Keep the kids busy these school holidays

Entertained and fed children are happy children

As any parent knows, the two most frequently uttered phrases during the school holidays are “I’m bored” and “Can I have something to eat?”

Well, we’re here for you! We’ve pulled together some of the hottest activities around Chatswood these school holidays, as well as places to eat out, and ideas for easy to cook meals and snacks the kids can sort themselves while you get on with work.

Are you ready? Let’s go.

Activities a-plenty

If the weather over the past few months has taught us anything, it’s that conditions could be unpredictable for the April school holidays. So with that in mind, we’ve collated a mix of indoor and outdoor activities that you may like to consider:

• Kidtopia Club in Chatswood is offering 4 and 5 day chess programs
• Kids Circle has full-day programs with a mix of art, craft, dance for children from kindy to year 3
• NIDA is holding holiday drama courses at The Concourse in Chatswood for children from kindergarten right through to year 12
• Also at The Concourse, there are performances of the play based on David Walliams’s book, The Midnight Gang, on April 16-18
• Balmoral Water Sports Centre has school holiday programs for children 5 to 15 years, with activities including sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and paddleboarding
• Northbridge Baths are always worth a visit, or for indoor swimming, head to Willoughby Leisure Centre, which also has a formal school holiday program

Eat your heart out these holidays

If there’s one thing Chatswood has in spades, it’s good, kid-friendly places to eat. We love District Dining for the diverse options where you can please the whole gang. School holidays favourites for the kids include:

• Sushi from Akira
• Ramen from Ippudo
• Crispy fried chicken from Chicken V
• Dumplings at Lilong by Taste of Shanghai

And of course, don’t forget dessert. The nitrogen ice-cream at Celsius Dessert Bar is always a favourite!

And the double-act: cooking for the ultimate “fed and kept busy” solution

If you need to stay home, getting the kids busy cooking can be the ultimate strategy to keep them busy and fill their tummies. Suitable activities depend on the age of your children, but there’s plenty of easy meals that aren’t sandwiches or junk food to tick all the boxes.

Some of our favourite kid-friendly easy foods to prepare include:

• Omelettes, frittatas and quiche: Egg-based meals are fast, easy and nutritious, with plenty of scope for the children to modify ingredients based on their own preference
• Sausage rolls: A firm favourite, and making your own is easy with bought pastry
• Rice paper rolls: A great way to get salad and veggies into the kids, and you can even experiment with fruit rice paper rolls for a sweet option.