Holidays are a time for rest and fun. However, even the youngest family members often run out of ideas for active and interesting ways to spend their time. Here are a few game suggestions that will help deal with holiday boredom.

1. Painting on cling film. Hang cling film between two objects, like trees. Paint on it using a brush, fingers, a sponge, or a small inflated balloon. You can use any paint – poster, tempera, or acrylic. The effect will surely surprise you!

2. Painting pebbles. Find several small stones. Decorate them using markers, chalk, or pastels.

3. Bringing shadows to life. Prepare a sheet of paper, a pencil, crayons, and any figures, like animals. Place the figure so that its shadow falls on the sheet. Trace its outline, then complete the drawing with crayons.

4. Foot painting. Join several large sheets of paper together using tape, like Bristol board or packing paper. Pour a large amount of tempera paint into flat dishes, add water, and mix well. Paint using only your feet.

5. Following dinosaur tracks. Prepare several white sheets, scissors, paint, pastels, or markers. Draw a dinosaur paw print on each sheet, then cut it out. Arrange all the prints into a path leading to a special treasure, like a bouquet of flowers for mom, previously decorated pebbles, or a toy. Ask your parents to follow the dinosaur trail and find the treasure.

1. My own garden – nature observations. Prepare two small pots. Fill one with soil and the other with sand. Into the pots, put seeds of a selected plant, like lavender or forget-me-nots. Care for them daily – water them, don't leave them in full sun all day. Did both plants grow? How do they look? Why are they different? Record your observations.

2. Nature's treasures. Dig a small hole in the ground. Look for the most beautiful and small elements of nature, like flowers, leaves, branches, pebbles. Place them in the hole and bury your treasure.

3. Jar garden. Prepare any jar. Put chosen nature elements in it, like flowers, branches, pebbles, cones, leaves, grass. You can decorate the jar with a ribbon and keep it as a decoration in the house.

4. Insect houses. Build an insect house with your parents. Ask an adult to drill several holes of different diameters in a piece of wood. Attach a piece of string or ribbon to it. Hang the house in a visible place. Observe the secret life of insects together!

5. Balloon games. The garden or playground is a great place for balloon games – you need a lot of space. You can bounce one or several balloons according to specific rules with your siblings or friends: once with the right hand, once with the left; only with the head, stomach, elbow, foot. You can also use balloon games as an introduction to learning volleyball – try bouncing it with your fingers and using the underhand method.

6. Block games. Smaller blocks are not suitable for outdoor play – they are easily lost. However, XXL-sized Construction Bricks or Maxi Waffle will provide hours of fun outdoors. You can use them to build various structures – a house, restaurant, castle with a fortress.

1. Sand games. One of the best games of all time! Build a sandy royal court – a castle, streets, stables. You can also create a highway with underground tunnels. Open your bakery or restaurant. Using molds, 'bake' the most beautiful cakes and cupcakes for your customers. Sand is also a perfect canvas for drawing. Use a small stick to create beautiful paintings!

Pedagogue Klaudia Sokołowska-Baryś for Marioinex Education