Conquer the “I’m bored” conundrum with our favourite school holiday activities

With just over three weeks left until school returns for 2018, parents across Newcastle, Maitland and the Hunter Valley are challenged to occupy their children until they return to school or begin school for the first time on the 29th of January.

The excitement of Christmas has passed, the New Year has begun and phrases like “I’m bored” have started to make their way into the home.  

There is plenty happening across the region for kids in the lead up to school commencing, we have compiled a list that is sure to keep everyone happy. 

Spend the day learning at museums or libraries

Museums are a great, interactive way for children to explore new ideas and be introduced to new ways of thinking. During the January school holidays, the Newcastle Museum at Honeysuckle will feature activities based around the Dinosaur rEvolution.

One of the activities allows children to create their own dinosaur armour and watch themselves emerge as dinosaur before their own eyes. On selected Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Newcastle Museum holds the always-intriguing science show. The dinosaur theme continues, providing a glimpse into prehistoric times and the life of the dinosaur.

If your children are fascinated with all things tech, the Lake Macquarie City Library is offering coding workshops these school holidays. Children aged 8-12 will have the opportunity to discover the world of coding using Ozobots.

Arts and crafts for the creative

Children with creative pursuits are encouraged to take a look at the News Print Animal Art sessions at held at the Lake Macquarie City Library and learn how to create their own original animal artworks using newspaper and collage. Recommended for children aged from four to nine, this is a great opportunity for the children to get their hands dirty.

Maitland Regional Art Gallery are hosting Free Art January which includes indoor and outdoor tutor run activities for everyone from toddlers to teenagers. Activities include lantern making, box sculptures and even drawing your own portrait.

Explore the great outdoors

During the school holidays, the Hunter Wetlands Centre at Sandgate is holding sessions for the popular bush skills adventure and Wetlands Explorer Club and some drop-in sessions for plaster fun and sand-art fun. Apart from being a great place to keep the kids busy with canoeing, dip-netting and reptile encounters, it’s also a very affordable day out for the family with the centre’s entry fee being only $2 for children under 12 during school holidays. Tickets are still $5 for adults.

We have been blessed with some beautiful weather this January and the remainder of the school holidays will be no exception.

When the sun is out, the Merewether Ocean Baths are a fantastic beach alternative to cool down and have some fun. If the Merewether Ocean Baths are too busy, you can always head north along Bathers Way to find the Newcastle Ocean Baths to take a dip.

Speak to your children about their faith

Humans by nature are curious, children even more so. As our children experience more, learn more and understand more about their life and the life of others, it’s natural for children to have questions. It would be unusual if they didn’t.

Take some time this school holidays to speak to children about the word of God, ask what it means to them and give them the opportunity to ask questions that they may not otherwise know how to bring up to further their spiritual journey and bring them closer to God.

 

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