School holidays can be a nightmare for some parents especially those of us that have more than one child to entertain. Small children are must more easily amused than older children however they mostly enjoy just having Mum and Dads attention for a few hours. My daughter is five and I have heaps of activities I can choose from to keep her entertained.

Obstacle Course

Go into the backyard and make an obstacle course. Simple and great for both the children and parents to get their exercise for the day. Make a few things to jump over from objects lying around. Setup a broom on a couple of buckets to crawl under and if you have a swing set incorporate that into the course as well. Then after a few runs around the course have a race and perhaps a small treat for the winner.

Cooking
Every small child loves to help in the kitchen. Whether its making cakes, making grilled cheese sandwiches or just helping put scraps in the bin when making dinner. They love to be praised for helping out and feel very grown up to be allowed to help in the kitchen.

Cutting and Gluing
This is the easiest form of entertainment that can last for hours. All you need is some junk mail catalog's, scissors and glue. I ask my five year old to make me a shopping list with pictures from the food catalog's and away she goes. Set a theme for them to do such as cut and paste a page of only red things, or only things you can wear, things that go in the bathroom etc. Don't forget to praise them on what a fantastic job they have done. Have a box that your child can collect pretty things such as paper, gift wrap, crayons, flowers, pictures, photos, string and catalouges ready to do art work.

Go for a Walk
Going for a walk to the park or just around the block is a great way to get some daily exercise into the family and for your children to see the community around them. Take the family dog with you or some leftover bread to feed the ducks. Make a game of eye spy while walking around or pick a few flowers and leaves (these can then be flattened and used for art work another time.)

Dress Ups
Before throwing out your clothes or shoes just put them aside in a bag and use them for dressing up. You can find plenty of unwanted clothes, shoes and jewelry at second-hand shops, the Internet and garage sales. Kids can spend hours upon hours of dressing up and playing shops and house.

I haven't had a teenager yet so I don't have any suggestions for older children who I believe are alot harder to entertain. However, when I was a teenager I remember my best times were spent with my friends. If you have a teenage girl then perhaps organize some sleepovers and let them stay up all night talking (they will sleep most of the next day), for boys perhaps pitch a tent in the backyard and let them have some mates over. Thats really all I can suggest as I haven't that much experience with teenagers.

Learn more about this author, Sarah Burke.
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