Do you have a spare bit of table space somewhere? Why not use it to set up a 500-piece family jigsaw puzzle? Leave it out during the school holidays and see how long it takes for you all to complete it, bit by bit, as you go about your day-to-day activities.

Gradually complete it, with just a minute or two here and there. You could be surprised at how addictive it can become, for adults and children alike… how calming and therapeutic… and how competitive! And wait for the sense of achievement when you’ve completed it – who will fit the final piece? A perfect, long-lasting filler activity for wet winter days.

Semprini’s at the Unley Shopping Centre currently have some fantastic and very reasonable 500-piece jigsaws which are educational as well as fun – the world map, the solar system, flags of the world, to name a few.

Fun, collaborative, and great for cognitive development and general knowledge. What’s not to like?