5 ideas to keep the kids entertained this holiday
The kids are already buzzing! School finished and they are now cartwheeling around the backyard, exploring and looking for exciting things to do.
Keeping your children entertained during the school holidays can be quite challenging. It’s easy to run out of activity ideas to keep them busy, interested and (most importantly) having fun.
Here are our top 5 handy tips on keeping your kids entertained these school holidays. The best thing is that each activity creates a really amazing opportunity for you to try something new and special with your children.
1. Start a veggie patch.
Starting a veggie patch in the garden can be quite a simple activity to undertake, especially if you already have an existing garden bed. If you are not yet setup, there are a number of DIY raised garden beds that you can purchase at your local hardware store that are easy to put together. Let your little ones help you plant seeds, watch them grow and then pick the produce. They will be even more excited to eat their veggies when it comes to dinner knowing that they grew them themselves.
Veggies that are ready for planting in autumn are:
- Broccoli;
- Spinach;
- Carrots;
- Peas; and
- Lettuce.
Don’t forget to ensure the vegetables you plant have enough sunlight and shade!
2. Get crafty
Kids love nothing more than to get their creative juices flowing by participating in craft activities. These craft ideas are simple, easy to do, cost effective and will keep your children busy for hours!
- Playdough is an absolute crowd pleaser and is very easy to make, all you need is flour, warm water, salt, vegetable oil, cream of tartar and food colouring. Be sure to make a few batches with a variety of colours so the shapes you create are endless and exciting. The best thing about playdough is that you can easily store it in the fridge for a couple of days in cling wrap.
- Paper Mache is an old time favourite. All you need for this fun craft are old boxes, balloons, newspaper and glue. To make the glue, mix one part flour with one part water and be sure to stir in well with a spoon to remove the lumps.
3. Cooking
There are many simple and easy recipes you can make with your children and, best of all, they will absolutely love getting their hands messy in the kitchen. You can either use this as a learning activity to teach them how to cook and about different ingredients, or it can just be a great and fun bonding session for the both of you. Here are some child friendly recipe ideas:
4. Nature walks
Nature walks are a great way to get the kids outside of the house during the school holidays. Head to your local reserve or state forest and have the children point out the different fauna and flora they spot along the way. Another great option is to head to the local beach and walk along the beautiful coastline - the kids can even pick up some unique shells and rocks to take home!
5. Board and card games
Board and card games often do not get the appropriate credit they deserve. They are a great way to get the entire family together and having a fantastic time. Board and card games are fairly inexpensive and you may be surprised with what you just might have lying around the house. Here are some great games suited to children:
- Trouble;
- Monopoly (although beware that you might be here for a while);
- Twister;
- Uno; and
- Go Fish,
There are so many great ideas out there to keep your kids entertained. Most importantly, take plenty of time out to do the things you love doing together to make every holiday a truly special one.
If you try out any of our school holiday ideas, make sure you share photos of you doing them on our Facebook page.