Wondering how to keep the kids busy at home during half term? Or maybe you were planning a holiday and have had to cancel?

Why not host your own staycation? You can get the kids involved in all kinds of fun activities without having to leave your home and garden.

Here are our favourite events and activities happening from May 23 to 31 plus some lovely walks right on your doorstep too. Remember to take care and stay safe over the school holidays.

Sandwell Libraries Staycation

There's fun to be had every day of half term - thanks to Sandwell Libraries Staycation activities.

You can listen to online storytimes, watch Punch and Judy shows and take part in craft activities. There's even a festival on Tuesday May 26 with lots of high energy games and a DJ.

Find out more here

Birmingham Museum's Creativity Packs

You can download creativity packs from Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Activities include black and white line drawings, inspired by the outside of Blakesley Hall and DIY tile painting to reflect the work of tile artist William de Morgan. Find out more here

Disney Virtual Quiz

One for Disney fans! Mockingbird in Birmingham is setting up an interactive Disney quiz where you'll see the team asking questions live and then get to input your answers into an app on your device.

The faster you answer the more points you will get. It's taking place on the Facebook page on May 24 from 3-5pm. Find out more here

Mockingbird
Mockingbird

Paint Hope the Blue Whale

This is the first in a series of Art Slippers online events being run by the Natural History Museum.

The idea is you grab a drink and join the team on Wednesday, May 27, from 6 to 8pm for a chance to learn step-by-step how to paint Hope the blue whale.

Hope's 25-metre skeleton is suspended in the famous Hintze Hall of the museum so you'd normally have to travel to London to see it. Now you have the chance to see it and learn how to draw it whilst being given lots of interesting facts to keep you entertained throughout.

The event will be live streamed here on the Natural History Museum Facebook page, as well as on the website and YouTube channel. Find out more here

All you need to follow along at home is some paper and something to colour, draw or paint with.

Natural History Museum

Wild Food and Foraging Live Workshop

This free webinar workshop is all about how to search for edible foods in our hedgerows being run by the Woodland Classroom.

There will also be recipe ideas, a Q&A session and details on wild medicines too. You need to book a free place here then simply log in at 7pm on May 27.

Go out walking

The government advice is for us to continue to socially distance from others but we are allowed to go walking.

And there are some amazing beauty spots right on our doorstep. Check out our 10 favourite walks around the Midlands

Our guide includes magnificent lakes and wetlands, forests and parklands, bogs and wildlife havens. There are also pushchair friendly parks and wide open vistas worth packing a picnic for and going out to enjoy.

Check the latest Public Health guidelines here before setting out here

Brummie Mummies Staying In Family Fun

Looking for ideas on things to do at home with your kids throughout lockdown? Follow our Brummie Mummies Facebook page to be kept up to date - and sign up to our free Brummie Mummies email newsletter to have fresh ideas delivered to your inbox every week.

We've also launched a brand new Lemon-Aid newsletter where you can get daily tips on how to survive lockdown with your family. And we've brought back the Chipper Club to bring you weekly projects your kids can enjoy without leaving the house.

Make a bird feeder

This is one of 11 stay at home activities being suggested by Parkdean Resorts. Click here to find out how to make one then encourage your kids to keep a diary of all the birds they spot coming into the garden.

The guide also includes ideas like camping in the living room, den building, pebble art and how to earn a Blue Peter badge. Find out more here

Go on a staycation at home!

Were you planning a holiday over May half term and had to cancel? Why not do your best to host it at home instead?

Stacey Hutchins took her kids Jack, eight, and Alice, six on a pretend Disney holiday at their Oldbury home after their hols were cancelled.

She got the kids to pack their bags, put on their Mickey ears and sunglasses and enjoy deckchairs and cold drinks in the living room. And in the garden, she laid on everything from crazy golf to kart riding. Find out more here

Have fun in the garden

We've put together a fun-filled guide packed with things to do in the garden. Even if you have a tiny square of patio or small backyard, there's still lots you can do as a family to feel healthy and well.

Our guide to 15 things to do in the garden includes everything from den-building and fairy trail making to drawing a race track on the patio!

Join the Chipper Club

Chipper Club is full of ideas on things to do with the kids during lockdown.

Over the past few weeks, members have built their own castles, competed in online quizzes, buried time capsules and created treasure hunts. You can join for free here

It's also well worth signing up to our free Brummie Mummies Newsletter to have lots of ideas on how to stay together alone during lockdown emailed directly into your inbox each week. Check out our daily Lemon-Aid newsletter too.

Host your own half term party

Well, why not, eh? If you have kids, we can guarantee, they'll love this.

Send out invites, asking them to get into fancy dress on a certain day of half term, then make your own pass the parcel (with forfeits!), set up an obstacle course and play traditional games like Grandma's Footsteps, Duck Duck Goose and musical statues.

You could even set up a treasure trail or scavenger hunt too! Take a look at our guide to 12 party games to play at home.