportunity to recharge before heading back outside.

You could include:

🧩 Puzzle Corner

✏️ Drawing & Colouring

📖 Activity Books

🎲 Board Games

📝 Comic Strip Creator

🌍 Around the World Challenges

🧠 Brain Teasers

Children can rotate between stations or simply choose what interests them most.

These quieter moments often become some of the most enjoyable parts of the day.

5. Beat the Heat Challenge

Create a fun rotation where children visit different cooling stations throughout the session.

For example:

💧 Water Bottle Refill Station

🪭 Cooling Fan Station

🍉 Fruit Tasting Challenge

👣 Step Count Challenge

🧘 Stretch & Breathe Zone

🎯 Mini Target Games

Rather than one long energetic activity, children move between short challenges that keep them engaged while giving plenty of opportunities to cool down.

It's also a brilliant way to encourage regular hydration throughout the day.

A Few Extra Tips for Hot Weather

Alongside activities, a few simple changes can make a huge difference to children's comfort and wellbeing.

✔ Schedule more active games earlier in the morning.

✔ Build in regular water breaks.

✔ Use shaded spaces wherever possible.

✔ Alternate active and calm activities throughout the day.

✔ Encourage hats and lightweight clothing.

✔ Keep plenty of water available.

Sometimes the best sessions aren't the busiest ones - they're the ones where children feel comfortable enough to stay engaged all day.

Helping Children Stay Comfortable This Summer

We've also put together a few affordable summer essentials that are perfect for holiday clubs, HAF programmes and outdoor events.

Our favourites include:

💧 Ice Core Sports Bottles – helping drinks stay cooler for longer.

⌚ Activity Trackers – great for step challenges and encouraging movement without competition becoming overwhelming.

🪭 Mini Fruit Fans with Water Spray – a fun way for children to cool down during hot afternoons.

All available from just £2.95 each.

👉 Get in touch at hello@thewondercompany.co.uk if you'd like to find out more or place a bulk order.

Final Thought

Hot weather doesn't have to mean lower engagement.

With a little creativity, a few simple resources and plenty of opportunities to stay cool, children can continue learning, laughing and making memories all summer long.

After all, some of the best holiday club days aren't remembered because they were the busiest - they're remembered because they were the most fun.