It’s that time of the year when parents who work full time rack their brains for things to do during the school holidays. It’s hard to find good help, especially when it comes to babysitters, reliable babysitters. We cannot just easily trust anyone with our children. Will my kid be okay with the new sitter? When I am away, is she well taken care of by this lady? Thankfully, some of us can afford to spend a bit more time with our preschoolers during the holidays and here are some fun things to do at home with your children excluding chores.

Run a reading marathon: Holidays are a relaxing time but can also mean neglecting the academic side of things. I know, because my geniuses at reading class go through weeks of eager learning and once the holidays roll around, they unlearn a lot and understandably so. The fun side of watching movies and Nickelodeon becomes all too enticing for a young mind. Parents do not have the time or patience to keep them on track. Running a reading marathon is a fun way to motivate kids to read.

Each genius can choose a reading spot in the house and set a time for 15 to 20 minutes for the first lap. After that, they can  take a break and then begin again.

 They must actively read, not sleeping or daydreaming during the marathon. This can be done at any time of the day, preferably in the morning after chores or in the evening.

Play board games: Games promote critical thinking, inquiry and collaboration. Young people today lack critical thinking but we can start them young. Board games require focus and concentration. It is the power of play in a child and helps problem solving, decision making, deferring gratification and dealing with mistakes. Do you have a preschooler who cries when they lose at games? Let them. They do not

know how to lose yet or have tools to cope with defeat. I have a four year old who is a winner and refuses to lose. She shall learn to struggle with the phenomenon of losing. It will help her in life. Enhancing focus and memory are two important skills in board games. These can be applied to learning in the classroom. Other benefits of educational games include speeding up response times, encourages teamwork, stimulating creativity and teaches languages. Games can also help vocabulary and overall motivation.

Seasonal crafts and DIY: Whether it is painting a story, drawing a self portrait or making paper planes, crafting increases creativity in both children and adults. For younger geniuses, crafting teaches shapes and colours, patience, fine motor skills and builds resilience. For older kids, crafting and DIY exercises the mind, encourages lateral and logical thinking, choosing from a range of solutions. Using imagination and putting artistic skills into practice is universal. Everyone is creative, we just have to discover our own talents. More importantly, DIY projects and crafting help reduce stress and promote relaxation. No wonder I feel better after colouring or creating a piece of artwork. Even adults need to throw paint at something or someone, it just may help you feel lighter.

Host a fashion show: Now this is fun. Get out your left over materials, tissue or toilet roll and start creating. You can have teams who work towards creating a line for showcasing. We can see this as senseless or silly but it’s something different. You’d   be surprised at what children come up with. Do not forget to choose a model and make sure they are given fun tips to walk and showcase your creations. I’ve seen a few family reunions have this on their list of things to do. How fun! The laundry dash and tidying speed game: This is a game where you ask your child or children to do a tidying task and you time them doing it.

For me, I am part of the game. Both of us begin on different sides of the house and we race each other. We then have to see who cleaned the floor by picking up their toys or activities in the least time. Did I tell you that younger geniuses are exceptionally competitive? While we enjoy another week of sun, use some of these tips for your own geniuses during the holidays.