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Is it time for moms to panic, now that time is drawing near for the kids to break up from school for their six weeks summer holiday? Yes mom, start panicking if you have nothing planned to keep the children occupied during this time. Bored kids are not happy kids, and unhappy kids have a tendency to occupy themselves of which could bring problems, maybe not intentional ones, but nonetheless still problems. Depending on the child's nature some problems might not stem from boisterous doings, but more from acts of destruction.
If possible you will be doing yourself and the kids a favor by preparing a to-do- list of activities. There are many things you can find to do to excite and create fun for the family that doesn't have to cost the earth.
Money shouldn't be an issue because kids get just as much fun and pleasure from things that are free.
Things like:
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Going to the beach
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Playing games in the home
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Going for nature walks
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Exploring for treasure
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Going to a field to catch butterflies
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Fishing in streams to catch tIddlers
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Baking cakes and biscuits
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Visiting a farm
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Face painting days
Allot them a chore to do around the home or garden and reward them on merit. This way they get a treat and jobs get done
Put on shows or pantomime with a makeshift stage. Have the kids make their own costumes and masks. You could also consider taking the kids to the theatre instead of the cinema for a change. Organize a talent competition. You could ask other moms and their kids to take part. A sort of pop idol show if you like. The children will ceratinly be occupied rehearsing their act. Have a treat for every contestant because no kid likes losing.
Go picking blackberries or other summer fruits to make jam. Kids should be supervised at all times in the kitchen etc.
Watching DVDs and videos at home while eating popcorn with a fizzy soda beats paying the price of going to the cinema and, you can put your feet up in the house which you can't do at the flicks, which makes watching home movies better. Every time the kids have sticky toffee and sweets make sure they clean their teeth.
Have the kids sort out old toys and games and let them have a garage sale or do a car boot sale. With the proceeds ask them what they would like to do with their money, and take it from there.
Take the kids to pick their new uniforms early for next term schooling this will occupy them for the day, and save you last minute rushing.
Purchase a 5000 piece jigsaw and set a goal for it to be done before they return to school. Give them treats for doing well even if the puzzle is not finished. Tip; when it's finished, take a paint brush and using wallpaper paste smother the picture of the puzzle in it and allow it to dry over night. It's now ready to be framed and hung on the wall. Or you can purchase a jigsaw for each child if you have over one, of their favourite theme, or cartoon character, maybe not as many as pieces in the jigsaw this time, and finished puzzles you can hang in their bedroom.
Second hand shops always have jigsaws for sale at half the cost of new ones. They are usually littered with books also. Take the kids for a day out to pick a few books so they can start up their own little library. Each child can swap books when they have read their own. Books can be sold on at your next garage or car boot sale.
If any of your kids have a hobby then dedicate a day to each child's particular interest. Listen to their loves of what they enjoy. You'll be surprised how much you will learn, and maybe shocked how much your child knows about their hobby. If this is not a thing done in your home then give the kids an option to start up a hobby. If the kids love their new found hobby, it won't last for just the six weeks school holiday because, hobbies are for life.
No doubt other moms are in the same boat as you, so why not do a compromise, one full day you have her kids allowing her to rest and vise versa.
You can't beat having a picnic as mentioned earlier. Your picnic yummies can consist of eats that you and the children had prepared or baked the day before. Baking treats the day before has the kids occupied for yet another day.
You will find play groups locally in your area where you can take the kids to pass the hours away enjoying themselves, and for a small fee in some places you can leave the kids for a couple of hours. Of course make sure you know of the play group and that the play groups holds all legal paperwork of proof for a safe haven.
It's not as difficult as some people make out to keep children occupied. When children are given attention they wollow in it, and especially more so if that time includes doing something they enjoy. Admittingly this can be difficult for the working mom, but in regards to home help and careers for the kids this then applies to them.
Some moms, and I say some, for convenience allow the kids on opening their eyes in the morning to turn the television on or play computer games to get them out from under their feet, this is not good. Whether it is the summer holidays or not, these types of activities should have an allotted time for play or viewing.
All kids love swimming...consider this for you as well. Its s fab season of the year is summer, and kids see it as way of cooling down. Nip along to the pound shop and buy water toys to make the experience more fun.
There are plenty of fun time activities to help sharpen your child's mind and body, while on a budget during the school holidays.
Organize a trip to the library. Some kids may not respond to well to this suggestion but they will if they know there is a burger waiting for them at the end of the visit. Watch what you feed them. Order healthy eats.
Ask the kids would they like to join a yoga class or join a gym. This doesn't mean to lift heavy weights; most gymnasiums have other activities going on.
Make enquiries to see if your local fire brigade or police station will allow you to bring the kids along to see what happens in the day of a fireman or policeman
Buy a metal detector and go in search of treasure
Start up a project. This could include building a hutch for a new pet bunny rabbit, hamster or other. Allot the children a small patch of land in your garden so they can plant appropriate flower seeds, prune, dig or whatever they have lined up for their flower garden. If you only have a small garden or back yard give them a large flower pot to work with.
The list is endless of the ideas and activities you can practice to keep the kids occupied in the summer holidays. The best way to find out what will work and keep the children happy is to simply ask the kids what they want to do.
Keep the kids occupied with fun time Jokes Music DVDs and Games
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