Budget-friendly holiday ideas

How to prevent cabin fever without having to spend a cent. By Marchelle Abrahams

THE June school holidays are almost here. That means 16 days of uninterrupted fun for the little ones. Good news for kids, bad news for parents who have no idea of how to keep boredom at bay. Folks, we understand the predicament you are in, and that’s a lot of days to take into account. So before taking out your wallet and sending them on their way, we’ve enlisted the help of Blue Bird Aupair Agency to stop cabin fever from setting in without you … spending a cent.

Start a holiday diary

Cover an old notebook and encourage your child to write in it every day. If your child is younger than 8, get him/her to draw pictures, paint or colour their days.

They can get as creative as they want and stick in photos, do check-lists of activities they want to do and draw pictures to remind them of the “winter holidays of 2018”.

Nurture your gardener

Checkers’ Mini Gardens have given children (and some parents) green fingers overnight. Encourage the children in the garden, planting, weeding and watering – it brings a new dimension to messy play.

A real show-stopper

Make sock puppets by gluing wool on the top of an old sock and using a permanent marker and scraps of material to make eyes, nose and a mouth, then put on a puppet show.

Mad Hatter’s tea party

Have a tea party with the little ladies (and gentlemen) in your home. Encourage them to dress in their “Sunday best” for the occasion. Don’t forget to dust off the good cutlery and crockery.

Visit the library

Libraries are packed with books which will fire up their little imaginations. Just take along your most up-to-date municipal bill, complete the forms and choose from a plethora of books and DVDs.

Ready, steady, bake!

Bake your favourite biscuit or cake recipe and let your child decorate their creation as they please. You supply sprinkles, icing and sweets.

Play dough surprise

Make your own non-toxic play dough: mix half a cup of salt, 1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon of oil, 1 tablespoon of cream of tartar. Combine with a cup of boiling water and a few drops of food colouring.

Play a game

Dust off the old Monopoly or Snakes & Ladders set and revive the old-fashioned fun of playing a game that does not require a battery or TV screen. Or try teaching your children the lost art of chess or backgammon.

PICTURE: FLICKR.COM OUTSIDE FUN: On sunny days, get them outdoors with the promise of messing around in the dirt.

PICTURE: FLICKR.COM SHOW-STOPPER: Don’t throw your old socks away. Instead make sock puppets with a few scraps of material.

PICTURE: FLICKR.COM PASS THE SUGAR: Host a grand tea party.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Visiting your local library is an adventure in itself.

PICTURE: PIXABAY SURPRISE: Making your own play dough is easy.

PICTURE: PIXABAY BAKE-OFF: Having a cupcake decorating competition will encourage their competitive sides.