Set out paper, crayons, washable paints and child-safe craft supplies. Children can make greeting cards, paper animals, bookmarks or their own comic books. Let them choose the colours and designs rather than following a strict example.

Hide safe objects around a room and offer clues to help children find them. Younger kids can follow simple hints, while older children can solve riddles or use a handmade map. A sticker or the chance to choose the next game makes a fun reward.

Use sheets, cushions and stable furniture to make a secret hideout. Add storybooks and soft toys, then turn the space into a pretend campsite, castle or spaceship. Keep the structure low and stable, with plenty of ventilation.

Let children wash fruit, mix ingredients or assemble sandwiches. Older kids can measure ingredients and follow a simple recipe. Talk about colours, textures and quantities as you work. Adults should handle knives, hot pans and boiling water.

Take a walk in a nearby park or garden. Ask children to find leaves of different shapes, notice birds or count flowers. If you stay indoors, plant a seed in a pot and watch it grow over the coming days.

Choose matching games, puzzles, chess, checkers or family trivia according to your child's age. You can even invent a board game with paper, dice and small toys. Keep the emphasis on enjoying the game together.

Place celery in coloured water and observe the changes over time, or mix baking soda and vinegar in a large tray to watch the fizz. Ask children what they expect to happen before they begin. Supervise closely and never let them taste experiment materials.

Turn old socks or paper bags into characters with child-safe craft materials. Children can invent a story, create a cardboard theatre and perform for family members or stuffed toys. Let the plot change as the characters interact.

Use floor markers, cushions and open space to create simple movement challenges. Children can follow a line, step around cushions or balance a beanbag. Keep the course away from stairs, sharp corners and slippery surfaces.

Offer picture books, comics, fairy tales or books about animals and space. Read together, guess what might happen next or invent a different ending. Let children choose books that match their interests.

Play music on a speaker and invent dance moves together. Try freeze dance by pausing the music at random moments. Children can also make simple rhythms with safe homemade shakers. Keep the volume comfortable.

Give children a pot, suitable soil and seeds or a young plant. Let them help with watering and observe new leaves. They can draw the plant in a simple diary to record changes over time. Wash hands after gardening.

Arrange clean empty packages or toys on a table and create a pretend shop. Children can take turns being the shopkeeper and customer. Use paper money and price labels to practise counting and simple calculations.

Collect drawings, printed family photos and paper keepsakes. Arrange them in a notebook and add captions or stories about special days. Children can draw their favourite memories if photographs aren't available.

Spread a mat in the garden, balcony or a suitable park. Pack simple snacks, a ball or a deck of cards. Let children help prepare the bag and choose one game. On rainy days, bring the picnic indoors.