6 Ideas to Try Right Now
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#1·15–20 min
Word Treasure Hunt
🛒Materials: Paper, pencil
- 1Hide 5 paper 'clues' around the house, each with a simple word (e.g. DOOR, TABLE).
- 2Each clue leads to the next hiding spot.
- 3Final clue leads to a small reward (sticker, snack).
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Write words your child can almost-but-not-quite read for the perfect challenge.
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#2·15 min
Mini Science Lab: Fizzing Colours
🛒Materials: Baking soda, vinegar, food colouring, ice cube tray
- 1Fill each ice cube section with baking soda.
- 2Add a drop of different food colouring to each.
- 3Use a pipette or spoon to add vinegar — watch each one fizz!
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#3·10–15 min
Coin Rubbing Art
🛒Materials: Coins, thin paper, wax crayons
- 1Place a coin flat under the paper.
- 2Rub the side of a crayon over the coin.
- 3The coin's texture appears on the paper — collect all the coins you have!
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#4·20 min
Build a Paper Chain World Record
🛒Materials: Strips of paper, tape or glue
- 1Cut paper into strips (about 2cm wide).
- 2Loop the first strip and tape closed.
- 3Thread next strip through and tape — keep going as long as possible.
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#5·20 min
Backyard Bug Survey
🛒Materials: Paper, pencil, magnifying glass (optional)
- 1Draw a simple data table: Bug | Tally.
- 2Walk slowly around the garden for 10 minutes.
- 3Every bug spotted gets a tally mark — which is most common?
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Introduce the word 'survey' — they feel very grown-up doing science.
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#6·10–15 min
20 Questions (Car Edition)
🛒Materials: None
- 1One person thinks of something (animal, place, food).
- 2Others ask yes/no questions to guess what it is.
- 3Maximum 20 questions — then they must guess!
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Start with easy categories for younger kids: 'I'm thinking of an animal.'
