You know what they say; the less you have, the more creative and resourceful you are.
This sounds good, but when it comes to digging out yet another idea about how to keep the kids satisfied, it’s easy to wonder how many variations on a theme you can come up with.
Fear not – there are a huge number of ways to get creative when it comes to keeping children busy, well fed and happy!
The dreaded holidays
Long summer breaks and half-terms are a mixed blessing. On the one hand, they mean lie-ins and no packed lunches to make. On the other hand, they mean keeping the kids entertained and home lunches to make!
It can seem like a daunting task at first but there are loads of activities for kids that take minimal effort and cash but make maximum fun.
Sporty, arty or bookish
Are your kids happy being left with their imaginations or do they prefer to be active? Are they academic or sporty? Keeping these things in mind will help you decide how to keep them busy during the day.
If your child especially likes certain school subjects or enjoys reading, get them to work on a creative project related to their favourite topic to keep them busy. With some art materials and a bit of direction, they can be left alone with their imaginations and then show you their work when it is finished. If they like sports, check out what’s going on locally. If there is a pool, sports activity or park, they can let off steam while you relax nearby.
Rely on friends
Join forces with friends who have kids of similar ages and take turns keeping the gang busy. This way, you each get some much-needed time to yourself.
Another alternative is to organise a play date, where parents can sit and chat over coffee while the kids all play together. This is not only a practical, safe way to keep boredom and your kids as separate as possible during the summer holidays but also means you get to spend some time in adult company.
Lunch time
Before you know it, the holidays will be over and it will soon be time to come up with school lunch ideas again.
Spice lunches up by changing the bread for sandwiches or use last night’s leftovers. Pizza and chicken taste just as good cold as they do hot. Likewise, soups are easy to make. Whip them up on Sunday, freeze them then heat them up for a thermos for daily school lunches.
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