Budget-friendly activities for your October Holidays

The October holidays are just around the corner and if you would like to create some wonderful memories with your kids without breaking the bank, keep reading! We are giving you 6 of our best, budget-friendly ideas for a fun October Holidays in Glasgow.

Head out on a cycling adventure

We know this might be a given (we are a cycling organisation after all!) but there’s really nothing better than getting out on a family cycle ride together. Cycling is a brilliant way to get fresh air, burn off some energy (you’ll thank us at bed time!!) and at this time of year you can enjoy the beautiful autumnal colours. Bring along a picnic or hot drinks and make a stop at a playpark. It’s a cheap and wonderful way to have a fun day out for the whole family.

In the southside of Glasgow we are spoiled for lovely parks to choose from. Our favourites include Queens Park, Bellahouston Park and Pollok Park.

If you would like to take your family out for a cycle but your kid has outgrown their bike or you don’t have a bike seat or trailer to bring along your toddler, our Bike and Equipment Loan Library can help you! We are offering short term loans over the October Holidays. Just email Katherine on families@womenonwheels.org.uk and we’re happy to help!

Similarly, if you’re not quite confident to take your kids out for a ride, our Family Cycling Sessions can support you. We have three sessions available each Saturday - there are still some availability during the October Holidays so this could easily be another fun activity for you and your kiddos!

Go hunting for conkers and chestnuts

Hunting for chestnuts and conkers is an activity that never grows old! It’s fun for all ages and even better - you can continue the fun once you get home. Using toothpicks you can easily create chestnut figures and bring the autumn vibes inside.

Carve pumpkins

Is it really autumn without pumpkin carving? Regardless of whether you are into Halloween or not, getting creative with making your own pumpkins is a family favourite!

If you want the full experience, head out to one of the local pumpkin patches and pick your own pumpkins. In this article you can find the pumpkin patches near Glasgow. You can also keep it simple and buy one from your local supermarket - they’re usually only a couple of pounds so likely won’t break the bank.

If you’re new to carving pumpkins, start by cutting a round or zigzag lid for the pumpkin. Then scrape out the fruits and seeds from the inside of the pumpkin. You can do this with a spoon. Some kids might find the texture a little yucky but they’re usually fab at getting involved! Next up draw your preferred design on the pumpkin before cutting it out (believe us, it makes it SO MUCH easier).

If your kids are a little too young to get creative with a knife in hand, simply get them to scrape out the pumpkin and draw their desired design on the pumpkin and you can carve it for them.

Finish off by adding a tea light or two and put it outside your front door (may that be to your block of flats or to your house). Your kids will be super proud every time you walk past!

Learn to love your bikes

School might be off, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be learning!

Getting kids involved in bike maintenance from a young age can make wonders for both you and your kiddos. When your kids understand how a bike works, they are less likely to batter it as much - meanwhile you get little helpers to keep the tyres pumped up to the right pressure and much more!

We have designed a family bike maintenance class that will teach you all the fun and fascinating things you need to know about keeping your bikes safe to ride. We are hosting two sessions during the October Holidays and these are excellent activities to learn and bond with your children. Please note you have to be quick if you would like a place. The first session is already booked, so book the last one before it’s too late!

Get creative with leaves

When you think about autumn one of the first things that come to mind for many are the beautiful golden coloured leaves. Make the most out of these wonderful leaves by going on a little scavenger hunt with your wee ones.

Once you’ve collected some nice looking leaves, it’s time to head home and get creative! There’s so many ways you can use the picked leaves. Using crayons you can copy the outline of the leaves onto a piece of paper and get creative from there. You can also press the leaves by placing them in between a couple of heavy books. Once fully dried these can be used to make beautiful cards and other decorations. Only your imagination sets the limits!

Visit a museum

Visiting one of our many local museums is a perfect rainy day activity! Even better - the new Govan to Partick bridge has just made it easier to cycle to two of our favourites: the Riverside Museum and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum!

Both museums are free to enter and during the autumn the Riverside Museum (which also houses Glasgow’s transport and tech collections - favourites among kiddos!) is all about dinosaurs and you can head out on a dino egg trail! Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum also has several family friendly events happening and the Scotland Wildlife section is always a big hit with both young and old!

We hope you have a wonderful October Holidays with your wee ones. If you have any questions about how to get cycling confidently as a family or any of our other activities, do not hesitate to reach out by emailing Katherine our Families Programme Coordinator on families@womenonwheels.org.uk.

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Cycling with a baby: Arran and Islay Cycling Adventure