SIX weeks is a long time spent at home, but it doesn’t have to be spent fighting or staring at the TV. 

With budgets stretched very thin this year, many people aren’t able to afford expensive getaways, but that doesn’t mean time at home can’t be just as fun. It just takes a bit of creativity! Here are 7 ideas to get you started. 

• Party games 

Party games are always a treat, but why do they have to be reserved for parties alone? Get a few of the neighbourhood kids around and throw an impromptu holiday party. 

They can play some really fun games that don’t take too much time. These include:

• The chocolate game – where kids have to throw a 6 on a dice to quickly dress and eat chocolate with a knife and fork until the next one throws a 6
• Pass the parcel – this can be done with newspaper and a basic item found around the house because the game is really what it’s about
• Musical statues or musical chairs
• Bounce it out

Get a few friends together and you can all contribute towards hiring a jumping castle or slip-n-slide for a day of fun. This is a cost-effective way to get rid of that pent-up energy while having a really good time. 

• Cool down

Pools are a great way to spend the holidays, but not everybody has this luxury. Fortunately, a hose pipe and a sprinkler can be just as fun for kids – anything with water always goes down well. 

• Obstacle course

Kids love a bit of competition so why not put together an at-home obstacle course and time the participants? You can use items found around the home for the obstacles, such as:

• Rope for walking along
• Boxes 
• Chairs 
• Toys to jump over
• Trees to climb
• Treasure hunt

Hide some golf balls around the garden and get the children to find them. If you want to get more challenging, you can come up with clues or draw a treasure map. 

• Camp out

Set up a tent in your back garden, throw in some blankets and pillows, and have a braai with smores. It’s something a bit different that your children will remember.