Top 5 weird and wonderful ways to keep the kids busy this school holidays

With sporting clubs, community hubs and even wineries among the places offering ways to keep the kids busy, here’s my top five ideas to keep them happy.

Tie dying was cool in the 60s and it's still just as cool now.

To give the children a chance to get their groove on with multi coloured cloth book them in for a tie dying workshop with The Cleverness Art School.

The Ralston Drive studio’s first classes will run on December 20-21 – with a host of other dates in January which can be booked through its website.

Library staff have called on 8-16 year olds to put together a team of four to take part in its escape room activity.

The young detectives will be asked to solve a series of puzzles to find an exit, based on the book The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan.

There are several sessions which will run throughout the day on January 22.

The fastest team will be rewarded with glory – and a major prize.

Bookings can by made through Eventbrite.

The benefits of learning an instrument on young brains have been well documented, but when lessons take place outside the home it’s much better on everyone’s brains.

Luckily, the PCYC will host small group guitar and drum lessons during the second and third week of January.

The sessions are run by local musicians and bookings can be made by dropping in or giving the PCYC at call.

Christmas Day should not be the only time you can appreciate wine all day while encouraging the children to keep themselves busy.

Thanks to Heifer Station, it need not be.

In addition to cheese platters, snacks and wine, the Escort Way vineyard has a petting zoo that is home to a herd of furry friends.

Alpacas, three highland cattle – Curly, Larry and Mo-nique – chooks, goats, Suffolk sheep, Shetland ponies and wine-dogs are all waiting for your little ones to love them.

The petting zoo and farm is open every day during the school holidays.

It's meant to just be for the children but I'm pretty sure you're never too old to not celebrate a successful inflatables run.

Pending pool policy, young ones and young ones at heart can enjoy the inflatable every Sunday at the Orange Aquatic Centre from 11am.

The pool will host a heap of other outdoor activities these school holidays, including movie nights, discos and game days.

They’re kicking things off early this Friday with a free screening of The Minions from 6pm to 7.30pm.

Check out the Facebook page for more details.