From the Guidance Officer: Holiday Fun
I hope you are able to enjoy some family time over the Winter break.
The change in routine from school with so much free time can be challenging for both children and parents. Creative activities can help your child's development by supporting their social, emotional, physical, cognitive and wellbeing needs. From an education perspective benefits include fine motor skills, neural development, problem-solving, concentration skills and an effective tool to help the development of key essential learning skills such as reading, writing and understanding their world. From a psychological perspective, creative activities help children to express, process and understand their emotions. When you are creative with your child you deepen bonds, create life-long memories and help avoid those “I'm bored" comments or resorting to screen time. To this end I have compiled some inexpensive or free activities you can organise with your children.
- Take the kids to the park (or the backyard) and have a picnic. For the young ones bring the dolls and teddy bears too.
- Go to the creek (if it is warm enough!) for a swim and picnic – both Davies Creek and Emerald Falls are nearby.
- Mareeba library has several activities organised for the holidays. Some of these need to be booked in advance. For a list or flyer, pop in or call them on 40864622.
- The Historic Village at Herberton has a range of activities and displays to keep the kids happy.
- Go on a mystery walk – get the kids to organise the location for you.
- Go to the beach.
- Draw your own Minecraft bricks and create a house.
- Create a “dirt pile" for mud pies and construction projects.
- Make some homemade dog treats and throw a party for your dog.
- Use a box to make a house for your cat.
- Create paintings with your child and use them to redecorate a kid's bedroom.
- Bury some treasure and create a pirate's map.
- Have a clean out and take items to your favourite Op Shop.
- Buy second hand shoes from your Op Shop and use craft items to create a pair of “designer shoes."
- Use a vegetable peeler to make “carrot spaghetti" and have a healthy lunch.
- Make play dough.
- Involve your children in a 'spring clean' of their rooms.
- Cook together - get the kids to do most of the stirring and measuring.
- Go treasure hunting for rocks, leaves and other natural treasures.
- Write down something nice about everyone in the family and decorate it to make gifts.
- If you can get to Cairns -Mount Sheridan Plaza will have a free Reptile Zoo between 27/06/22 and 02/07/22
- Cairns Museum has a school holiday program ranging from painting and art, NAIDOC cultural Workshop, Yidingi workshop and activity trails (some events are free, some minimal charge: https://www.kidsaboutcairns.com/listings/cairns-museum-holiday-workshops/