Sure Start Speke

It may seem like your child is always bouncing from one thing to another, leaving a trail of toys behind them that covers the floor as the day progresses. It's nice to have the family at home, but the day-to-day work of keeping the house clean, the family fed, and the bills paid goes on as usual. What can you do to keep the kids in line and amused without emptying your wallet?

With a few quick keystrokes, you can search for free activities online that can not only keep your child out of your hair, but also spur them to use their creativity, or to help them build a spirit of healthy competition with themselves that will teach them the joy of self improvement. Creative projects, puzzles and games are all very easy to find, and many of them won't require you to stretch the holiday budget even further.

How-to videos for free:

There are several virtual communities centered around do-it-yourself projects where people from all over the world share their ideas for clever and fun things to do, many of which can be created using items from around your house. Your child can simply follow the steps as shown, and using items you can find around the house, they'll be able to conduct a science experiment, create a decorative craft, or learn an art technique. If you don't have a box of art supplies, it may be worth it to get some, as it may inspire your children to create something they wouldn't have at the means to do otherwise.

Free puzzles:

Thanks to the Java and Flash software platforms, there are now several places to find virtual jigsaw puzzles on the web. Like their physical counterparts, you have to sift through a smattering of scattered puzzle pieces, and figure out which piece goes where.

Unlike physical jigsaw puzzles where the pieces are scattered randomly inside the box, online jigsaw puzzles, for the most part, will have a pile of pieces that are already facing upright and are oriented properly with their final resting position. Some may find that this makes the virtual puzzle easier, but they also may that using a mouse to click and drag on pieces is a challenge in itself.

Free games:

If they've got lots of energy to burn, it may be your best bet to get them to channel their drive into a something that can test their skills and focus their attention. There are thousands of kids games free to play online that are as fun and addictive as a console game that costs hundreds of dollars. If you've ever found yourself playing computer Solitaire again and again, you know that sometimes the simplest games can be the most fun.

Your child won't always be in the mood to create something brilliant, but if they push themselves to beat their own high scores at video games, they may develop a love of winning that could someday translate into the desire to win an athletic scholarship, or study their way into a top college. In the meantime, they can enjoy the countless crafts, puzzles and free online games at their disposal, and stay busy until the next school term starts.