6 ways to keep your kids entertained these school holidays (for less than $100).

Remember being a kid and counting down the days until school holiday time?

When you get to be a parent, however, it’s hard to believe they roll around so fast – and while kids obviously love the holidays, for parents it can be stressful trying to think of activities to keep them amused.

But don’t stress.

With school holidays looming once again, here are six creative and affordable school holiday activity ideas for filling the time with fun and creating happy memories.

We’ve got your back.

1. Craft projects.

It’s always amazing to see what kids will come up with when they are given free reign and a stack of paper, washable paints, stickers and crayons. Grab a wipeable table cloth and set them up at the dining table or kitchen bench with everything they’ll need for an afternoon of fun.

Crack out BIG W’s Crayola crayons and hold their attention with new Minions and Frozen craft packs (at a special price of $10 until October 7) that will amuse them for hours.

2. Board games.

What family doesn’t have the time-honoured tradition of board games during the school holidays? Kids love the classics, and for early primary school-aged children, there are plenty of family-friendly versions of old favourites.

Head to BIG W for games like Monopoly, Cluedo and Twister – and pick them up for just $25 from September 24 until October 7.

3. DVD sessions.

What parent hasn’t relied on DVDs to get them through the school holidays? On rainy days especially, having a good stash of DVDs on hand are a godsend.

BIG W has you covered for family entertainment this school holidays with a selection of DVDs from the Disney vault, including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and The Lion King as well as new releases and other kid-friendly options. The best news is that Disney Classics DVDs are 25% off from September 24 until October 7 – starting from $9 each, they’re a steal.

4. Books

Books are educational AND keep the kids amused – and quiet. I find a good option is to grab a box set of a series that will keep them occupied for days.

BIG W has lots of kids’ books to choose from, including Disney books, priced from $5.

5. Special treats.

Sweet treats like lollies and chips are ‘sometimes’ foods – but school holidays definitely count as sometimes.

Why not organise a treasure hunt with a lolly feast as the reward? Stock up on Maltesers, M&Ms (on special for $3 from September 24 until October 7) and Allen’s sweets (on special for $2 from September 24 until October 7) at BIG W.

6. Monster Jam toys.

Look, sometimes, school holidays call for some new toys to keep kids (and parents) sane.

They don’t need to break the bank, though – BIG W’s range of Monster Jam hot wheel toys and DVDs will keep both boys and girls busy. And with Big W’s current promotion, prices start as low as $9.50. They are great for racing around the living room or spending hours constructing obstacle courses from (and they are one of the cheapest ways to keep kids occupied).

There you have it – six simple and affordable ideas to get the school holidays off to a good (and calm) start.

Parents: Good luck. Hang in there. You’ve got this.

What do you do to keep the kids entertained when you start hearing them say, “I’m bored”?

Speaking of entertaining and educating, here are some classic kids movies (with the very best of life lessons):