The best tips and tricks to have a fun - yet affordable - summer break with the family.

The six-week summer holidays have officially begun and, for many parents, finding exciting but affordable activities for children can be tough. For most families in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the break is already under way. In Scotland, children have enjoyed some time off already, but will return to school earlier than those elsewhere in the UK. Here are five tips to help children get the most out of the next few weeks of summer. A family's first instinct when summer is approaching may be to look at booking a trip abroad, but rising costs and travel expenses mean a holiday isn't feasible for everyone. Mags Rivett, director at Family Holiday Charity, which supports families with UK trips, says there are many benefits to arranging time away with children that don't require expensive travel. She says the social aspect of a holiday can help children develop their communication skills. "Lots of kids have never really had the opportunity to meet people outside of their own community," Rivett says. "But if you go somewhere that's got social facilities, it's a really important opportunity." She says getting recommendations from friends and family is a good place to start.