Summer holidays can be daunting time to keep the kids amused. Fine when their friends are around and the sun is shining but even then they can get bored. Heres some ideas the kids entertained, so when you hear "I'm Bored" don't despair....

We have the Mykidstime A-Z guide to surviving the School Summer Holidays!!

ART - Check out the Summer events and activities at the Hunt Museum. They are running Art workshops on the first Sunday of the Month or have an Arts and Craft box ready with some new ideas for the kids to create.

BEACH - It's Summertime, so trips to the beach are essential! We have a great choice between Clare, Cork or Kerry for our nearest beaches, if you can’t decide which beach to go to, check, put the names in a hat and have a lucky dip! Beach in the back garden - get some play sand and make a water side with plastic water and washing up liquid - they will have great fun.

CAMPS or CAMPING - We have the most comprehensive Summer Camp information in Limerick. The choice of camps is superb, with sports, computers, dancing music and even aviation there is something to suit every child's tastes. Camping is every kids dream so whether its the back garden or a camp site - beg or borrow a tent and spend a night under the stars - the kids will love you for it!

DINING OUTDOORS - Food always tastes nicer outdoors! Pack a picnic for days out or even in the garden. We have some delicious picnic recipes. Also you can't beat a BBQ on a summers evening. Keep an eye out in local supermarkets for special offers on BBQ essentials. Or how about getting them to make a real camp fire - collecting the sticks etc. (Pre cook the food before hand). Don't forget to toast the marshmallows!

EVENTS - Keep an eye on our events pages for what’s happening around Limerick this Summer. There is plenty of fun days out with festivals running over the summer. For a trip further afield check out whats on in Clare, Cork and Galway, Dublin, Meath, Wexford, Sligo.

FRIENDS and FREE THINGS - Organise playdates so the kids can keep in touch with their school friends! What’s another one or two! Chances are they will entertain themselves and you can arrange for your kids to visit their friends house in return for a change of scenery! Plenty of Free things to do in Limerick as entertaining the kids can be expensive!

GAMES - Plan a games day. Arrange with family and friends and visit a local park or green and have a sports day! Five-a-Side Football, Rounders, Egg and Spoon Races, sack races, or whatever you prefer! Pick up some cheap prizes or trophies in a Euro Shop and have a "prizegiving" and picnic afterwards.

HOLIDAYS - If you're holidaying at home or abroad, enjoy! If you haven't booked anything yet, take a look at what France Outdoors has to offer. If you're doing a staycation this year, check out our Family Friendly Accommodation suggestions and don't forget to check out the other regions Mykidstime covers if you are visiting these areas, for things to do with the Kids.

IMAGINATION - Play pretend and use your imagination! Visit the Fota Island in Cork and pretend to be on safari, camp out the back garden and pretend you're in the desert or jungle, visit King John's castle and pretend you're royalty. Or try a large cardboard box - my mum has one in her house for whenever we visit - you never know what its going to turn into.

JUMPING, HOPPING, SKIPPING - You'll have the kids jumping with excitement if you show them some of the things we did as children. My kids just love when I draw and play hopscotch with them, a very cheap and easy way to keep them entertained, if you haven't done it yet, try it. Or you can get a long skipping rope and teach them how to skip with more than one person.... oh I remember the days!!

KITCHEN - Let the Kids in and get involved! We have loads of tasty family recipes, why not let the kids try a few (with supervision, of course!). It’s a great way to get children to try new foods if they have helped prepare it and also helping prepare a three course meal can entertain children for a whole afternoon!

LISTS & LIBRARIES - Search our activities listings and check out our Top 10 Things to do in Limerick and our Out and About trips in County Limerick. Get the kids to decide which places to visit this Summer and make a list! Hang it on the fridge to remember and aim to visit one a week.  Go visit the library - there is often entertainment on for the kids - get some good books out - great for chill out periods.

MEMORY COLLAGE/ SCRAPBOOK - Keep mementos from your trips this summer, take plenty of photos, collect shells and stones, pick flowers. Let the kids pick their favourites and make a big, bright collage for their bedroom walls or a scrapbook. This will keep the kids busy for hours throughout the summer and is great for winding down time after a day out or on a rainy day afternoon.

NATURE - Check out our Nature Walks in Limerick and Nature Activities for Kids, some great ideas! Play Biodiversity Bingo. Running until September - find 6 species selected every 2 weeks and send in the details. Prizes for every competition, get out and search for interesting species, learn to identify some new ones, and have fun!

OUTINGS - Take a look at our suggestions for Out and About Trips.

PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS - The perfect summer day! Visit one of the many parks in Limerick, let the kids tire themselves out in a Playground and then relax with a Picnic.

QUEST - Do the historial Quest at Adare Castle.

RAINY DAYS - Fingers crossed they will be few and far between, however, there is bound to be a few. We have Rainy Day activities for you to do, both out and about and at home.

SWIMMING - In the pool or in the sea, you have to swim as much as possible in the Summertime. Many local swimming pools extend and increase their family swim times during the holidays, check out local swimming pools for more information.

TRY SOMETHING NEW - be it a new sport - canoeing, rowing, pony trekking, fishing, badminton -go on give it a go - you never know it could become a new family activity.

USEFUL INFORMATION - You will find everything you need to keep the kids entertained here at Mykidstime, the only other information you need is an accurate weather forecast!

VISIT- Venture outside of your local area and visit the places you never think of! Be a tourist in Limerick, hop on an open top tour bus, check out the museums and galleries or visit Limerick's Historical Buildings and learn a bit about Limerick's History.  Visit one or more of the places on your doorstep that you have never been to before - you know the places you walk pass and say to yourself "I must bring the kids there some day!"

WATCH - the latest summer movies at the cinema!

eXhausted,Yawn,ZZZZZZ - Summer is a time to relax and recharge, with all these suggestions to entertain the kids, fingers crossed they will sleep a little better and a little longer giving mums and dads a bit more rest too....... Enjoy the rest of your Summer!