There have been a lot of bank holidays already and with another coming up, and half-term on the way, you might have run out of activities to do with the kids.
While scrolling on Instagram, I came across a post from discount store The Works that said it was stocking items to entertain children that cost less than a tenner. I am a mum who is a big fan of what I call, 'pointless busy work', these are small tasks and activities that keep my little ones occupied for at least 20 minutes.
So I am always on the look out for some cheap options for these pointless busy work tasks and felt I was long overdue a trip to The Works to see if it could hold up its end of the deal.
READ MORE: Martin Lewis issues two month pension warning as he urges people to dial number
The Works was launched in the early 1980s by Mike and Jenny Crossley who sold books at reduced prices, something they continue to do 40 years later. It now has more than 500 outlets across the UK and a website that was launched back in 2012.
I popped into The Croft Retail Park, in Bromborough, Wirral, on a bank holiday Monday to see what they had on offer and if they could, in fact, keep my kids entertained for under £10. I have to admit, I do love a browse in The Works, especially the discount books, and this store was clean and bright with all the prices really well labelled which is great for parents on a budget with children on the verge of a tantrum.
They seem to currently be having great success selling books that have been big on TikTok (or BookTok), and at the moment they appear to be almost exclusively selling every book Colleen Hoover has written. But this trip wasn't about me, this was about the kids.
Immediately there are bargain displays. Shelves filled with toys and sets for children that my toddler was so excited about.
They make good use of the space, filling every available counter. There were deals for garden toys, puzzles and crafts. If you had a ten pound note spare, you really are spoilt for choice and you don't need to spend all of it to find something for your little one to enjoy.
There were various outdoor toys, from bubble machines (£5), bubble wands (£1), bubble shooters and bubble cameras (£1.50), bubble fans (£1) water guns (£7), buckets and spades (£4). But the wind up pineapple fans for £2 caught the eye of my little one straight away.
With the British weather about as reliable as, well, the British weather, I looked over some of the other indoor activities for sale. There was something for every age.
From arts and crafts supplies (pack of colouring pencils £1, giant bag of crafts £5, pack of gel pens £4, paints £4) and beautiful colouring books (from £4) to puzzle books for all ages (from £3) and Orchard Toys mini games for £5, they definitely deliver on their promise of finding something to occupy your children for less than £10.
The Orchard Toys is a great find, something we love at home as a way to promote sharing, turn taking and thinking strategically - even if it does mean the odd meltdown about losing. One thing we opted for was a sticker book (from £2.50). These are great pointless busy tasks that you can take on the move (restaurants, car trips etc). But, yes, you do end up finding them stuck all over the back of the door.
I also loved that there was a selection of crafts for older kids. Priced at £8 there was a selection that allows you to crochet a bee, make friendship necklaces, candles and bath bombs.
We bought a bubble camera, a pineapple fan and a sticker book which came to £6.
I was really impressed with the huge variety of activities and the prices were really affordable, especially the sale items. Perhaps some of them were single use which you might want to consider. But I thought it was a purse-friendly treasure trove of great crafts and games for every age (even adults!).
You can visit The Works website here.
READ NEXT:
Loose Women's Coleen Nolan takes aim at Coronation as she shares Linda's A&E ordeal
ITV Coronation Street Ryan Prescott's life, 'shamed' admission and Merseyside roots
Rare 50p coin sells for £410 after online bidding war
Bowel cancer warning signs which can show up two years before diagnosis
