Keeping the kids entertained for less these holidays

The holidays are approaching – kids are busily making lists of all the fun things they want to do before it’s time to head back to school, and parents are wondering how they’re going to pay for it all. Having the kids at home creates a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with them, and while the cost of keeping them entertained can cause a nasty budget blowout, there are actually a lot of ways to have fun with the kids for next to nothing. Here are our five top tips for keeping your kids entertained for free these holidays:

Tip 1 – If your memory of the library is of being ‘shushed’ by a stern librarian if you forgot to talk in whispers maybe it’s time for you to check it out again – libraries have become a great source of fun. Not only do they have books for the whole family, these days many libraries stock DVDs, CDs, magazines, toys and games. They may also have reading groups and author appearances your kids can attend, giving you some free time to check out some great reads for yourself while they’re entertained.

Tip 2 – For a fun day outside, take your kids on a treasure hunt. Create a list of at least ten items (like statues, street names, birds, cars or coloured rocks) they’ll need to locate and devise a reward for finding all of them. Little kids will probably do better if you confine the activity to a small area like a park or a beach, but if you’ve got older children you can spend the whole day roaming the streets on the hunt. Just remember not to find the ‘treasure’ for them – they’ll have more fun if they do it themselves!

Tip 3 – Find out what’s on in your area. Check your local newspaper for information about fetes, markets and activities that are on during the school holidays, and pick some that your kids will enjoy. 

Tip 4 – Have an arts-and-crafts day. Kids love to create – and they love it even more if they get to make a mess while they’re at it! Go outside or put down a big sheet or tarp and let them try their hands at making papier-mâché, playdough and bubble mix. They’ll have fun mixing up the ingredients, and when they’re done they’ll have hours of enjoyment experimenting with the results of their labours.

Tip 5 – Challenge your kids to a games tournament. If they own video games they’re sick of, the opportunity to beat you will almost certainly rekindle their interest. And if your ego feels a bit bruised when you compare your final score with theirs – introduce them to the board games you enjoyed when you were a kid and take your revenge!

Kids are experts at having fun, and they can do it with almost anything. Sit down with your family and plan your holiday adventure – entertainment doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg and most of the time you don’t even need to leave home!