Sneak some culture into the kids' holiday diet

Food, art, opera and, of course, dinosaurs! Perfect ideas for a nourishing summer of fun

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Six weeks; 1,008 hours. Think about what you could achieve with 1,008 uninterrupted hours.

Actually, don’t — because the six weeks I'm talking about are the ones where you're expected to entertain school-age children, while keeping the rest of your life afloat. There's something quietly satisfying about smuggling a bit of culture into those long summer days, especially as it should stop you getting bored. Consider this list, then, the cultural equivalent of hiding extra carrots in a Bolognese.

Yoshitomo Nara

Hayward Gallery

Yoshitomo Nara’s work rightly has a magical hold over children, teens and adults alike. Until August 31, the Hayward Gallery is hosting the largest-ever European retrospective of the Japanese artist, with more than 150 works of art to enjoy. Themes include rebellion, home, nature, music and dreams. It's striking, soulful and a great conversation starter for budding young artists. southbankcentre.co.uk

Thunder, Crackle and Magic

Tate Modern