BACK TO SCHOOL

As back to school approaches for different states, I’m sure all of you parents are tired and burnt out from trying to entertain your little ones for two weeks straight. Going back to school isn’t fun for the kids either, which is why they will start to appreciate their weekends even more after a two week break.

That’s where you parents come in and have to find activities or ways to keep them entertained on the weekends while you get all of your household duties done day by day. You’re either the kind of parent who goes all out and creates home made projects for the kids or you give them a colouring book and they’re content. No matter your parenting style, eventually your ideas run low, and that’s okay, because as parents you have so many other things to worry about.

Obviously nothing beats the fun and excitement of school holidays, whether that be having sleepovers at friends houses, or going on a short vacation. But a good way to get some excitement back in the house is a new toy! Who doesn’t love something new?! You don’t have to spend a fortune to have quality and fun all in one.

Now you may be asking yourself, “yeah, that’s all well and good, but where can I go to buy them something that will keep them entertained for hours?”

Well, that’s what we are here for. We have curated a list of our favourite products to keep your kids entertained that can either be fun for the whole family or for the kids while you get housework done.

Chess Octagon 4 Player:

Chess Octagon will be sure to keep your family entertained for hours on end. You can play the typical 2 player way or jump in and add 4 players for some Saturday night family fun. The coloured pieces also make it appealing for the younger ones.

Wooden Bingo:

While your children may be opposed to the idea of Bingo because it’s only for ‘old people’, I’m sure they’ll love to win some prizes. You can play with 2-18 players with our Wooden Bingo which is why it’s one of our favourites for families and groups. Create some goodie bags for the prize winners, you may include some chocolates and lollies, or be brave and play for a cash prize. The kids will be sure to jump in and play.

Egg spoon and hacks sack races:

Have you ever experienced having to get the kids to bed but they just have way too much energy still? A egg and spoon race will be the perfect way to let off some of that energy. Use our wooden egg or replace it for a real egg, sit back and enjoy the endless laughs that come from your children.

Play centre with monkey bars and swings

Always have the kids bugging you to take them to the park, but you have way too much housework to do and simply don’t want them going by themselves? Imagine how excited they’ll be to come home from school, walk into the backyard and see their very own playground. I guarantee, it’ll be the best money you’ve ever spent on a toy. Our Play Centre includes a slide, monkey bars, two swings, a ball pit and way more, giving your child endless amounts of fun.

Maybe its not about buying your children something new, we understand money can be tight after school holidays. That’s why we’ve made a list of free things to do no matter what state you live in that enables you to spend some quality family time together.

All states:

One of my favourite memories as a child was going to the park with my friends and picking as many different land elements as we can (sticks, leaves, acorns), taking those home and tracing them on a piece of paper. We then used to have competitions of who could create the wackiest character from the outlines we made. You can do this too, you can even use bits of the real element and stick them on the paper to create  3D drawings.

Another one of my favourite things to do was to make collages. You can do this by taking old magazines and newspapers, and creating a topic for your children to build on. For example, create your dream food spread. The kids would then flick through all of the magazines and papers, trying to find images of different foods they could cut and stick onto their pages.

ACT:

Maybe museums and exhibitions aren’t for your family. Instead, you can get out and immerse yourself in nature. Take a trip down to the National Arboretum in Canberra and smell the fresh air and all the natural scents of nature. With different events always happening, there will be plenty of fun to be had. Take one of the welcome walks that are on offer and learn some deeper history of the forests, gardens and even find some hidden treasures. After the walk, head over to the POD playground and let your children release some energy. Finally, finish off the day by heading into the cafe on the grounds and grabbing a bite, or pre pack a picnic and enjoy the serene views.

NSW:

No matter their age, Sydney has a lot to offer for your family. If you enjoy walking and sightseeing, the Bondi to Coogee walk is a must! Stretching for 6km, there is so much to see. From the Bondi Icebergs to rock pools and stunning beaches and parks, you’ll be sure to be blown away. You can get the kids involved by playing some fun games along the way, like who can spot a shark, i spy or even a classic game of truth or dare. By night, head to Macquarie’s Point to get the best view of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge all lit up.

NT:

Northern Territory has so much beauty to see. The sunsets will have you entertained and happy, however during the day, there is so much exploring and learning to do. Take a trip to the Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory and learn about Aboriginal art, 5m Crocodiles and the history and science of the NT.

QLD:

If the kids have had enough of the beautiful beaches and want to do some activities, take them to the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for free Lorikeet feedings. Twice a day, you can head in and get up close and personal with these beautiful birds as they fly down onto your hands and suckle from a bowl of sweet honey nectar. Have your kids tell you all of the colours they can see on the birds and if they can spot any rare colours. You can also take a walk down Surfers Paradise beach  at night and browse through the different markets. From wacky whistles, to light up signs and sunglasses to homemade candles and chocolate, there is always something to see.

SA:

Chocolate. Who does not love a little bit of chocolate, I know the team here at Jenjo Games sure do. South Australia is the home to the delicious Haighs chocolate factory. Take the kids down and have a tour of the factory. Watch the start to finish process as the confectioners make the chocolate and learn about where the ingredients come from and then of course finish the day with a taste test of your own.

TAS:

Salamanca Market is one of Australia’s most famous outdoor markets. Head in on a Saturday morning with the family and have a stroll through, enjoy the many street performers or buy some fresh produce, seafood or crafts. You don’t have to spend money to have a good time, have a chat to the stall holders and learn about their business’s.

VIC:

Of course if you’re in VIC, you can come and have a visit of the Jenjo Games store located in Laverton North, we can’t promise that you’ll leave empty handed though. Artvo is another fun activity for the whole family. While you do have to buy tickets, it is free for kids under 4 and I promise it’ll be a family favourite. Visitors walk around the gallery and can touch and interact with different scenes and artworks. Your children will feel like they are apart of the art.

WA:

Buster the fun bus is a awesome free family activity held in Fremantle. It includes a bunch of outdoor stations that offer free multi sensory and hands on activities for families and children to learn and play. Another fun day out idea is to visit the WA Shipwrecks museum. Entry is free although we do recommend you give a gold coin donation. Your family can learn about the hundreds of ship wrecks through the WA coastline and see the real wreckage in front of their own eyes.

If you’ve made it to the end of this blog then i commend you. We hope we have given you some ideas on new ways to entertain your children and keep them learning and playing. For more ideas and products, visit our website https://jenjoes.com/.