21 June marks the longest day of the year

21 June marks the longest day of the year, otherwise known as the summer solstice and, according to the astronomical definition, the first official day of summer. This important day in the solar calendar has been celebrated for centuries and offers families a wonderful opportunity to spend more time together outdoors and make the most of the longer daylight hours.

On the longest day of the year, the UK will enjoy around 16 hours and 38 minutes of daylight, with the sun rising at approximately 4:44am and setting at around 9:22pm. This happens because the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, giving us longer, brighter summer days.

Why not celebrate the longest day of the year by starting a new family tradition? Here are some fun ideas for marking this year's summer solstice with your child:

1. Enjoy the outdoors
Go on a summer solstice nature walk. What better way to celebrate the longest day of the year than by exploring the great outdoors? If the weather is good, pack a picnic and enjoy spending time together in nature.

2. Create sun-inspired arts and crafts
Celebrate the day by getting creative with some child-friendly art activities. Children can draw or paint pictures of the sun, make paper sunflowers, create a summer solstice crown, design cards, or decorate pavements and driveways with brightly coloured chalk art.

3. Bake together
Bake a cake or cupcakes in the shape of the sun and experiment with bright yellow and orange icing. You could also organise a summer-themed family dinner and decorate the table to reflect the season.

4. Read
Read an interesting storybook about the summer solstice with your child. Some popular titles include The Sun Seed by Jan Schubert, The Midsummer Mouse: Midsummer Tales of Tiptoes Lightly the Summer Queen by Reg Down, and The Longest Day: Celebrating the Summer Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer.

5. Enjoy seasonal foods
Mark the longest day of the year by enjoying seasonal fruits and vegetables together. It's also a great opportunity to discuss where food comes from and why certain produce is more readily available during the summer months.

Celebrating the summer solstice through fun family activities can create positive memories, encourage curiosity about the natural world, and help children stay engaged in learning throughout the summer. Small moments of exploration, creativity and conversation can all contribute to keeping young minds active during the holiday season.