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The best part of the festive season is being able to spend quality time with your family and marvel at how big your children, nephews, nieces and grand children have gotten but once you’re done pinching their cheeks, you almost immediately have to figure out how to keep them busy for the rest of the day or weekend. Here are a few ways you can keep your bundles of joy entertained during the festive season, without resorting to plopping them in front of the TV.

1. Puzzles and board games

An oldie but a goodie! While many of us have childhoods filled with monopoly, snakes and ladders, checkers and scrabble, you would be surprised how little these iconic games get pulled out of the closet these days. With excessive screen time among children becoming a growing concern among parents, board games are alternatives that can easily save the day. These games can create hours of fun and give you and the little ones an opportunity to bond over something that brought you so much joy growing up. Don’t forget to check and stock up on your favourite games early, you might be surprised how many games (or pieces) might be missing from your game chest.

2. Arts and crafts

All you need is some pasta, coloured paper, wood glue, glitter and a pair of scissors and a whole new world of creative crafting opens up. Arts and crafts items are very affordable and easy to find, however, while they sound like an obvious way to keeps the kids busy, many of us don’t have them in the house. Repurpose an old cardboard box into a crafts box to keep all the items in, bring it out and watch as they spend hours getting creative. Ask the children to make Christmas and new year’s cards and gifts and you’ll have new fridge art to be proud of before you know it. Older kids can be encouraged to make vision boards for the next year.

3. The book club fort

Build a fort and start a book club. There is something about building a fort out of couch cushions, pillows and bed sheets that gives children immeasurable joy. They become the ruler of their own little kingdom that they created. Once the fort is erect, give them a reason to spend in there buy giving them books, flashlight, and snacks. Instant tiny paradise! The children get their own private space, and they are encouraged read in a fun, engaging way while sharing the stories and memories with their friends, siblings or cousins.