Cheap and Cheerful School Holiday Fun!
Do you love or loathe school holidays? It can be a bit of both around here!
The secret is keeping the kids amused so they don’t start fighting! Here are some things my kids have had fun with over the years.
♥ Virtual painting
Don’t panic – this is no mess ‘painting’. Get a bucket of water and a large paint brush. Take kids outside. Let the kids go nuts and paint whatever they want! You can sit back with a book. Older kids can actually do painting for you (or other household jobs). However, you may have to fork out some cash for this one.
♥ Head to your local library
Gosh I love the library! As well as being able to borrow books, you can also borrow CDs, DVDs, games and toys. Some libraries will offer free or low cost activities in the holidays and some have great kids chill out areas where you can read, watch movies or play games on the computers.
♥ Let’s Cook
We do loads of cooking every school holidays. It’s educational, it’s learning a life-skill and you get yummy treats afterwards! You can do a theme day or play restaurants. Cook dad a special lunch and meet him at the park. Here are some easy recipes for the kids to try.
♥ Parcel for Grandma
Get the kids to write a letter for relatives. Add a drawing, artwork or craft, parcel it up and post it off. This is a little bit educational but sssshhhhhh! don’t let on!
♥ Photographer for a day
Give the kids the camera or phone for the day. Suggest a theme or just let them go crazy. Upload to Be Funky to edit and have more fun. Check out this creation by my daughter – it kept her and a friend amused all day!
♥ Get your craft on
The internet has a billion and one craft ideas to explore. Also check out 10 Cool Nature Crafts for Kids.
♥ Scavenging
Go to the park, the beach or even the backyard, armed with a list of things to find – feathers, rocks, five different types of leaves. Make sure your scavenger hunt list age-appropriate. If you need help, check out these free printable lists.
♥ Go fly a kite
Such good fun for kids of all ages and it will get you all outside into the fresh air. If you are feeling really crafty, you could make your own kite first!
♥Abracadabra!
Go onto you-tube and learn some simple magic tricks. Dress up and put on a magic show for family, friends and neighbours. You can even charge admission and make snacks too. My kids spent a whole weekend doing this and had a ball!
And what about these ideas from Pinterest…. my kids are keen to give these a go!
Make a tree gargoyle! Go here for instructions.
Make mini bow and arrows! Go here for instructions.
I hope these ideas have given you some food for thought and keep the kids busy. Please link us up with or share any ideas you have too.
Enjoy your holidays!
Love the water paint idea!!
My kids used to love this when they were little!!
hi sonia,
just letting you know that when i click on the choc crackles pic it takes me to your tomato noodle soup recipe! lovely but not the delicious chocolately goodness i was looking for!
have a lovely day
jen
thanks for the heads up Jen – all fixed now!
Great post Sonia! I am yet to experience the school holidays (bub is under 2) but have bookmarked for the future 😉
thanks Christie… she might like to do the painting 🙂
These are all awesome ideas and I plan to use them all! My kids go crazy for that ‘virtual painting’…so easy!
Let me know how you go !!
Great ideas! My kids aren’t school age but these still apply! Miss three loves posting mail so I think we will give that one a go xx
it’s so lovely to keep in touch with family the old fashioned way!
Great post and thanks for the link love. My 7yo loves going on pic monkey and makes loads of pictures for her books or party planning or whatever is going on with her. We’ve done many of these but omg my kids would love the mini bows and arrows and you tubing to find magic tricks – thanks! deb xx
have a great holiday Deb 🙂 pic monkey is so cool !
Awesome ideas! I’m not a mom yet, but I think my little brother would love some of these, thank you! x
something to do with the neices and nephews?
definitely thanks 🙂 x
Misty LOVES water-painting…. quite hilarious to watch too!
I love these ideas Sonia! Thanks so much for linking to this post! My little one is a bit young yet for most of these…though we do virtual painting on something called a Buddha Board, which she loves. Mess free.
wow… what’s a Buddha board? I am not local – my parents used to live at Yamba, so we just used to visit the CC – love it !!
CC is a beautiful place. Here’s a buddha board – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvgakwdsywQ
They are great! So fun and clean. And all about transience, which is a bonus.
that is SO COOL – I want one!
PS, are you local to Mullumbimby? It looks like Crystal Castle in your header image!
Greenbushes Western Australia has heaps of places and things to do for a day out there is the Greenbushes swimming pool a natrual swimming hole with a board walk, BBQ,Swings, The mine lookout, Discovery center, learn the history of the town with the amble walk, beautiful parks there are heaps of free camping grounds around. its worth the day out.
sounds great!!
I used to always write letters to my Grandma in the school hols. Had forgotten about that…great idea!
So did I! It’s a bit of a lost art these days isn’t it Michelle?