As thousands of teachers head out on strike this week, it may mean you're looking for something to do with the kids.
If you've been able to get the day off then you may want to make the most of it with a trip out - although with so many families in the same boat, places may not be as quiet as expected, plus not many people will have the cash to spare at this time of year.
Or perhaps the kids are off but you're still having to work from home, so need to find something to keep the little ones happy while you do.
Before you start having flashbacks to lockdown - where parents were often left tearing their hair out trying to help kids with school work as well as do their own jobs - let's remember this is just a few days.
The first strike takes place on Wednesday, February 1, with further protests planned for February 28, then March 15 and March 16.
If you're looking for some inspiration to fill those days, we've got a whole host of ideas here.
Shadow drawing
You need is the sun for this one, which is coming out a little more as we reach the final weeks of winter, but you could always use a lamp if needs be.
Ask your child to get their favourite animals or characters out and they can easily draw around the shadows. You might get even more peace while they spend time colouring them in too.
Drive-in movie
You don't need a drive-in movie when you can make your own.
It's quite easy to turn a big cardboard box into their very own car and they can help paint it too. Stick a cushion inside, give them some movie snacks, stick a film on and there you have it.
Pebbles
Pebble art has been quite a thing over recent years, with people decorating rocks and leaving them in parks and other places for people to find.
Something as simple as felt tips does the trick on lighter rocks, with children decorating them however they want - some making funny faces out of them.
If you want them to last longer outside then you'd be better using acrylic paint coated with varnish to give an extra layer of protection.
Egg decorating
It might not be Easter time yet, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun decorating some eggs.
If you don't mind using up some of your precious groceries then hard boil a couple and get creative. If not then there are plenty of craft sets you can buy with eggs to colour in and decorate.
Treasure / nature hunt
There's all sorts of fun to be had indoors or outdoors with a treasure hunt.
Give each child a bag with a list on showing what they have to find - a leaf, a flower, a stick, a stone - you get the picture.
You could use the collected items to make a nature picture afterwards, or a leaf print.
And if you want to stay indoors then why not hide some letters or words around the house. They can find them and then use them to make words and sentences. They won't even realise they're learning.
There are loads of ideas for nature scavenger hunts from the Woodland Trust here.
Chalk
During lockdown, families found themselves using coloured chalks to brighten up all manner of things - including their own walls and driveways.
Get the kids to brighten up the pavement or get them drawing a game of Hopscotch to play to tire them out. I'm sure it won't take too long before we have a downpour to wash it all away.
Hopscotch
Talking of hopscotch, it's easy to make your own game inside too.
A bit of tape on the floor is all you need to create it indoors. Or if you'd rather protect your floors with foam numbered mats, you can buy them from Amazon here.
They have pop-out numbers, which you could use for learning with too.
Robots
Boxes, bottles, tubes, or whatever else you have hanging around at home can be put to good use to make your very own robot.
You could use gold paper or foil, while paint or felt tips would work on cardboard too - perhaps covering the box in plain white paper first if needed.
Tea party
If you've got a few children they can enjoy a tea party together, but even only children can enjoy it with a bit of imagination.
It's something Sarah Bicknell's daughter Millie enjoyed when lockdown stopped her from being able to invite friends to her fifth birthday.
She invited her toys along instead - giving each of them their own invitation and setting it up ready for the special day.
They even enjoyed a treasure hunt in the garden and pass the parcel.
Milk bottle elephants
It's so easy to make these elephants out of plastic milk bottles and they look so good.
Just cut the bottom off the bottle and cut arches into the back and sides to make the legs, then chop the handle so it looks like a trunk.
Cover them with glue and then stick on the crepe paper and googly eyes. You'll soon have a full family of Elmer the Patchwork Elephants to enjoy.
And if Elmer isn't their thing, then why not turn an empty bottle into a bird feeder (main image).
Felt tips is all you need to colour the plastic, but you can also stick paper, feathers and other things on to make them bright and colourful.
Cars / garage
That sticky tape we mentioned for creating hopscotch. Well here's another great idea.
If you've got a young car lover in the family you can use it to create roads, roundabouts, you name it.
And if you've got a spare box hanging around, why not help them make a garage for putting the cars in too.
Button pictures
Most people have some spare buttons lying around - usually in the drawer of doom where everything ends up that has no place.
All you need is a felt tip and some glue and they can make their own button picture. Brightly coloured buttons will work best and you can use them to make dresses, musical notes, balloons and more.
Monopoly
Yes most of us have played a game of Monopoly before, but have you ever made your own version.
Dad-of-three Steven Erskine decided to make his own local version - Poynton Monopoly - to encourage their two oldest children, Anna, 18, and nine-year-old Thomas to play it together during the first lockdown.
All it took was the back of a cereal box and some felt tips and it can be replicated for any area - putting in all the landmarks your children will recognise.
Illustrating
If your children like drawing there's lots of inspiration around, with illustrators offering free online tutorials to help them improve.
A popular one is #DrawWithRob, a website from author and illustrator Rob Biddulph, who's written books including Grrrrr! about a bear called Fred who loses his growl.
His videos, showing children how to create everything from a sausage dog to their very own Fred Bear, are easily accessible on his website here. Children have been sharing their finished drawings with him online using the hashtag #DrawWithRob.
Wallpaper people
If they've caught the drawing bug then why not carry it on and get them creating their own wallpaper people.
All you need is an old roll of wallpaper, or any other paper for that matter, lie your little one down on it and draw around them. Amazing how long they will spend colouring themselves in afterwards. They might also want to make a wallpaper mum, dad or sibling too. And why not if you get a little lie down out of it.
It might even encourage them to learn more about each part of the body, but let's not get carried away.
Is your child's school striking? Do you have plans to keep your children entertained? Let us know in the comments.
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