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Holiday boredom strikes at the worst of times. It's raining outside, you've got three times as much washing as usual and there's not a crumb of food in the house. To top it off, you've got a bunch of bored children whinging and whining about having nothing fun to do. Don't let it get to this point! Have a handful of ideas up your sleeve to pacify those pesky children of yours, and any other children who have been dumped on (sorry, are visiting) you for the day.

Holiday programmes

They range from sedate indoor art and craft projects to screaming around a sports field, but regardless of their nature, holiday programmes are a great way for your kids to make new friends. Enrol your child in a holiday workshop - far more productive than sitting inside a stuffy room playing Xbox. Your first port of call should be your child's school. You could also try your local community centre, check out the noticeboard at the supermarket, or simply ask around. Photo © Maria Krenchko

Time out

While amusing the kids is a sure bet for keeping the boredom bugs at bay, don't forget the purpose of a holiday. School is a demanding time for children, physically and mentally, so let them take a bit of time out in the holidays to relax, catch up on sleep and recharge their batteries. In doing so, you'll also get the chance to chill out with your children and enjoy some peace and quiet. Photo © Katie Perkins

Walk it off

Cabin fever is a serious symptom of the school holiday slump. Pack up the kids and head to the hills, beach or bush for a walk. You'll all get a breath of fresh air and some exercise, and you'll no longer be pent up indoors. What's more, the physical exertion is likely to make your children tired and sleepy - early dinner then straight to bed when you get home! Visit the Department of Conservation website for information on walks in your area. Photo © Alison Stedman

Put the holiday in school holidays!

Outlandish suggestion, I know. But after all, it is the school holidays. If you're lucky enough to get time off work too, then pack your bags and get out of town for a family holiday! A couple of days or a couple of weeks - just do it. Stay in a hotel, a motel, or hire a campervan and cruise the country snail-style, with your home on your back. The whole family will love you for it.

Get your game face on

Entertaining children is serious business. Get creative with games and activities that they'll really enjoy. One idea is to organise an Easter party; get the kids to wear bunny ears and have hopping sack races, plan an Easter egg hunt, play the chocolate game and pin the tail on the Easter Bunny. If that's too Suzy Cato for you, simply let the rugrats loose in the backyard with a soccer ball or Frisbee and see how long they last. Photo © Paula Lalich

Let's go camping

If today's TVs, PlayStations, computer games and mobile phones are driving a wedge through your family: get rid of them! Camping is all about roughing it, turning off your mobile phone (if it even gets reception) and taking a torch to the toilet in the middle of the night across a minefield of tent pegs and trip ropes. You don't even have to leave your property. Simply pitch a tent in your backyard and camp under the stars, declaring the tent a gadget-free zone.

Santa's Little Helpers

It's not child labour if it's fun! Turn up the music and employ the kids to help out around the house - cleaning windows, washing floors or hanging out the washing. If they insist on being paid for their good deeds, make the payment something like pizza for dinner (better still, get them to help you make your own pizza at home), a DVD night or a sleepover with friends. Many little hands make light work, and your precious elves are no exception.

Visit family

Now's a better time than ever to get back in touch with family. Make up for lost time by taking the children to see their relatives in the holidays. If you haven't got time off work, see if their grandparents, aunties or uncles would be happy to have the kids visit for a while. Family make the best babysitters. You won't have to feel guilty about palming them off to some stranger, and your littlies will benefit from the quality time with their relatives. Everyone wins! Photo © Cassie Roma

Books and Bones

Libraries and museums are fantastic school-holiday survival destinations. That's because they are 'quiet spaces' - imposing silence on even the most boisterous of children. As well as books, libraries lend videos, DVDs and even board games, a cheaper alternative to buying them new. The Auckland War Memorial Museum is free for Aucklanders until May, and they have exciting exhibitions and hands-on workshops especially for little minds.