How To Have A Great Summer With My Essentials Guide – 2026

With the school holidays just days away, I have been looking at How To Have A Great Summer With My Essentials Guide – 2026. Full of great ideas to keep everyone happy and far from bored whether you are at home or away.

Strikesphere

Something a little different to just kicking a ball around. Strikesphere have some fun alternatives –

• Soccer Dash: great for competitive reaction and dribbling skills. An action-packed football trainer with adaptive AI, smart sensors and interactive discs, that challenges kids to dribble, control and react. Indoors or out, it boosts skills, fitness and fun with six game modes . Plus secret ones to unlock too. RRP £49.99 | Age 6 -14| Amazon, Smyths Toys,Hamleys, strikesphere
• Counter Ball: Tracks kick ups. Lights, sounds, and non-stop action! This football counts every kick-up up to 100, giving players real-time feedback, motivational lights, and sound effects. Miss a touch? It beeps and resets – keeping kids focused and improving ball control. RRP £21.99 | Age 6+| Amazon Smyths, Hamleys

Hyper Dash

A fast reaction electronic race game which can be played indoor or outside. Players compete on their feet to hit 5 targets called out by colour by the electronic tagger. It is an addictive challenge of speed, skill and agility. Easy to pick up but hard to put down as players want to conquer the next level.

6yrs+, £24.99, Smyths, Argos, Very and Amazon

Casdon Toys

Imaginative play is always something kids love and combine that with ice cream and you have the perfect Summer fun. Casdon Toys are well known for their playsets.

Designed especially for young children, the playful parlour includes everything needed to run a busy ice-cream counter. Kids can choose from familiar Walls classics, stack scoops, add toppings. Serve customers and handle play money, naturally encouraging creativity, storytelling and social interaction. The built-in freezer, scoop stand and cash drawer add to the realistic play experience, making every pretend transaction feel exciting and new.

Sylvanian Family

Much loved are Sylvanian Families which bring hours of fun. Now you can bring the sunshine home with the adorable Citrus Bird Juice Stand. Children can pop the fruit into the stand, watch it tumble through the juicer and serve up delicious pretend juices with 24 different topping combinations. Better still, the stand transforms into a vehicle for even more imaginative adventures.

Orchard Toys

Bring the fun of Bluey into your living room or garden with this energetic family game. Players dance, spin, wiggle and race to complete Dance Mode, making it the perfect screen-free activity for family gatherings, rainy afternoons or holiday entertainment.

Glimmers

We all love a bit of chill time and Glimmer’s Affirmation Colouring Book can give some chill time and positivity as well. A colourful, confidence boosting adventure with Glimmer the Glowing Unicorn in the Unicorn Affirmations Colouring Book (RRP £8.99)! 

• Packed with sparkle, colour and everyday joy, this creative colouring book introduces the idea of ‘glimmers’; those tiny moments that make your heart feel happy, calm, proud or excited 
• Glimmer invites children to notice these moments and let them shine, helping to boost confidence, imagination and emotional awareness, one colourful page at a time
• Filled with beautiful unicorn affirmation illustrations to colour in, uplifting affirmations and creative prompts, this book encourages positive self-talk, creativity and joyful emotional awareness. 

Puressentiel

Being prepared is the key through out the year, but more so in the Summer when we are out and about a lot more. Puressentiel have a lovely range of plant based products to help with summer ailments including –

• Respiratory Nasal Hygiene Hydrating Spray – This Respiratory Nasal Hygiene Hydrating Spray cleanses, hydrates and clears the nasal cavities for children from 10 years and adults to help you breathe easier. Sea water rich in marine trace elements and organic Calendula.
• Resp’OK® Sinus Express Roll-On – Soothe your congested sinuses in one easy step and free your breathing with the cool effect and targeted massage of the Sinus Express Roller ball.
• Migra Pure® Intense Cold Stick – This stick is applied in a single motion to headache areas to relieve pain and headaches. It leaves an intense, long-lasting cooling effect.
• Head Lice Treatment Lotion – This easy-to-apply lotion eliminates lice, larvae, and nits in just 15 minutes. Use the comb to help remove the parasites.
• Lice Repellent Spray – This repellent spray provides effective protection against lice without irritating the scalp. It can be used all year round from age 3.

Napiers

Whether you are staying home or going away, we will not escape the sunshine and the heat. Napiers have a range of products that will be perfect to pop in your bag to help out.

• For the Family Beach Bag: Napiers Aloe Vera & Seaweed Gel (£17.99) –  The ultimate natural alternative to sticky aftersun. This light, cooling gel blends hydrating aloe vera and nutrient-rich seaweed with witch hazel and wild thyme to soothe, cool, and comfort sun-baked skin after a long day outdoors. It’s gentle enough for the whole family.
• For Outdoor Adventures & Evenings: Napiers Bugbuster Outdoor Body Spray (£9.99) – Perfect for family barbecues, camping, or park trips. This plastic-free, natural body spray uses a gentle botanical formula of pure essential oils to create an invisible shield against midges and mosquitoes without relying on harsh chemicals like DEET.
• 3. For Instant Heat Relief: Napiers Chamomile & Peppermint Cooler Skin Cream (£9.99 – on sale from £19.99) –  Formulated with pure peppermint oil, this cream gives an instant, icy cooling sensation on the skin. It’s an absolute lifesaver for cooling down flushed complexions, hot feet, or general heat irritability on sticky summer days.

Canal Toys

A perfect companion for the summer holidays and more is the latest camera from Canal Toys.

The Photo Creator Waterproof Camera is a kid‑friendly travel camera designed to inspire curiosity and creativity on family trips near and far. Built for little hands and big imaginations, this compact waterproof camera brings family holidays to life with vibrant photos and playful features — making it the ideal accessory for summer adventures, seaside escapes, and every poolside moment in between. 

The key features are –

• Underwater Fun: Waterproof up to 3 metres — perfect for beaches, pools, water parks and lake days.
• Kid‑Sized Design: Lightweight and easy to hold — ideal for young photographers aged 8 and up.
• Creative Tools: Packed with 20+ fun filters and frames to personalise photos on the go.
• Ready to Shoot: Includes a 16 GB SD card so families can start capturing memories straight away.
• Compact & Travel‑Ready: Small enough to fit in carry‑on bags or day packs, making it a go‑anywhere essential for family trips.

Mini Speaker

This summer, music lovers and creators alike have a new essential accessory to add to their everyday adventures. The latest portable mini speaker from Canal Toys combines wireless sound, customisable style, and ultra-portable design into one compact gadget built for beach days, park hangouts, festivals, road trips, and spontaneous summer moments.

Designed for a generation that wants their tech to feel personal, this pocket-sized speaker delivers impressive wireless audio while allowing users to customise the look to match their mood and personality. Lightweight and easy to carry, it slips effortlessly into bags, backpacks, or even pockets, making it the perfect soundtrack companion wherever summer leads.