Unfortunately I usually have to work for most of the school holidays so they spend time with family/friends.

Most school holidays we do vacation care. Prior to covid, vacation care would do more with my son than I could ever afford to! One school holidays he went t o the movies twice, trampoline place, fishing, water activities also. And it was $250 for the week before CCS.

Ive booked my girls into free activities at our local library which they are very excited to do. Ive also saved some movie worksheets from pinterest that way they are still doing work without knowing it. They are quiet for a hour or two and i get some house done.

Volunteering and helping others (looked for a lost item in a park for an old friend and found it!); doing small chores around the house and garden; helping neighbours; and generally finding ways to make themselves useful.

Oh so much! You need a good list to stop them from getting bored and getting into mischief. Haven’t really worked out an exact list, but I’ve got ideas, I’ll get there. I hope :/

Collected loads of cardboard boxes so the next time my son’s friends are over they can all make armor and create mini battles. My girls are into jewellery so we’re making paper beads and doing lots of threading.

Games
Crafts
Play centre
Park
Movies
Reading

Still slightly sane for now

not much.. my children are having a very quiet school holiday period seeing friends, watching movies and playing PS3

Sending them to vacation care.

Wine? I try to plan the day ahead the night before, often simply going for a drive and ending up at the beach or park has worked for us so far. As long as you have plenty of activities on hand you should survive (heads up kids will realise they actually enjoy school!)

wow everyone is doing great things! thankyou for all your answers
it’s great that you all make an effort with your kids and your answers are all great!
I will try a lot of your ideas and i thank you all and so do my kids!

i took the kids to see planes at the cinema, the water park & had family visit (now i’m tackling the mountain of laundry from that! 6 loads of 9 done )
We have done baking and i put together an arts and craft box for them to get into
Did a picnic, made and planted a little garden and shopped

My boys are coming to work with me tomorrow again (went today and we went to jimp factory)( lowve my work industry child car) then thursdsy off for a cooking day and abit off r&r

This is a great question I will be following myself to get some ideas

Each child wrote a list of what they wanted to get done, each day we pick one idea from a hat and go with that

Your local council might be running some activities. Ours open mormal attractions extra or have special events and the attractions, often with discounted entry prices

These school holidays have been great I normally dread them (3boys) lol but this time they have been great.

I sit with my kids and get them to write a list of everything they’d like to do during the holidays. We schedule what we can, scrap what we can’t go to and negotiate. Some of the things on my list won’t ever appear on theirs e.g. Kids clean their rooms but it shows them a balance between work and play as these are my holidays too.

Yeah my first school holidays in 19yrs that I didn’t know about my baby just got a cabinetry apprentiship the only one screaming I’m bored is ME

Tennis tournaments! Better in the holidays than in the school term like they used to be!

Off to see a kids production of snow White at cranbourne theatre. Of you’re interested you can get tickets on the website peoplesplayhouse.asn.au