Five Ways To Keep the Kids Busy During Summer Holidays

The summer holidays from school, across December and January, can often represent a tricky business for parents – particularly if they are committed to working full time. Factor in the added fact that those months can be stiflingly hot and humid and you have a period where finding activities to fill up children’s time can be quite problematic. We don’t want them just sitting around inside watching television and playing computer games do we?

The best way to look at it for parents is that the holidays represent a unique opportunity. An opportunity to expose your kids to new things of interest, as well as spend a lot of quality time with them yourself. There is also the option to do the obvious thing during the holidays: take a holiday!

But anyway, here are five great ways to keep the kids busy and entertained during the summer holidays.

Cooking

It can never be too early to introduce children to the joys of cooking and food. This cheerful, inexpensive and inclusive activity offers the opportunity for adults to impart knowledge to their children, both strengthening that bond and teaching an important life skill. Children can’t help but be delighted either, what with the opportunity to get their hands dirty, lick spoons and see the satisfying results of the cooking process – as well as, of course, the eating bit.

Culture and art

Particularly if you in the city or in a large town, it is likely that museums, galleries and other major cultural organisations will put on events specifically catering to children in the holidays. That means a multitude of concerts, theatre events, workshops and exhibitions, with a bent towards participation and children. These are invaluable during the holidays, and you never know, might unearth a talent you never knew your child possessed.

Socialising and play-dates

Siblings are great and everything, but it is important to keep your children in contact with their social set  - and of course, give them the opportunity to make new friends during the holiday. So, an idea is to organise play-dates and perhaps even parties to allow your kids to see their mates. Other options include communal excursions and outings to the events mentioned above, or perhaps picnics or trips to the swimming pool or beach.

Toys

Circumstances might dictate that children are forced to stay at home on some days – you may be working, ill, or whatever. And rather than rely on television and computers and such, why not allow your children to take advantage of toys? Toys can be educational as well as fun, and are appropriate for all ages. They can be utilised both indoors and outdoors and are a brilliant tool for shared entertainment and multiple participants. If you are keen on buying toys online this year, you might want to try OO’s Toys page, as they seem to have the best prices at the moment!

Christmas decorations

It just so happens that here in the southern hemisphere the summer holidays are also the Christmas holidays. That offers ample opportunity to get your kids involved with festive activities. Decking the house with Christmas lights and Christmas decorations can be great fun for both children and parents. You can also allow kids to make their own decorations, channelling their creative spirit at this celebratory time of year.