How hard it is to entertain the kids?
Are you scratching your head and wondering what to do these school holidays. Fret not, we’ve done OUR homework and compiled a list of school holidays ideas for YOU. This list will take the hard work out of thinking to help make your life easier. Good Luck!
It may be “positive thinking” but I believe this post has something for you.
- Read books together or better still purchase the Calm phone app and play a kids story in the afternoon when everyone is feeling pooped. This could be a great way to transition into afternoon nap time. Make the kids a hot chocolate and for you try our delicious red velvet latte
- Play board games. My kids loved scrabble but wordle is better because can be interactive with team work an option. Go Team!
- Online Art Lessons such as learning to draw patterns Ok this is online and you want less screen time for your kids so perhaps buy some colourful window chalk from Office works and allow the kids to create on a surface which is easily cleaned. Get them to think back to the Calm story and to draw their favourite character or scene. If they are not feeling overly enthusiastic or energetic download a mindful colouring page and let them use their school pencils to show you what they can do. For some this will be a useful check to see what’s in their school pencil case?
- Make a magic potion by mixing items from the pantry. To make witches potions place a teaspoon of baking soda in a special bottle and a few drops of food colouring. You could add a little water and washing up liquid as well. When you’re ready to make your potion fizz add drops a vinegar and get the kids to recite something from Harry Potter defence against the dark arts. Ask them to make up their own chant or spell that cures boredom… lol
- Try a science experiment. Time to grow crystals. Find a washed-out glass jam-jar stir 1/2 cup of magnesium sulphate (Epsom salt) with 1/2 cup of very hot tap water for at least one minute. Let the solution cool and watch the crystals grown. Add a couple drops of food colouring if you want your crystals to be coloured. Put the jar in the refrigerator. Check on them daily to watch them to grow! Take a bath with the leftovers.
- Put together a puzzle…. or my favourite which is a scavenger hunt to find a select list of items that have been lost during the school term. Prizes may be required as incentives. These can range from taking the kids to the skate park to a movie ticket. Everyone loves a day trip into the city. Have a mini adventure and catch a tram or train into the city and visit the aquarium or my favourite the science museum Fun for everyone!!
- Dance or Exercise? Kilsyth Basketball here in SE suburbs of Melbourne run popular development programs and holiday camps which gets sold out quickly. Think ahead for next school holiday break. Hip Hop is the easiest of the dance moves to learn. The simplest interpretation of this dance style is “Aerobics with Attitude” for kids. Give them a hour to watch the YouTube and practise their moves. Suggest they can record themselves for posterity (21st birthday) or put on a pre-dinner performance for dad. Grandparents love this too. It’s so great to watch our kids learn and bonus is they can be YOUR entertainment. I never met a child who doesn’t enjoy some good attention and kids love to perform. You may even want to join in.
- Build some DUPLO or LEGO….Think Lego Masters! If you don’t own these very expensive blocks try a cheaper version. Make a building with cheap straws or challenge them to a design something tall with whatever they can find that withstands to the test of time. You will be ahead of the learning curve with this STEAM activity. Learn more about STEAM activities here
- Have an indoor picnic. Then you don’t have NO DISHES to wash up. Make sure that they make their own food. This is a good time to train YOUR KIDS to make healthy choices and learn how to make popcorn, sandwiches, wraps and pizza. Best pizza bases are pita bread and so quick and easy to use. Get some ideas for kids pizza toppings
- Now if the kids have been really good or they are wanting to connect with you in the kitchen then let them make cupcakes and use the food colours in the vanilla icing!
Watch out for our winter warmers and cooking with kids
Happy Days