20 Ways to Entertain You're Kids During School Breaks

If you're living on a low budget and you're looking for a few idea's to keep you're kids amused during the holidays, then read on…

1. Read With Them

   Reading with the kids is a great way to keep their brains active and anything goes. Take them down to your local library and let them browse the kids section. I can guarantee you they'll find something to interest them and best of all it's free! If your library is too far off then borrow some books off neighbours and friends or contact you're kids school and see if you can borrow some books from them. For those of you with Internet access there's a whole range of websites to browse. Either download some stories or print them off. If none of the above apply to you then just make something up. Telling your kids a story from your own imagination and getting them to help with characters and plot is a free and interactive way of keeping them entertained. Kids love a good story!

2. Take A Trip to a Museum

   Most have free entry and it's an interesting and educational way to keep the kids amused. If your nearest museum is too far off then why not create your own in-house. Pick a variety of household objects, anything will do and keep the kids busy coming up with descriptions of what they are and where they may have come from, or how they were made. Set them up around the house and take a tour.

3. Visit The Park

   I defy any child not to be entertained by slides, swings, roundabouts and see-saws. That's not to mention the monkey bars and climbing frames.

4. Go For A Walk
   

   You can do this at any time of the year whether you live in the city or out in the sticks. Not only is it great exercise, it's also a fantastic way to experience the place you live in. If you're a city dweller, point out places of interest, make up stories about the people that may live in the houses you pass. If you're out in the country, pick flowers and grasses on route or imagine what life was like for those that may have lived there years ago. If you have dogs, even better. You can kill two birds with one stone and also teach your kids how to walk their pets and have a great time.

5. Bathing and Grooming Household Pets

   If it's a warm sunny day, then get outside and wash those dirty animals. It makes for great fun and you and the kids will probably end up getting a good wash too. Indoors the pets can be groomed; it's a very therapeutic and relaxing activity for you, your kids and the animals too.

6. Do Some Gardening
   

   Get the kids involved in doing a bit of weeding, planting and watering the flowers. Even cleaning up is good fun. Now I know not everyone has a garden or a roof terrace or balcony or even a window box. However, seeds, pots and dirt cost very little, so why not start growing your own indoor garden. The kids will love watching their seeds grow into flowers and any spare spots can be filled with little pots.

7. Helping Out With Household Chores
   

   Even the youngest of kids can get a kick out of cleaning the house. Whether it's dusting down shelves, washing up the dishes, filling the washing machine or just tidying up their own room. Always offer a reward for good work. Just something small, a visit to the park, staying up a little later or a favourite treat. It helps keep the kids interested and gives them something to look forward to once their job is done.

8. Day At The Beach

   A trip down to your nearest beach is a fantastic way to keep the kids busy. Of course during the summer, they can swim and play in the water but even in the winter time the beach can be a great place to explore. Many things get washed up, including a lot of driftwood which is great for building forts, etc. Draw pictures in the sand, throw pebbles in the water, look for shells to take home. If you don't have a beach nearby, then sorry, I'm afraid I have no alternatives; an in-house beach is a little ambitious.

9. Treasure Hunt

   These are a brilliant idea and you can have one anywhere. Buy a few small treats or just pick a few objects from around the home, hide them away and then set your kids the task of hunting them all down. You could always have a small surprise for them when their done, maybe cook their favourite meal.

10. Dancing

    Why not stick the radio on or select a few CD's from your collection and get down and boogie. It's a good way to introduce your kids to music and dancing is a cool way to exercise. Get them to invent some new moves, jump around and make a fool of yourself. It doesn't matter if you can't dance that's half the fun of it.

11. Go For a Swim
    

    Teaching your kids to swim or just messing around in the water is always a winner with children. In the summer, if you're lucky enough to have a beach nearby then you're laughing but for those of you who aren't so lucky nip to your local pool. Most swimming pools are reasonably priced and some even offer discounts and incentives for those who are on a low budget.

12. Watch A Film
    

    Watching your kid's favourite TV show or film can be a really good way to just chill and relax or alternatively they could go wild re-enacting certain scenes. Either way it's a good form of entertainment and shouldn't be side-lined, especially on those days when getting out is a no go. If you can't afford to rent a film then you can always borrow one from a friend or neighbour, then cosy down with a few treats and enjoy. Most kid's films these days are as good fun for us grown-ups as they are for the little ones.

13. Do Some Cooking

    Yes, it's a messy way to keep them occupied, so be prepared to have your kitchen turned upside down but boy it can be fun. You can make bread, cakes or biscuits. Prepare sandwiches; add ingredients to something cooking on the hob. When it comes to kids and cooking the list is endless and if you're lucky you may even be able to get them to help you clean up afterwards but don't count on it!

14. Get Creative
    

    Painting and drawing are great ways to get the kids to express themselves and hone their imagination, whatever their age. Materials can be bought very cheaply and the kids can have hours of fun making pictures or in some cases just making a mess. Anything goes when it comes to being creative, household objects can be used to make boats, hats, shields and little houses, cereal packets are great for turning into rocket ships or pencil holders. Playdo can be molded into anything or squished into the carpet! As long as you use your imagination the sky is the limit.

15. Hide n' Seek

    I defy anyone not to know how to play this game. It's simple, you hide and they find you or they hide and you find them, easy and you can play it almost anywhere. It also helps kids to use their initiative, after all there are only so many obvious hiding spots and after these have been used they have to start getting a little more creative.

16. Hopskotch

    Another great game. All you need is some chalk and a solid area to draw on. You need to draw ten boxes, large enough to put your feet in and number them 1 to 10. Look at the diagram I've provided. You then take a pebble or something suitable and throw it into the first box, you then jump over this into boxes 2 and 3, one foot in each, hop into box 4 and jump into boxes 5 and 6 as before and so on. Once at ten, turnaround and make your way back, stop at boxes 2 and 3, pick up your pebble or whatever and hop into to box 1 and off. You repeat this procedure placing your pebble in box 2, then 3 and so on. The aim of the game is to get your pebble in all ten boxes, hop and jump the grid and collect your pebble without falling over or putting your feet down when hopping. If you don't have a solid area to draw on then use paper, it may not last long but it'll do the job.

17. Go Through Photographs

    Whether their new or old, kids love looking at pictures, especially of themselves. It's a good way for children to learn about members of the family they may never meet and to find out some family history. Kid's are curious little creatures and as they grow will want to know about things that happened in the past, like when they were small.

18. Wash The Car

    It's one of those domestic chores that you always put off, at least it is in my household but on a warm day you can have a lot of fun getting the kids to help out. Children and water always mix well, they seem to love getting wet and at least you'll end up with a clean car, eventually.

19. Make A Tent
    

    You can use anything for this, towels, blankets, bed sheets, even old duvet covers. For tent poles you can use chairs, mops, brooms or the kitchen table and pegs are a great way of holding everything together. Kid's love building things and having their own little den to play in at the end of it is a real treat. A great idea for inside the house on rainy days or out in the garden when it's warm and sunny.

20. Have A Picnic
    

    Come rain or shine make up a few sandwiches, add some fruit and something to drink, stick it all in a bag and you're away. And the best thing about this is you can do it anywhere, town, country, city, beach, park, car, even in the tent you've just made, Indoors or out it's a great activity.

All these ideas are just suggestions, some may fit, others may not but for those of us living on a low income it just goes to prove that entertaining the kid's doesn't have to break the bank. What it does take is time, creativity, initiative and a little motivation from us grown-ups! Good luck over the holidays and remember you're not alone!