Cheap (or free!) ways to keep the kids entertained
School’s almost out – and like most parents, you’re probably already dreading the familiar call…”I’m bored!” So, how to keep the kids happy and entertained at home without busting your budget?
Here’s 5 fun and creative school holiday project ideas that won’t break the bank
- Get gardening
Kids love any excuse to get dirty!
- It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a huge garden or a green thumb.
- Anyone can create a vegie or herb garden, even if you’re in an apartment. You just need a few pots or planter tubs. Even old tins with some drainage holes will do!
- Head to your local nursery or hardware store, grab some seeds or small seedlings and some soil, and get gardening.
- The kids will love watching their plants grow, and even more so if they can end up eating them.
- Go camping – at your place!
Skip all the hours of prep and packing, and plan a night out under the stars in your own yard instead!
- If you haven’t got a tent borrow one from a friend.
- Try to make the experience as authentic as possible by having dinner and brekkie al fresco too, using your bbq to cook and esky to store your food.
- Then relax and enjoy a technology-free evening under the stars, perhaps enjoying some backyard cricket and board games.
- Make them little Masterchefs
Plan a bake off with your kids!
- Spend a day helping them to plan a festive meal and cook up a storm.
- The kids could design menus and invitations to other family members, and put their ‘event hosting’ skills to work by creating a theme and setting the table.
- Best of all, while they’re having fun you’re giving them some great training to cook dinner and give you a much needed night off every now and then!
- Movie night
Bring the cinema to you – for free!
- Head to your local library or borrow some DVDs from friends.
- Prepare some fun snacks (or even better, have your little Masterchefs make their own!), perhaps let them invite a friend over, and settle in to enjoy the movies.
- You could make the night extra-special by taking the TV outside and adding some beanbags or sun loungers to create an outdoor cinema experience.
- Treasure hunt
Ahoy, me hearties! With a little planning on your part, this one can keep the kids off your hands for hours!
- Create a treasure map of your place, or your local park.
- Create clues for the kids to find and follow, and challenges to complete at each stage. Get creative to make each fun and time consuming!
- Add little rewards and incentives along the way to keep the kids motivated – perhaps a small treat or prize at certain points that hint at the treasure they’ll uncover at the end.
- When they’re done, have a picnic lunch together.
