Tag: fun

PARENTING

Get Out and About in Townsville – July 2020

by Anna Booysen

Townsville Sailing Club, School Holiday Tackers

Tackers is a fun program designed specifically for children aged 7-12 year old. Children will learn the basics of sailing through fun and games. No previous sailing experience needed and all equipment is provided. We also hold courses for people of all ages. Please visit our website or email us for additional information.

P 4772 1105

E townsvillesailingclub@gmail.chujijn om

 

Pitstop Karting

Experience ‘The Ultimate Adrenalin Rush’ these school holidays at Townsville’s only hire go karting facility. Pitstop Karting is a purpose-built outdoor kart track that offers ultimate fun and thrill in a junior, senior or dual kart.

Sessions start at $30 (must have a Pitstop license – $5 valid for 12 months). Remember to wear closed in shoes and comfortable but not loose-fitting clothing.

No bookings required – just arrive and drive.

A 1-7 Cardwell St, Garbutt

P 4401 5045 Pitstop Karting

 

King Reef Resort

If you’re looking to revitalise in paradise, gather the family and head to the gorgeous King Reef Resort at Kurrimine Beach.

Explore all day, swim in the tranquil ocean or pool, build sandcastles on the beach and return to relax with a gorgeous sunset view from your beachfront shack. You can also hire a family pedal bike, go fishing, and more – the possibilities are endless.

A 75 Jacobs Rd, Kurrimine Beach

P 4065 6144

 

The Strand Rockpool – now reopened!

Cool down with a free swim in the clear blue waters of the Strand Rockpool, where sea water is brought in by the ocean into a man-made rock pool. Lifeguards are on duty so parents can relax on the grass in the shade with views of the ocean. Feeling peckish? There’s a café right there so the family can enjoy a meal out altogether. There is also a playground nearby where the kids can have even more fun- all for free.

 A The strand, North Ward

 

Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park

Kurrimine Beach Holiday Park is all about families. The waterpark will not be open due to COVID-19 however the pool can host up to 20 people at a time. If you’re hungry, have a bite to eat at the licensed on-site café. All of this is just a short walk from the beach where you might even see turtles coming in to nest or Manta Rays in the shallows!

There are a number of accommodation options available if you’re after a little getaway. Phone in to check availability and book.

A 9 Coyle St, Kurrimine Beach

P 4065 6166

 

Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park

Come visit Lake Tinaroo and get back to nature with the whole family, including your pets. Spend your days exploring Lake Tinaroo with their hire boats, kayaks, canoes, pedal karts or stand-up paddle boards and then venture farther afield to discover the many wonders of the Atherton Tablelands. Here at the park you can enjoy nature walks, a jumping pillow, swimming pool and convenient access to the picturesque Tinaroo Foreshore and its choice of playgrounds, barbecues and picnic areas.

Cost: From $29.00 (unpowered camping).

A 4-28 Tinaroo Falls Dam Road, Tinaroo

P 4095 8232

E bookings@lthp.com.au

www.lthp.com.au

 

Croft-Gilchrist School of Dancing

Do you love dance and want to learn professional skills? Slide on down to Croft Gilchrist and gain not only skills but also confidence, poise and better coordination through the art of Dance. They can provide a variety of dance classes centred around ballet, modern jazz & tap, highland and acrobatics, for all ages.

A 36 French St, Pimlico

P 4779 8481

 

Billabong Sanctuary

Come check out your favourite Australian animals at this bushland sanctuary. You can see mammals, birds and reptiles all in one, including kangaroos, emus, snakes and crocodiles! Animal interactions and shows will not take place due to COVID-19 however the ‘ranging rovers’ will be walking around the park to greet you with different animals. Blinky Bill’s Café offers tasty light meals and snacks, or the family can bring their food to enjoy a picnic in either sunshine or shade.

Recommended that you pre-purchase tickets online. Open 9am – 4pm during school holidays (subject to change after the holidays).

Cost: From $25.00. Locals can bring two out of town visitors for one adult to get FREE entry to equal or lesser value. 10% discount available for groups of 10 or more people.

A 17km South of Townsville, Bruce Highway

P 4778 8344

E admin@billabongsanctuary.com.au

 

Paul Sadler Swimland

Accelerate your child’s swimming abilities with Paul Sadler swimming lessons. They have been delivering cutting edge teaching and training methods for just on half a century and are recognised worldwide as a leader in aquatic education.

If you’re interested, get in touch with the friendly staff at reception to make a booking.

A 20-22 Freshwater Dr, Riverside Gardens

P 4779 4647

 

Bluewater Twighlight Markets

Visit Bluewater twilight markets on Saturday 11th July, 4pm to 8pm, for a fun filled family night out! There’s something for people of all ages with delicious snacks, market stalls and entertainment. Partyzone amusements will have a ring toss game, lava falls super glide and junior races obstacle course to keep the kids entertained. You’ll never be able to get enough of the Extreme Fun Foods with fairy floss, snow cones and popcorn just waiting to be eaten!

Cost: Tickets are $6.00. Unlimited ride wristbands are $25.00. If pre-purchase from the Partyzone website, tickets are $5.00 and unlimited ride wristbands are $20.00.

The twilight markets are held every second Saturday of each month.

Rides will be sanitized periodically and sanitiser will be free to use at Extreme Fun Foods.

A Bluewater community association14 Forestry Road, Bluewater QLD

P 0407 317 498

E bluewtr@bigpond.net.au ; partyzoneamusements@hotmail.com

 

TYTO Wetlands Tours (Self Guided)

Discover the unique fauna and flora of the TYTO Wetlands while immersing yourself in nature. Extensive walking tracks are available as well as viewing platforms and bird hides. Simply pick up a brochure and take yourself on a tour to get up close to the wildlife.

Cost: FREE

Suitable for all fitness levels and most ages. Wheelchair friendly but ground uneven in some areas.

A Hinchinbrook Visitors Information Centre, Cooper St, and Bruce Highway, Ingham

 P 4775 4792

E tourism@hinchinbrook.gov.au

 

Watpac Townsville 400

North Queensland’s largest annual motorsport event is returning to Townsville on 29th – 30th August! Rivalries will be fierce as competitors head back to the tracks for the only street circuit on the 2020 calendar. Watch a variety of supercars race and experience that thrill once again. You can enjoy grandstand or trackside view or even get the Paddock Pass to go behind the scenes and see all the action that takes place there. A number of food outlets are located around the precinct and alcoholic beverages will be permitted.

 

CityLibraries Townsville

Check out some of the awesome free resources for children at Townsville libraries. These include picture books, chapter books, junior fiction, graphic novels, eBooks and audiobooks, games, toys and puzzles (Thuringowa branch).

20 people at one time only allowed in each library.

A 86 Thuringowa Dr, Thuringowa Central

P 4773 8811

A 4 Petunia St, Aitkenvale

P 4727 8310

A Level 1/280 Flinders St, Townsville

P 4727 9666 CityLibraries Townsville

 

Grill’d

Not much can beat enjoying a delicious burger with your family these school holidays. With a range of menu options including wagyu beef, pork belly, grilled chicken and vegan burgers as well as salads, chips, and an extensive children’s menu for both younger and older kids, the family certainly won’t leave Grill’d feeling hungry.

A 3 Palmer St, Townsville City

P 4976 9990

 

Regular Markets 

 

Bluewater Twilight Markets

Date: 2nd Saturday of the month Time: 4.00pm – 8.00pm Location: Bluewater Community Centre

 

Bushland Beach Markets

Date: 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month

Time: 9.00am – 1.00pm

Location: Bushland Beach Park

 

Cotters Markets

Date: Every Sunday

Time: 8.30am – 1.00pm

Location: Flinders St & Townsville Bulletin Square

 

Mount View Plaza Markets

Date: Every Saturday (excluding Jan)

Time: 8.00am – 2.00pm.

Location: Mount View Market Place

 

Willows Rotary Markets

Date: Every Sunday

Time: 7.30 – 11.30am

Location: Willows Shopping Centre Car Park

 

Balgal Beach Markets

Date: 1st Saturday of the month

Time: 8.00am – 1.00pm

Location: Fisherman’s LandingBalgal Beach

 

Horseshoe Bay Markets

Date: Every 2nd and last Sunday of the month

Time: 9.00am – 2.00pm

Location: Horseshoe Bay Foreshore

 

Find more things to do here. 

 

 

 

PARENTING

Join Peppa Pig for a Live Online Painting Session!

by Anna Booysen

Get your palette and paintbrush ready to paint with everyone’s favourite little friend, Peppa Pig, on Saturday 25th July! Entertainment One have announced that Cork and Chroma will be hosting a live online painting session. This session is where your little ones can learn how to paint from the comfort of their homes.

The class will begin at 10.00am over Zoom and will provide a whole hour of giggles and fun. Throughout the course, an experienced Cork and Chroma artist will run the course and guide guests of all ages through the Peppa Pig painting. Children will need supervision as they paint and will each require a different level of support depending on their age and ability. Additionally there will be a variety of music breaks between the instructions of the artist – so get ready to play, learn and Paint with Peppa!

Tickets are available on the Cork and Chroma website in two different packages:

Package One: $10.00  

This package includes x1 device access to Paint with Peppa. It may be shared by up to 4 people in one location at no additional charge. Children and adults can use their own art supplies. They will need paper or canvas (approximately 25x30cm), paint and paintbrushes, an old towel or rag and jar of water.

Package Two: $80.00

This package includes x1 device access to Paint with Peppa and a Peppa Paint Pack with art supplies for up to 4 people including canvases (25x30cm), paint, paintbrushes and Peppa Pig Glitter Ears. Families will need their own old towel or rag and jar of water.

Who is Peppa?

Peppa Pig is a loved, top-performing pig from the show with the same name. It follows her and her family as she learns and experiences new things. The show has been translated into more than 40 languages and broadcast in over 180 territories – now having 3 BAFTA Awards for pre-school animation! Peppa is a cheeky pig who LOVES to jump in muddy puddles, play games and dress up.

More About Entertainment One

“Entertainment One Ltd is a global independent studio that specialises in the development, acquisition, production, financing, distribution and sales of entertainment content. The Company’s expertise spans across film, television and music production and sales; family programming, merchandising and licensing; digital content; and live entertainment….”

 

 

CAIRNS

School Holiday Guide for Cairns – June 2020

by Anna Booysen

This month’s school holiday guide for Cairns is a little bit different to usual as many places remain closed due to COVID-19. Here are some of the great places that are open who can offer everything from entertainment, fun and excitement to relaxation, for the whole family. Read the full June edition for Cairns 2020 here. 

CaPTA Group Annual Pass for Locals

Want unlimited fun and unforgettable experiences? CaPTA Group offers great tours and attractions in both Cairns and Port Douglas. Enjoy the beautiful Australian Butterfly Sanctuary, Cairns Zoom and Wildlife Dome, Rainforestation Nature Park and the Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas. And, to sweeten the deal… if you’re a local, you can get some awesome discounts too! The Group Annual Pass allows you to have unlimited admission to all four of the parks mentioned above, so you can enjoy an abundance of adorable Aussie animals, indigenous culture and much more. Locals’ get 20% off, and as a family this means 12 months of free entry to any or all of the parks (yes – you can go as many times as you like!) for a great price.

Cost: $260.00 for a family, $104.00 for an Adult, $52.00 for a child.

Visit website for terms and conditions. Covid-19 restrictions apply.

CaPTA Head Office:

P 4035 3555

E res@capta.com.au

 

Flip Ripley

Flip Ripley has been a favourite for family entertainment in Cairns for 25 years. The Children’s Entertainer and Clown can bring a variety of extreme fun to your event, including magic shows, clown and comedy workshops, portable mini-gold, jumping castles and spectacle roving characters. Flip is perfect for anything from birthday parties to school events and festivals. Laughs and smiles are guaranteed!

Cost: $150.00 per hour. Covid-19 restrictions apply.

P 0410510095

E flip2@westnet.com.au 

 

Painting pARTy

Painting Party is now offering Art Packs for the kids. All designs are pre-drawn and include everything you need! Check out the Painting pARTy shop to see what’s coming. Order early and pick up before these June/July school holidays.

Cost: $20.00

P 0448 930223

E info@paintingparty.com 

 

Cairns South ATC

Cairns South ATC is offering ‘Back to School’ & ‘Cool Coding’ programmes for primary or secondary students, from years 3 – 10. These programmes are fun, engaging, and can help students who need a boost with their literacy or numeracy skills for the start of term 3 – or those who are just looking to learn the basics of programming using Lego Robotics!

Cost: $35.00 per session. Programmes available from 6th July – 10th July. Visit their Facebook page for more information.

A 203-205 Mulgrave Road

P 0405842968

E raygodwin7@gmail.com 

 

Cairns Wake Park

Kids Club kneeboarding and wakeboarding sessions are specifically designed to be an easy learning environment for younger kids. With a target age group of 7 to 12-year olds, our professional coaches can easily ensure that all kids have a fun time while being introduced to the Wake Park in the friendliest way.

Cost: $29.00 per including all equipment and coaching. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 – 10am. Will run during school holidays from June 29th to July 10th. Bookings essential.

A Skyrail Drive, Lot 5, Captain Cook Highway

P 0740381304

E info@cairnswakepark.com.au

 

DFO Cairns

Aside from shopping, check out what’s happening at DFO these school holidays. DFO Grass Head Workshops – Monday 29th June to Friday 3rd July, 11.00am to 1.00pm daily. *Option to create in our workshops or take home.

Billy’s Buddies – Monday 6th to Friday 10th July, every 30 minutes from 9:30am to 11:30am. Let your kids enjoy being taught basic ball skills in a non-contact, fun & social environment. Register here  – every child that attends gets a FREE cinnamon donut from donutking!

A 274 Mulgrave Rd, Westcourt

P 4051 7444

 

Laserfun

Looking for an adrenaline rush these school holidays? Laserfun is Cairns’ ultimate indoor family entertainment centre with laser tag, arcade and virtual reality, awesome fun for children and adults alike. It’s recommended players are at least six years old for laser tag (no upper limit on age – everyone can join in).

Cost: $25.00 per player. 90-minute laser tag sessions on weekends only, every 90 minutes from 10am to 5:30pm. Bookings essential. T&C’s apply.

A T1, DFO Shopping Centre, 274 Mulgrave Rd, Westcourt

P 4031 9865

E bookings@laserfun.com.au 

 

Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures

Visit Hartley’s for a variety of amazing wildlife experiences. Explore the park at your leisure or take part in one of the interactive guided tours! The Mammal Magic tour is perfect for young children and lets you feed, pat, and hold some of the cutest little Australian marsupials.

Cost: Costs vary – check the Hartley’s website. Discounts and concessions are available ONLY at admissions for locals, families, students and seniors. Terms and conditions apply.

A Hartleys Crocodile Adventures – Captain Cook Hwy, Wangetti

P 4055 3576

E reservations@crocodileadventures.com

 

Cairns Aquarium

The adventure begins at Cairns Aquarium. The only aquarium in the world exclusively dedicated to the habitats and species of Tropical North Queensland. It’s a great way to keep the kids learning these school
holidays in the most fun way possible. The best part? Locals receive a 20 per cent discount year-round on general admission prices!

There are tickets available for adults, children, families (2A + 2C) and even an annual pass for 12 months admission.

A 5 Florence St, Cairns City

P 4044 7300

 

Cairns Art Gallery

Cairns Art Gallery are offering some great classes for young artists these school holidays, including hand puppet, mask and lamp making. Classes will take place on 7th and 8th July. Visit their Facebook page for times and costs.

Bookings required for all classes. Due to social distancing requirements group sizes will be kept small, parents and carers will not be able to stay.

A Cnr Abbott & Shields St, Cairns City

P 4046 4800

 

Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park

Treat your family to a little getaway. From basic cabins to deluxe waterview villas, Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park is the ultimate place to stay and play in the gorgeous Atherton Tablelands. With boats, canoes, kayaks and peddle carts for hire, plus a café and general store, there is no way anyone will be bored. The park is pet friendly so feel free to bring your furry family member along!

A 4-28 Tinaroo Falls Dam Rd, Tinaroo

P 4095 8232

 

 

 

PAKMAG

Get Nostalgic and Teach Your Kids the Dance Moves You Grew up With

by Anna Booysen

Dancing is an easy, energising way to combat boredom and give everyone a laugh while we are home during isolation. Slide into the past by teaching your kids some of the best moves from when you were younger. Refresh your own memory and see how well they can do tackling some of our old school favourites! Here are a few dances to give a go and let you and the kids experience a blast from the past. You can also get lost in Google and find some more once you’ve mastered or remastered these:

1. The Macarena – Los Del Rio (Bayside Boys Remix)

Macarena is a Spanish Dance song that became a one hit wonder in the 90’s after it was remixed by Bayside Boys, who added the English verses. It became a popular dance craze appearing on every Wedding and School Dancefloor. Follow the tutorial here and get your kids try those famous moves.

2. The Loco-motion – Kylie Minogue

1987 saw Kylie Minogue release her debut single “The Loco-motion” – a remake of a song from the 1960’s that had her doing the dance to the catchy tune in her music video. The song was a big success in Australia, remaining in the no.1 spot for weeks. The dance will get your hips swinging and your family laughing. Revisit the video here and give the dance a try. 

3. 5,6,7,8 – Steps

Let’s head to the late 90’s and remember Steps’ song ‘5,6,7,8’.  A staple at every Disco, the song is ingrained in our memory… the steps themselves… well they are a little hazy.  Rewatch the music video here and master those moves once again.  

4. YMCA – Village People

The YMCA song and dance has stood the test of time since it was released in the 70’s. It’s still well known and loved and will continue to be so- so make sure you get the kids on top of the dance moves, because they are going to need them throughout their life.  Watch it here to get everyone singing and dancing along.

5. Nutbush – Ike and Tina Turner

Tina Turner was a favourite artist of so many people back in the day. The Nutbush is a line dance done to her song ‘Nutbush City Limits”, which soared in popularity in Australia throughout the 80’s. The dance isn’t actually all too similar to the one you might see in the videos of Tina Turner performing, yet somehow became an Australian phenomenon, with the dance being taught at schools and known by so many. Check out this video for instructions on how to get your feet moving to the song like they once did!

THINGS TO DO

ISOLATION IDEAS – PAKMAG’S ULTIMATE ACTIVITY TOOLBOX

by PakMag Contributor

With changes to schooling, events and activities we came up with a list of activities and resources to learn, connect and have fun at home!

LOCAL ONLINE ACTIVITIES 

The CaPTA Group Wildlife parks have gone into hibernation until further notice.

We love the Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas, Rainforestation Nature Park, Cairns ZOOM and Wildlife Dome and the Australian Butterfly Sanctuary. We’re missing not being there in person… but they are bringing the joy to us online!

Wildlife keepers are giving all the animals all the love and care they need and you can check out their Facebook Pages for animal cuteness, interesting facts and animal information.

Check out their Koala Live Cams from Rainforestation Nature Park – www.capta.com.au/live-cams  and the Facebook live streams Wednesday 10am AEST and Friday 10am AEST

And follow the CaPTA group on Facebook for Live Cams and Facebook Live Streams www.facebook.com/captagroup

Zoo to You has created a Facebook group with the aim of delivering Wildlife Education to the World. You can expect LIVE shows about Australian Animals, resources for learning both for educators and for kids, videos and first access to any online platform programs. Got a question? Ask during the live videos, or join in on one of the discussions. Join now: https://www.facebook.com/groups/627392534357876/

Cairns Museum – The museum has developed some ideas for #covidcairns in a way that will engage children of all ages. You can get involved with the time capsule or even write a journal so that the Museum can record what is what like for children in Cairns during this time. They also have resources for explaining COVID-19 to children.  Find out more at www.cairnsmuseum.org.au/covidcairns/materials-for-children-

Learn Martial Arts from home with Universal Martial Arts Cairns (UMA Cairns)– they are offering online training and private training- sign up today www.umacairns.com/contact

Get creative with Painting pARTy – offering online virtual classes www.paintingparty.com.au

Dance!!!! Whether you are 2 or 72, a beginner or about to embark on a professional career; the FNQ Dance Academy has something to offer you and during isolation, they are offering their classes online. Find out more/ enrol at www.fnqdanceacademy.com.au

Is your child interested in drama? Awaken their imaginations and dive into the creative world of The Young Company Theatre- they are offering online drama classes. Contact them to enrol in a program today  www.theyoungcompany.com.au

WAYS TO GET ACTIVE INDOORS/YOUR OWN BACKYARD

Try GoNoodle – www.gonoodle.com it’s a great online resource with movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts.
Enjoy Free at-home

kids yoga lesson plans with – www.littletwistersyoga.com

Harness the power of YouTube by learning new skills through tutorials. For example: You could try learning specific stances and basic positions for karate, Taekwondo or another martial art (supervision required.)

Create an obstacle course. You can gather up old toys and things you find in storage or your garage and get creative. There’s lots of ideas online too if you’d like some suggestions.

Create a fun age-appropriate ‘circuit workout’ for the family

Try online workout videos or maybe you’ve got some DVD’s you can try together. You could even design your own exercise class and take turns teaching them. Don’t forget to create a music playlist of your favourite tunes.

Set up a tent in your backyard and go camping.

Sneaky Cleaning; have a competition to see who can pick up the most dishes/clothes/socks/Legos/etc laying around the house (and putting them back where they belong). The winner gets to pick the next board game or activity you play.
Dance. Pick a favourite song. Choreograph a dance routine to it. You could also try having a disco in the dark. Cover all the windows, turn off the lights, turn up the music and literally dance like no one is watching- cause they can’t see you!

Have a Nerf battle.

FUN THINGS TO DO AS A FAMILY

Board games to bust the boredom! If the kids don’t know the joy of ‘Passing Go’ and collecting $200, now’s the time to introduce them.

Bust out the paint, glue sticks and the pipe cleaners – it’s craft time! There is limitless online resources to give you ideas; but one of our favourites is: www.allkidsnetwork.com for crafts, activities, mazes, dot to dots and more.

Learn the Japanese art of paper folding: Origami.

Have a toddler? Keep them busy with these indoor activities www.busytoddler.com

Storytime done differently – check out Storytime from Space- hear real Astronauts read books in orbit at www.storytimefromspace.com or head to www.storylineonline.net to hear kids’ books read by famous people.

Use that pile of unmatched socks next to the drier to create Puppets! You can also use paper bags or stuffed animals with their stuffing pulled out. Great ideas and resources on how to create your own puppet show can be found at www.micheleepuppets.org

Do your kids love comics? Why not help them create their own comic book. Check out www.comiclife.com

Hit the Kitchen; bake a cake, cupcakes and cookies. Try your hand at making pickles and jam (yum). Get competitive: have an untimed Iron Chef/ Masterchef style contest with the whole family. Choose an ingredient, and everyone makes a different dish (and dinner).

Card Games; play games you know and learn new games. If you haven’t heard of ‘spoons’ it’s awesome. Once you’ve mastered the standard version of ‘Spoons’ try ‘Ultimate Spoons’ you place the spoon across the room, or at the end of an obstacle course. You can also try building a house of cards.

Get old school with salt dough. Recipes to make your own are easily found online.

LEGO®!!! Search ’30-day LEGO® Challenge’ online – there are tonnes to choose from. You can also play a modified version of Pictionary with LEGO®. Make a list of animals and objects, write them on individual pieces of paper, place them in an empty box and draw out one when it’s |your teams turn. Set a 5-minute time limit per creation, see if your partner can guess it before time runs out. 1 point scored per correct guess.

Upcycled Art; find broken toys or things that need to be thrown away around the house. Get out the sticky tape and glue and challenge
the kids to create a sculpture. (This is a fun way to spring clean).

Word Scrambles; pick a sentence from a book. See how many words the kids can make from the letters in the sentence.

Create a secret code. Once you’ve got the symbol key, write a letter to someone in code and get them to decipher the message.

Have a backyard pool? Why not have a paper boat race?

Try making your own musical instruments (there are hundreds of ideas online), then make your own band and create some songs.

Read books. Have a prize for the family member who reads the most books during a set amount of time.

Did you know your local library has online resources like e-books, audiobooks and online magazines too?

Love to act? Why not put on a family play? You could stream it to family and friends. Or you could create a home movie with your smartphone video.

You’re probably thinking about all the adventures you’d like to be having, so why not use this time to plan your next family holiday?

Watch a favourite movie or cartoon on mute and make up your own dialogue.

Put that pen to paper; everyone loves to receive a handwritten card or note. Take the time to write a letter to your grandparents or other relatives or friends. You could even make and send a Thank You card to a Community Hero.

The classics: puzzles and wordfinds. You can even create your own or play online at www.jigsawexplorer.com

Play dress-ups.

Play traditional Hide and Seek or change it up with Hide and Seek with objects: One person hides the object in the house, and everyone else tries to find it.

Try fostering an animal from your local shelter. Animals are a great way to reduce stress and maybe you’ve been thinking about getting a furry family member for a while and this is a good opportunity for your children to learn responsibility for a new pet.

Get creative: Learn to sew or knit or try making jewellery. Order a kit online or use materials from around the house.

Start a home garden (indoor or outdoor)

THINGS TO LEARN ONLINE

The World Wide Web gives a window to the outside world when we need to stay inside. Here’s some of the best resources we have found
to help you keep exploring and learning;

Get Creative with LEGO dots. Artist and designer Rachel Burke is hosting a two week series of free video craftorials in collaboration with LEGO, inspired by the LEGO DOTS play range. The first of the new range include room decor and wearables, and is focused on giving kids a blank canvas to get creative on. Unleash your imagination and watch the craftorials on her youtube channel here www.youtube.com/channel

Tiger Tribe, innovators of children’s activity sets and toys, is offering a series of free Downloadable Activity Kits. Perfect for playing with both outdoors and indoors, these kits will encourage creativity in your kids and help keep them busy. 

Learn remotely with Education Services Australia – ESA have a range of resources online to support students, teachers and parents with their education and wellbeing during isolation. This includes STEM education, cooking, art, reading, and much more. Check out these resources at www.esa.edu.au/other/online-resources

Discover more about sustainability and the environment –  ‘Crystalbrook Earth kids is an initiative  to kids with education on sustainability and responsible luxury, where they can follow the how’to guides. Little chefs can watch the cooking classes that are also available (and don’t worry, adults can learn tricks of the trade too at www.crystalbrookcollection.com/athome-with-crystalbrook) 

The Australian National Maritime Museum have a range of creative games, activities and learning programs for students. Learn about Australian history, science and cultural life through stories of the sea at www.sea.museum/learn/school-excursions/teacher-resources/encounters-2020  

Give STEM education a go. The collection at littlebinsforlittlehands.com/printable-activities has all sorts of activities that you can do for cheap with basic household supplies, as well as some general indoor activities for kids 

ABC Education brings you thousands of free, curriculum-linked resources for Primary and Secondary students and teachers www.education.abc.net.au you could also try www.scholastic.com/learnathome or the www.khanacademy.com

Have books read to you on Audible. They have a large collection of free audiobooks for children and teens while schools are closed, which you can find at stories.audible.com/discovery

Everyone loves Dr Seuss. Read, play games, and hang out in www.seusville.com

Learn a language with Duolingo www.duolingo.com. You could then watch your favourite movie or cartoon in the language you’ve been learning. (Most DVDs have other language options.)

Get musical; lessons and exercises for all abilities at www.musictheory.net and www.sightreadingfactory.com

Don’t have an instrument? Play online with a virtual guitar, piano, drums and more at www.virtualmusicalinstruments.com

Space science for kids www.nasa.gov/kidsclub

Learn to code with www.codeacademy.com or, www.kodable.com or even Star Wars www.code.org/starwars

Improve your typing skills while competing in fast-paced races with people from around the world. www.nitrotype.com

Take a trip to a museum: Head to London and explore Egyptian mummies at the British Museum www.britishmuseum.withgoogle.com
Love art? Head to the world famous Metropolitan Museum of Art with Metkids www.metmuseum.org/art or the Louvre in Paris, France where the Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci calls home www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne

TRAVEL THE WORLD (AND BEYOND) ONLINE

Explore the arts, history and foreign places with Google Arts & Culture.

Explore geography and animals with National Geographic www.kids.nationalgeographic.com and watch animals (in real time) with www.earthcam.com

Melbourne Zoo are bringing the Zoo to you  at www.fnqdanceacademy.com.au You have a live stream into the animal’s homes and lives at Melbourne Zoo or Werribee Open Range Zoo. With Snow Leopard, Penguin, Giraffe, Lion and Zebra Cam you can keep the kids entertained for hours.

Taronga Zoo has also gone live … check out Taronga TV taronga.org.au/taronga-tv 

The San Diego Zoo has a website just for kids with amazing videos, activities, and games. Enjoy the tour! www.kids.sandiegozoo.org

Tour Yellowstone National Park www.nps.gov/yell

Travel along the Great Wall of China www.thechinaguide.com/destination/great-wall-of-china

Explore the surface of Mars with the Curiosity Rover. www.accessmars.withgoogle.com

Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? You loved playing it as a child; introduce your kids to the fun www.carmensandiego.com

REASONS TO KEEP EXERCISING AS AN ADULT
HEALTH

10 REASONS TO KEEP EXERCISING AS AN ADULT

by PakMag Contributor

Sometimes as an adult, you think there is no time in the world. You barely have enough time to cook dinner before your brain explodes, so there’s no way you could fit in exercising too… certainly not? There are many reasons to keep exercising as an adult, though!

But you can! Exercise is so important to ensure your body stays intact so you must find time to put aside for exercise in your schedule. In an ideal situation, one hour a day would be recommended, but due to the stress of family and busy schedules this can’t always happen. Whether it be going for a run or walking the dog, try to find an hour every few days to do some physical activity. This is why you should.

1. Increases happiness

When you exercise, your body realises endorphins which triggers positive feelings. These positive feelings can help improve your mood throughout the day and there have been links showing exercise can relieve some signs of depression.

2. Helps bones and muscles

As you age, muscles and bones start to lose strength so it is important to continue to strengthen them. Through exercise, they increase in function which helps to ensure no injuries are developed through ageing.

3. Reduces stress

Ever just want to get rid of the stresses of work or forget the bad day that just passed? Well exercise helps to do this while keeping fit. Regular exercise helps relieve stress by helping the body to relax and be calm.

4. Reduce chronic disease risk

Lack of exercise and physical active is one of the leading causes of chronic disease so therefore completing physical activity regularly eliminates this factor.

5. Boosts productivity

Exercise helps increase brain function throughout the day by having higher blood flow to the brain, keeping it more alert and active. A the brain is more alert this helps boost daily productivity, whether this be at work or at home.  

6. Improves sleep quality

Ever feel like you can’t sleep due to stress of nerves? Well exercise helps decrease this, making it easier for you to fall asleep at night and helps let you have a good nights sleep.

7. Forms new friendships

Whether it be a lifelong friendship or a new acquaintance, exercising helps you socialise. Friends can be made through exercise by finding a gym buddy, joining a sports club or just saying hey to new people as your walk your dog. All of these basic interactions can help improve your day, or the other persons.

8. Improves memory

As exercising helps to keep the brain active, this helps keep the part of the brain involved in memory more alert. Can’t remember what time your meant to pick the kids up from their mates, well now you can!

9. Eating habits improve

Having a good exercise habit can help motivate you to eat better too. Eating a well rounded diet helps your body to get the most out of exercising.

10. Increases Lifespan

Whether it be moderate of heavy regular exercise, both helps to increase your lifespan. No matter your age or fitness level when you begin regular exercise, every bit helps.