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BakingA fun and affordable way to create fantastic memories – baking is something that kids just adore. Spending all that quality time together and making a mess is invaluable, after all. Not to mention that there is something delicious to eat afterwards too. And even if what you whip up together isn't a Mary Berry-worthy creation, it really doesn't matter - the real fun is in the mixing, stirring, and splashing.

Bathtub paintingSure thing it might sound like a recipe for a completely destroyed bathroom, but so long as you use a water-based paint, this activity absolutely delights children of all ages (with minimum mess). Stick them in an old t-shirt or oversized shirt and tie back long hair... then let them get to work. Afterwards, simply hose off the colour. Hey presto! As good as new.

Build a fortUsing cushions, pillows and blankets, pile into the sitting room or kitchen and build a fantastic fort together. Play around with different structures and shapes until you come up with your perfect creation. To make the afternoon complete, get dressed up as pirates, soldiers, or princes and princesses - and then put your self-made building to good use.

Make a movieLights, camera, action! This is particularly perfect for older kids. Firstly, write a script together - plotting out a scene or scenario, recruiting your child's favourite soft toys and dolls as extras and supporting roles. If you have more than one child involved, assign out director and producer roles. Do a dressrehearsal in costume, before using your smartphone to film. Watch back on your footage, editing as your little Steven Spielbergs see fit.

Make cardsWe all have plenty of relatives and friends who would absolutely love to receive a handmade card from your children. Decorate coloured card with feathers, beads, glitter, markers, tissue paper, and crayons - then write a message inside to let your loved-one know that the kids are thinking of them. Make matching envelopes and post it together (when the weather clears up!)

Obstacle courseA great way to get kids moving - and using their imaginations. Empty out the shed, or gather up the garden furniture – then ask them to set out a course that offers differ-ent challenges: jumping, crawling, hopping, and running. Time the kids as they race around. You can make the course more difficult or easier after the first few rounds too. Afterwards as you pack away, chat to them about their favourite parts of the course.

Camp outsideYou might be unwilling to actually sleep under the stars, but that doesn't mean you can't make full use of a tent. Pitch it together and make the inside cosy with a cush-ion, a rug, and perhaps a few toys. Why not take lunch outside to eat al fresco too? Otherwise, zip yourselves up inside and read stories together, or watch a movie on your iPad.

Pack a picnicBecause everything tastes better when you dine outside! Plan the meal and make the contents of your picnic together beforehand; get your kids involved in as much as possible from the outset - prepping and packing away the food into a basket or bag along with a rug or blanket. Bake a cake or buns in advance (or make chocolate Rice Krispies treats if you'd rather not use an oven) and bring them along in a lunchbox for an extra special treat.

A ‘drive-in’ movie nightOne of our favourite ideas! Turn cardboard boxes into ‘cars’ (your local supermarket should be able to help - personalise them with paint or markers in advance too) and project a movie from your phone or tablet onto a sheet outside. Make up bowls of popcorn and jugs of squash to complete your ultimate home-cinema experience.

Become an adventurerBecause every child loves an adventure. Dress up as an explorer and then set off for your local park (or even the back garden). There, use buckets or baskets to collect the likes of leaves, stones, and bark. When you're happy with the haul, return off home with your collection. Investigate it together – discussing colours, textures, and smells. Finally, write up a summary complete with pictures in a journal.

5 out-and-about activities

The Laya City Spectacular promises to be bigger and better than ever this year. It’s runin two cities in July, the first of which is Dublin. People flock to Merrion Square to seesome of the best street theatre performers around; exciting events, fantastic exhibitionsand absorbing interactive workshops.

This famous sanctuary has taken in some 5,200 donkeys since they opened and yourfour-legged friends would love to meet you. Sweet foals and affectionate mules liveon the rolling countryside of the sanctuary, which relies on donor-support to continuetheir good work. Adopt a donkey for €25 a year; buy cute donkey stuff, and bring a picnic.Admission and parking are free, but do make a donation.You can even bring your dog (if kept on a lead).

Now that the structure of school has gone, you’ll need to formulate your very own schedule to get things done(otherwise you’re all in danger of succumbing to Judge Judy with the curtains drawn).

Get a map and mark out event locations; it makes journeys seem shorter and keeps the kids occupied as they look for road signs.Welcome to your incredible shared moments of joy - in association with Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons.

Perfect for a rainy day, the Zoological Museum is highly interactive so children can handle many of the exhibits. It contains about 25,000 animal specimens from all overthe world, from teeny protozoa to big mammals. Kids can hold weird teeth; get a photothrough the jaws of a Great White Shark, find out how scientists are using DNA to tryto re-create extinct creatures, and more. Tickets are only €2 for kids; €3 for adults andyou get a Family Pass for a guided tour combining the Zoological Museum and the Bookof Kells for €30.

Heaven! The Chocolate Garden of Ireland makes handmade luxury chocolates andice-cream. They hold workshops where you can make and decorate your own chocolatewith a customised mould; you get to keep the mould to use at home. Kids of all ages canenjoy the trim trail, slides, sandpit and Wendy house in the play area while you have coffeeand gobble down your workshop creations. Pre-book your workshops for€12.50 per person.

The Chocolate Garden of Ireland, Co Carlow: Year Round

The Zoological Museum, Trinity College: Year Round

The Donkey Sanctuary, Mallow, Co. Cork: Year Round

Captain Hook arrives on the peninsula to take over the famous lighthouse. Children areencouraged to come dressed as pirates – with prizes for the best costume also on offer.Otherwise, there is music and games on the lawn. Adults €9, children go free.

Pirate Day, Hook Lighthouse, Co Wexford: July 2

Laya Healthcare City Spectacular, Dublin: July 7- 9

July 6

Buttons Banana Flower CupcakesRecipe by Yvonne & Sophie O’ Sullivan

Baking Corner

Instructions

Ingredients

• 100g margarine, softened at room temperature

• 95g butter, softened at room temperature

• 200g icing sugar• 1 tbsp vanilla extract

•

140g soft light brown sugar•

2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten

Serves: 18-20

• 1 tbsp milk

•• 2 ripe bananas, well mashed•

190g self-raising flour•

20g Cadbury cocoa

30mls semi skimmed milk

For the cake:

• Banana chips• 4 x 30g packs of Cadburys Dairy Milk Buttons

To decorate:

For the icing:

2. Fold the mashed bananas into the mixture. Then sieve the flour and cocoa over the top and fold in again with a metal spoon. When no traces of the flour or cocoa are visible, spoon intothe cases equally and bake for 20 - 25 minutes in the centre of the oven until they’re well risen, a little cracked at the surface. Cool on a wire rack, removed from the tin.

3. To make the icing, beat the butter with a wooden spoon or electric mixer for about 5 minutes until light and creamy, then add the icing sugar 1 tbsp at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla extract and milk, beat well for another 5 minutes to ensure the icing is really fluffy, then spoon onto the cupcakes once cooled. Use a knife to spread an even layer over the top of each cake.

4. Press a banana chip into the centre of each cupcake then push 12 chocolate buttons into the buttercream in a circle pattern, to look like petals. These cupcakes keep in an airtight tin, at room temperature for 4 days.

Preheat the oven to gas 4/180C/fan 160C. Cream together the butter and sugar with a wooden spoon or with a mixer for about 4 - 6 minutes. Add the eggs to the creamed mixture, beating well. Add the milk, beat again.

1.

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J D A U J X Y Q F N W V B D V

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