Four budget-friendly ways to keep kids hooked on space after the solar eclipse

IF your kids were captivated by the solar eclipse, hold on to that sense of wonder. From making up bedtime stories set in space to buying out-of-this-world gifts, the sky’s the limit. Use our top tips to help your kids’ imaginations thrive with space-themed activities Credit: Getty Here are a few ideas to help you fire their imagination . . . MINI MISSION: Send the kids off to Planet Sleep with a daring tale of intergalactic adventure. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! For a no-cost mission to Mars, make up a space story with your own mini astronaut as the lead character. Continue the fun by getting them to act it out with the Chad Valley wooden astronaut set, which has everything from a walkie-talkie to a telescope. The set is currently half-price at Argos — down from £15 to £7.50. READ MORE MONEY SAVING TIPS BARGAIN GIFTS: Turn your child’s bedroom into an space light show with the Night Sky Moonlight Projector, down from £43 to £30.10 at John Lewis. Little ones will love making the Hama Beads Space Mobile, £11.25 from Hobbycraft, while younger kids will be inspired by books such as Usborne’s lift-the-flap Look Inside Space by Rob Lloyd Jones. It’s usually £9.99 new, but you can pick up a second-hand copy at World Of Books for £3.50. BLAST OFF: Help youngsters make their own spaceship using cardboard boxes, tubes, tape and items like bottle caps — great for pretend control panels. Most read in Money Also introduce problems for youngsters to solve from the safety of their rocket ship, from fast-approaching asteroids to alien takeovers. Get a headstart with the colour-in cardboard rocket from Hobbycraft, down from £25 to £12.50. LOOK UP: Keep fuelling their interest in space with frequent stargazing adventures. Choose a clear, dark night away from city lights. Dress warmly and bring blankets, a red-filtered torch and some binoculars. Make sense of what you’re looking at by printing off a kids’ star map for free online, or downloading a child-friendly stargazing app like Stellarium. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability Deal of the day Save on these football curtains from Argos Credit: supplied IF they eat and sleep the beautiful game, these football curtains from Argos will get a cheer – they’re down from £45 to £33.75. SAVE: £11.25 Cheap treat Get this Sainsbury’s Summer Edition lemon cheesecake for half-price Credit: supplied SWIPE a Nectar card to bag a Sainsbury’s Summer Edition lemon cheesecake for half-price, at just £2.40. SAVE: £2.40 What’s new? Find out how to get 25 per cent off English Heritage annual membership this month Credit: English Heritage GET 25 per cent off English Heritage annual membership this month with code EHSUM26. It means an adult can join for £63 instead of £84, and take up to six children to EH sites nationwide for free. Top swap Grab these leather bow school shoes from M&S for £22.40 Credit: supplied Or get this pair from Lidl for less Credit: supplied KIDS can step out for the new term in the leather bow school shoes, above, from £22.40 at M&S, or, if they like that look, head to Lidl for its bow-design leather-upper shoes, below, for £6.99. SAVE: £15.41 Little helper Head to Iceland to make big savings on several McCain products, including Deep Ridge Crinkle Chips Credit: supplied FILL the freezer for less with the half-price offers at Iceland. You can make big savings on several McCain products, including Deep Ridge Crinkle Chips, 750g, down from £3.75 to £1.87. Shop & save Save £9 on this Silentnight Luxe Hotel 10.5-tog double duvet Credit: supplied GET ready for cooler nights with the Silentnight Luxe Hotel 10.5-tog double duvet from direct.asda.com – down from £25 to £16. SAVE: £9 Hot right now HERE’S a deal to raise a glass to – get 25 per cent off six or more bottles of wine with a Tesco Clubcard before tomorrow. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 Join thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket. The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!