Kids are often hard to entertain at the best of times, and compared to you, they have a lot more energy to burn.
With that being said, you certainly want to have a good list of things to do when it comes to keeping them occupied outside of school hours. This can be a particular challenge when they’re off for the school holidays, perhaps one or two weeks at a time.
If you’re looking to entertain your kids when they’re off school and you struggle in general to find things to do, here are a few things worth trying.
Do Some Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts are a great way to get creative with your little ones and are ideal when you’re looking to bust the boredom that they may be experiencing over longer periods of holiday off school.
With arts and crafts, you can make art out of everything, so it’s definitely worth looking at what options are available. For example, you could use a sponge or even vegetables as a stamp to create different shapes and textures with the paint.
There’s no end to the creativity you can have with arts and crafts, so it’s definitely worth gathering some bits and bobs and having them in a box to utilize and for your kids when they’re off or at weekends!
Get Creative by Constructing Forts or Dens
Constructing forts or dens is a great way to create an entertaining space for the kids when they’re feeling bored. There’s nothing quite like taking your duvets, blankets and other fabric materials that can be strewn over dining room chairs or couches in order to create a den to play in.
Let them create it themselves or construct the den for them so that they can get inside and start playing with their other siblings or friends that they’ve invited over. It’s a space that you want to make as big as possible, and remember to chuck in plenty of cushions so that they can lie down to watch movies or television shows with ease.
Fort or den building is a great way to get creative with playtime but also to develop their creative skills as well as team-building and engineering to some degree.
Do Some Baking
Baking is something that can be fun to do with your little ones, especially if you already have a passion for baking bread, cakes and other sweet or savory treats.
It’s important to give your kids the necessary skills they need as they develop, and the ability to cook and bake are skills that they’ll greatly appreciate as they get older. Finding that love of cooking can make it an easier transition when they get to adulthood and have to fend for themselves for the first time.
Read a Book Together
If you’re looking for something to do together, like baking, you might find that reading a book or two is a great way to help keep them occupied.
Of course, reading a book together is fun and is a great way to spend some quality time with your little ones. You may also find it useful to have them read to one another if there’s more than one child. This can help them to develop their storytelling skills. Even more so if they’re reading to someone who is younger than them and still developing their speech and language.
Have a Movie Marathon
A movie marathon is definitely one that should be on your to-do list when it comes to entertaining the kids. If you’re someone who wants to lounge around with the kids, having a pyjama day with the duvet on the couch, then a movie marathon is worthwhile.
You could hit your nostalgia in the feels with old films you watched as a kid, or make new memories and watch films you nor your kids have seen before.
Play Board Games or Online Games
To keep kids busy, board games are still very much a popular thing to do when it comes to busting the boredom. Alternatively, if your kids enjoy the digital side of entertainment, then there are always online games that they can play to pass the time.
There are a lot of games to play online so your kids will be spoilt for choice on what to choose. Of course, you don’t want them playing for hours on end so make sure to limit how much time they’re playing on it.
From solitaire to Pokemon online, you’ve got lots of games for all ages.
Take Them on A Homemade Treasure Hunt in The Back Yard
A treasure hunt is something that’s worth doing if you’re looking to get them outdoors and to do something creative that they might not have done before.
Homemade treasure hunts are extra special and can be a great way to enjoy some time with your kids or to leave them to their own devices as they work out where the treasure you’ve hidden is hidden!
Get Them a Dress-Up Box
If you’re looking to encourage their creativity and their confidence, then a dress-up box is definitely something worth doing.
You don’t need to spend a fortune on it either. You could find any number of outfits at your local thrift store or budget-friendly store. A dress-up box is a simple but effective way of playing and acting out stories from their imaginations.
Take Them Outdoors for An Activity or Two
Taking them outdoors for an activity or two is definitely worth doing. If you’re someone who loves to get outdoors, whether it be to the local park or at a tourist spot that is great for little ones, then it’s something you should do throughout their time off school. Of course, there’s only so much you can do, but it’s worth breaking up their time at home with activities outside of it.
Entertaining your kids when they’re off from school is certainly fun, so use these tips to entertain your little ones whenever they’re off next.
