The spring school holidays have arrived! As every parent knows, that can mean two weeks of trying to keep the kids busy without breaking the bank, writes NATALIE ESCOBAR.
Thankfully, we have a few ways to keep the kiddies’ bodies and minds active over the next fortnight.
- Build an obstacle course
Building an obstacle course helps younger kids aged 2-5 years improve motor skills like walking, running, jumping and throwing. Each obstacle builds strength, balance and coordination. Use household items for a simple setup.
- Grab blankets or pillows and lay them on the floor to create a tunnel for crawling through.
- Choose bean bags, balls, or rolled-up socks and try to toss them into a laundry basket from a set distance.
- Use chalk (for outdoors) or tape (for indoors) to mark a straight line as your balance beam, and have the kids walk across it one foot after the other.
- Lay hula hoops on the ground and have the kids jump in and out of them.
- Backyard scavenger hunt.
Make the most of your outdoor space – if you have one – and transform your backyard into a mini scavenger hunt. Ideal for younger kids just starting to explore. Get into the spirit further and have the kids dress up as pirates, ready to go on their first adventure! Hide clues or small toys around the backyard.
- Make your own treasure map.
- Have the kids flex their artistic skills and draw their own pirate hats to wear during the hunt.
- Make the map easy to navigate by setting up each clue to lead to the next.
If you don’t have much space outdoors, try relocating the hunt indoors.
- Go for a hike
Hiking can be a fun activity for all ages. It also gives kids a chance to discover the stunning landscape that WA has to offer. Some of the most popular hiking trails include the Ghost House trail in Yanchep National Park, or Kings Park’s Kokoda Track Memorial Walk and the botanic gardens.
- Make it a learning experience with a game of nature bingo and learn about the unique flora and fauna of WA.
- Make sure to pack plenty of water and snacks, and don’t forget to slip, slop, slap sunscreen.
- Find your closest trail.
- Get sporty!
Set out a football goal or basketball hoop in your driveway and let the neighbours know it’s available to join. Perfect for older kids who want to stay active and social during the holidays. You might just even discover the next Sam Kerr!
- Head to the local pool
Get that competitive spirit fired up with some laps around the pool. Use it as an opportunity to get new swimmers to practice basic water skills as we prepare for the summer days. Bring some healthy snacks with you so you can enjoy a longer stay.
- Pizza night
Set up a pizza bar with healthy toppings and let the kids’ imaginations run wild in the kitchen as they make their own pizzas. An easy way to get dinner on the table while teaching nutrition and cooking skills.
- Use cookie cutters to shape the dough into animals, shapes, stars, etc.
- Make it a competition and see who can create the craziest looking pizza.
- Host a trivia night
Break up into teams and pick a theme to challenge the kids and find out who the true brainiac of the family is! Themes can be as simple as Disney movies, animals, space, pop culture, or even family-themed!
- Use Kahoot or make your own quiz.
- Bonus: Let kids create the questions to develop their critical thinking skills.
- Try geocaching
We all remember learning Never Eat Soggy Weet-bix (NESW) at school, well, now it’s time to put it to the test as you use cardinal directions in this real-world treasure hunt. An experience for the whole family to get involved.
- Visit Geocaching Australia to find nearby hunts, follow GPS clues, and find hidden ‘caches’ in your area.
- For first-timers, it’s essential to follow the three cardinal rules of geocaching.
- Take something from the cache.
- Leave something in the cache.
- Write about it in the logbook.
- Dance party
Turn up your favourite tunes and host a dance party right in your living room. Decorate the area with streamers, balloons and fun art created by the kids. A brilliant way to spend the afternoon, while the younger kids have a little wiggle and the older kids create their own playlist to show off their dance moves.
- Bonus: Pick a theme for the kids to dress up as, e.g., favourite pop star, pyjama party, glow in the dark
