We will be spending some of our Summer in Tuscany and while there will spend a lot of time in the garden around the pool.



I want to keep my 6 year old occupied and want to take with us a bunch of garden games and stuff for the pool.


Firstly any ideas on games, toys etc? And where is a good place that will have a lot of these things 'under one roof'? (I'm initially thinking COOP Bau and Hobby)


Thanks all for the suggestions!

Badminton!

The kiddies loved the game from very early ages - as did I and my siblings back in the day. Played for hours on end.

B/H even has a children's set:
https://www.bauundhobby.ch/hobby-spo...nder/p/6637321

A set doesn't take much room in your luggage and the net can be set up in minutes. Or skip the net and just free play.

Bocce Ball - there are sets made for children, take a peek on Amazon.

Bean Bag toss games - I think that portable sets with foldable boards are made, which would be easier to pack.

Also, anything with a beach ball. Or several balls of varying sizes. The possibilities are endless, in the pool and on land. Volleyball, football, water polo - or better yet let your child make up games.

Does your child like to draw? At that age those gazillion color pencil boxes, with sketch books, were popular. Added bonus: fun inside in case of inclement weather. Although weather in Tuscany should not be an issue.

How about building a model sailboat? A good parent-child activity. Build two, and then hold pool races. (Remote controlled if you want to get really fancy.)

And an all time holiday favorite: Children's archery sets.

Happy holidays.

This is the stuff we had some success with:

Lawn/beach bowls, the colourful water filled ones - we still have ours from when I was a kid! Combine with plastic skittles.

Badminton - pick up a cheapy set with shorter racquets. Or the one with a velcro ball and bats.

Snorkel, mask, squishy pool balls and stuff to dive for.

Croquet - but not sure a lawn in Tuscany will work for that!

On the drawing point - pavement chalk is also good.

And for badminton you could even get a "free" set if you shop in Coop stores - https://www.coop.ch/en/promotions/cu...n-fun/c/m_9529

One word, Aerobie! Young kids love these frisbees as it's so satisfying for them to throw something so far.

Boule also good fun and plenty of inflatables for the pool!

This is brilliant!! Thanks everyone, some great ideas.

I also love the COOP promotion. We spend a lot at COOP, so should be able to collect enough stickers in no time!

I'm also thinking of those 'super soaker' water guns

Swing ball - the post with the tennis ball on a string that you can play alone or with others?
https://www.galaxus.ch/de/s5/product...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
As kids we could also lose hours on the waterslide mat
https://www.jako-o.com/de_CH/wasserr...fbca6b51f899d5

I don't know what cost looks like, but a garden edition of ten pin bowls and/or checkers/chess could be fun too (depending on skills of your kiddo)

Swing ball and slip-n-slide.......now that brings back memories of my childhood!

Thanks for the great suggestions!

There's a toy from my childhood which I think should be available locally.

https://childhood101.com/outdoor-act...y-with-sticks/

Get him/her a couple siblings

Lol, Urs.

I second frizbee! And a large Twister.

Ikea has stuff you can bring too - big velcro darts, etc.

A big blow up dolphin you plop on water. Days of joy.

I have a limited budget and limited patience!

Twister? What is that?

YAY!! Twister!

This is lovely! Yes. Nice to have a walk and a scratch around to see what can be done, with the natural things that are there. Climb a tree or a pile of rubble, watch the ants, etc., make mud-pies, it there's earth and water, roll around in the mud.


Also, if your child feels connected to friends or family members who won't be on the holiday with you, it can be quite fun to write (or draw) postcards, and enjoy the whole thing of drawing up a list, shopping for the cards, trying to choose ones appropriate for the recipient or that really show the real place you're in, counting that you've bought enough, copying out the addresses from a list, and remembering to leave space for the stamps, going to the post office, kissing the cards goodbye as you pop them in the postbox, perhaps with a photo of doing so. This can be done starting with just 3 cards, to see if they actually do get sent and, if it feels like a boring chore, leave it be, or if it's fun, repeat.

You'll save tons on toys and they'll keep each other busy.
To boot, you get to keep your nerves, provided you shoe them out the door in the morning to not see them again until supper.

That makes it a colossal triple-win.

And to top it off you'll even save on their lunch!

I don't think there's enough time for that till they leave for h̡̝͜o̙̠͚l̻͎̫i̢̙͙d͎͚̘a̟̙y͖̫s̙͚

OK, did know that, but didn't equate it to garden, but also great idea.

I'm always a bit bemused at the idea of having more kids so that they can entertain themselves!