Winter school holidays are just around the corner, and with it inevitably comes three weeks of your children sitting at home complaining that they are ‘bored’ and being unable to play outside because of the cooler temperatures (especially inland) . Bored children tend to bicker with their sibling or end up being mischievous. The winter chill is unfortunately unavoidable but the boredom that comes with it can be sidestepped completely. Before cabin fever hits your home, and you start counting down the hours until the start of third term, try one of our boredom buster activities – they are all not only kid but Blue Bird Aupair approved! 

1. Holiday Diary – Buy a note book and cover it and encourage your child to write in it every day. If your child is younger than 8, get them to draw pictures, paint or colour their days. They can get creative as they want and stick in photos, do check-lists of activities they want to do and draw pictures to remind them of the ‘winter holidays of 2018’.
   
   
2. Gardening – Checkers’ mini gardens have given children (and their parents!) green fingers overnight. Use the holidays to get the children in the garden, planting, weeding and watering! It brings a new dimension to messy play.
   
   
3. Make sock puppets by gluing wool on the top of an old sock and using a permanent marker and scraps of material to make eyes, nose and a mouth, then put on a puppet show.
   
   
4. Have a tea party with the little ladies (and gentlemen) in your home. Encourage them to dress in their ‘Sunday best’ for the occasion. Don’t forget dust off the good cutlery and crockery!
   
   
5. Visit the library. Municipal libraries are packed with books which will the entire family’s imagination FREE! Just take along your most up-to-date municipal bill, complete the forms and choose from a plethora of books (and DVD’s).
   
   
6. Bake your favourite biscuit or cake recipe and let your child decorate their creation as they please. You supply sprinkles, icing and sweeties and let them do the rest.
   
   
7. Make your own non-toxic play dough by mixing together half a cup of salt, 1 cup flour, 1 tablespoon of oil, 1 tablespoon of cream of tartar, mix in a cup of boiling water and a few drops of food colouring.
   
   
8. Board games. Dust off the old Monopoly or Snakes and Ladders set and revive the old-fashioned fun of playing a game that does not require a battery or TV screen. Or, try teaching your children the lost art of chess or backgammon! 

Remember, that young and enquiring minds need to be stimulated and engaged or boredom and the inevitable unruly behaviour will be sure to present itself. With a bit of imagination (and patience) winter holidays can not only be bearable but enjoyable for the entire family!     

Press release disseminated on behalf of:

Blue Bird Aupair Agency
By:Carmen White
Sam Watt Marketing Communications
Phone: 081 260 4011
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Blue Bird
Since inception in 2017 Blue Bird has matching local and international families with responsible, passionate young South Africans! At Blue Bird Aupairs our client’s children are our Number One priority! You see, our ‘Blue Birds’ aren’t just ordinary girls, they are strong, responsible young woman who are passionate about the health, wellbeing and education of our client’s precious gifts. For more information go to: https://bluebirdaupairs.co.za

This winter school holiday, families are invited to experience endless childlike wonder with their little ones at the 2016 Traditional Children's Magic Festival in Claremont, Cape Town from Wednesday 29 June to Saturday 2 July, 2016. 

It is non-stop thrilling indoor fun as the College of Magic, the Mother City's only magical arts organisation, once again hosts this four day programme of unbelievable magic shows by more than 50 of the city's top magicians, jugglers, clowns, escapologists and more.

 From the must-visit magical Photo Booth for a memorable family photo session and hands-on magical training workshops to exhilarating game stations and amazing performances by special guest artists, this year's Festival is not-to-be-missed! 

A ticket to this affordable family experience includes an enchanting walkabout through the College's century-old building with numerous surprises waiting around the next secret door; a meet-and-greet session with our resident magical bunny; a surprise-filled goodie bag for each visitor and so much more. 

Celebrating 36 years of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts as well as vital life-skills to children and adults in 2016, the College of Magic cannot wait to welcome mini-magic fanatics and their loved ones to its mysterious Victorian manor in Claremont:

"Each year we see hundreds of Cape Town's families flock to the Festival, eager to be entertained and captivated by our large troupe of amazing performers. The 2016 event is bigger, better and even more magical than ever before so escape the blistering cold and join us for this heart-warming, must-attend family event "says David Gore, director of the College of Magic. 

The Festival will be held at the College of Magic, 215 Imam Haron Road in Claremont, with the two-hour show programme running daily at 10:30 am and again at 2:30 pm.

Get your tickets and experience the wonder of magic …

Tickets for the 2016 Traditional Children’s Magic Festival are from R80 and include a free goodie bag. Book yours TODAY at www.collegeofmagic.com/tickets.

For more information about the festival and the College of Magic, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or call +27(0)21 683 5480.