50 ideas to keep the kids amused without breaking the bank

School holidays, you either love 'em or hate 'em and more often than not it's a bit of both on any given day or hour. If you're looking for things to do with the kids these holidays here is a brain dump of ideas of things you could do:

1. 1. Go to your favourite playground
   2. Go to a playground you've never been to before
   3. Visit a different playground everyday (for those in larger cities / towns)
   4. Build a fort
   5. Go for a fluffy
   6. Go for a 'nature walk' and collect leaves, sticks, stones etc
   7. Tidy / sort out toys and those that aren't used anymore sell or donate
   8. Have a giant bubble bath
   9. Go to the muesuem
   10. Go the the zoo
   11. A playdate with a friend
   12. Make a treasure hunt (either indoors or outdoors depending on weather)
   13. Painting pictures
   14. Paint nails
   15. Teach your kids about money
   16. Bake
   17. Have a teddy bears picnic
   18. Visit a pet shop
   19. Visit your local councils website for local / free things to do in your area
   20. Go for a bike ride
   21. Have a movie day (at home), make popcorn, turn the lights off and put a movie on.
   22. Visit a rest home
   23. Fly a kite
   24. Make a kite
   25. Play a card game
   26. Play a board game
   27. Play a computer / xbox / playstation game
   28. Origami
   29. Learn a magic trick
   30. Cook a meal
   31. Indoor swimming pool
   32. Let them get bored (they might surprise you with what they come up with)
   33. Plant something
   34. Make jewelry
   35. Go the library
   36. Make some home made playdough
   37. Write a story
   38. Have a dance party
   39. Play rugby / soccer / netball / basketball (out of the house of course)
   40. Visit a farm
   41. Go bowling
   42. Make a 'creation' (get all the odds and ends you can find around the house, some glue, cellotape and scissors and see what they come up with)
   43. Make a family tree
   44. Make a rain gauge
   45. Indoor rock climbing
   46. Hula hooping
   47. Go to the beach and build a sandcastle (just wrap up warm)
   48. Watch TV
   49. Read a book
   50. Go for a drive and play i-spy

The information contained in this article is of a general nature and should not be taken as advice. It reflects the opinions of the writer only and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of New Zealand Home Loans.