| 1. |
Those Barbies / Babies / action men you bought them – let them play!
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| 2. |
Pull out the big jigsaw puzzle (big enough to be an age appropriate challenge, not so big it is too daunting for them to even attempt) as a family jig where bits can be built / added over a period of days OR pull out smaller fun puzzles for them to build in one sitting. Younger kids: cut a couple of post cards in half and get your littlies to match the correct halves together.
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| 3. |
Make a project – you've got the time! Get creative with your kids with age appropriate ideas in the FREE Holiday Survival Guide from Crafting Kids.
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| 4. |
Play ‘Kim's Game’ over breakfast – select 10 to 15 (depending on age & ability) arb items (pencil, cotton, calculator, eggbeater, sharpener, button etc etc); place on a tray. Get child to look at the tray for a minute; remove a couple of items & see if your child can tell you what is missing.
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| 5. |
Bake a cake / biscuits / muffins – take them to the next door neighbour if you are watching your waistline! Some suggestions for child-friendly recipes from Tots 'n Pots.
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| 6. |
Write a letter to granny (OR WHOEVER!), draw a picture and physically put it in an envelope & post it.
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| 7. |
Pull out the baby photos / old albums / wedding album & page through together with your child, sharing stories, answering questions etc.
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| 8. |
READ your child a story. Go to the public library … often!
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| 9. |
Adapt your old varsity / college drinking games to drill those tables: one frog – two eyes – four legs – into the pond – kaplonk. Two frogs, four eyes, 8 legs, into the pond , kaplonk, kaplonk etc OR bottles & tops where you count & multiples of 5 = bottles & multiples of 10 = bottles: 1,2,3,4, tops, 6,7,8,9,bottles, 11, 12, 13,14,tops,etc, etc
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| 10. |
Pull out the sand art. Join in the fun, do one, too!
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| 11. |
Get some felt & wool & teach your child blanket stitch (or to knit / crotchet / french knit / make scuby wire key rings)
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| 12. |
Plant something new in the garden together. Grow beans in cotton wool. You have 4 weeks to watch them grow!! Grow a mealie seed at the same time & compare the differences.
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| 13. |
Colour in a picture together. Download some colouring images here.
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| 14. |
Have a picnic in the garden / Prepare a meal together. Teach them to set the table / butter toast / put a salad together / peel potatoes
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| 15. |
Visit the SPCA (take a tin or two of dog food with you!)
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| 16. |
Spring Clean the kids room(s) & take the too small to wear clothes & outgrown toys to an orphanage in the area.
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| 17. |
Play board games – there is life beyond Monopoly – thank goodness!! Look out for toys made by Thinkfun – brilliant games for cognitive development.
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| 18. |
Hang out the washing together / fold away the washing together – anyone remember the simple joy of “pulling sheets”???
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| 19. |
Buy a country bunch of flowers – arrange them together & take them to an old age home / an elderly person you know.
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| 20. |
Take sandwiches you have made together & some juice to a security guard in the area.
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| 21. |
Visit 'Stuff for Kids' and find FREE Downloads for even more activities and projects.
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