The school holidays are going to be here again, very soon, and as lovely as it is to spend more time with the kids, it doesn’t take long until cries of ‘I’m bored!’ can be heard from all around the motu.

Well don’t sweat it whānau, because we’ve got you covered with our top ten free school holiday ideas:

1. Organise play dates with friends and cuzzies – they’ll love the extra time together, and it can be a way to share the childcare when you're working.

2. Encourage your kids to build a tent or hut using old sheets, blankets and odds and ends from around the house.

3. Check out the free downloadable activity books from Te Papa. These are available in Te Reo Māori and lots of other languages. There are books about Matariki, Waitangi Day, Curious Creatures, Marvellous Monsters.

4. Plan an ‘expedition’. Take the public transport or get the kids to map out a walking adventure to fun places in your community like the park, beach or library. Pro tip: always pack water and snacks!

5. Start a whānau tradition. It could be anything! One of the holiday traditions in my whānau was to go to my cousin’s house, have a (safely controlled and supervised) bonfire in our pyjamas, and tell each other ghost stories over a fresh plate of Aunty’s fry bread

6. Go back to your marae or visit whānau you haven’t seen for a while. School holidays are a great time for kids to learn about their whakapapa and meet their wider whānau.

7. Have a picnic! You can even pack a BBQ as most areas have a park with free facilities. We were going to write something about not leaving meat out in the sun for too long, but let’s be really honest – that meat will be cooked and eaten in less time than it takes for you to read this pānui!

8. The classic concert in the lounge, where kids make up a dance or a play, and force their extended whānau to watch. Add in some financial literacy by getting them to create and sell tickets to their performance. Just pay the fee, smile and clap whānau.

9. Cooking and baking are great activities for tamariki. Not only is it a cool way to spend quality time together, but it can also build their math skills, literacy and comprehension by following the recipe. Not to mention teamwork, patience, and learning to clean up. That’s a win-win in our book!

10. Finally, now is a great time to start a vegetable garden. Having your own māra kai can be an awesome opportunity for the whole whānau. You will be amazed at what kids will eat when they’ve grown it themselves.

And don’t forget, there’s nothing wrong with kids being bored. Some boredom is actually good for young minds because it forces them to get creative and come up with their own ideas. Kia kaha e te whānau! 

Kia Manawaroa Publication Ltd