Days out

Charity shop challenge

Give the kids £5 to £10 each and let them loose in the charity shop to choose their own games and activities. The hunt fills the morning, and then they've got something new to play with when you get home.

Ages4+

Time3 hr

CostUnder £10

MessLow mess

WhereIn or out

Plan the day Get the printable

Photo: Daniele Franchi on Unsplash

What to sort

£5 to £10 per childOr one pot between them if you want them to work as a team
A charity shop or two nearbyBigger ones usually have a whole shelf of games and puzzles
A bag for the treasures
Optional, a bag of old toys to donateOne in, one out keeps the toy box under control

Give second-hand toys a wipe or wash before little ones play with them.

How we'd do it

Set the budget before you leave and hand it over. Let them hold the money. It makes it feel real.
Decide the rules together. Everyone gets their own budget, or you all share one pot and have to agree on what to buy. Sharing is brilliant for teamwork and a good test of negotiating skills.
Give them a mission. Something to play together, something for a rainy afternoon, or something none of you have ever tried before.
Browse properly. Have a look at everything before anyone spends. Talk about what's good value and whether that jigsaw really has all its pieces.
Let them pay at the till themselves and count the change.
Head home, give everything a quick wipe, and spend the rest of the weekend playing what they chose.

Real talk

The going and choosing is half the fun, so don't rush it. On a wet Saturday, that's the morning taken care of.
Sharing one pot between siblings is where the magic happens. Watching them negotiate over a board game versus a craft kit is better than telly.
Puzzles and games can have missing pieces. Ask the shop staff if they've checked, and laugh it off if they haven't. Making up new rules is part of the fun.
Drop off a bag of outgrown toys on the way in. The kids get to see where their old stuff goes, and you get the space back.

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