However, many parents don’t want to see them spend their time away from school doing nothing but watching TV and playing on their devices.

Understanding this, a number of facilities have designed comprehensive school holiday programs to keep kids busy and entertained throughout January.

Bathurst Library kicks off its school holiday program on Monday, January 16 with ‘Sunshine and Lollipops’ paper mandala making.

This workshop will be followed by Cardboard Crowns and Castles on Tuesday and then a mini tree making workshop on Wednesday.

“It is kind of like bonsai, but not actually with live trees,” Bathurst Library outreach programs officer Natalie Conn said. “We’ll be collecting twigs and sticks and using craft paper to make little bonsais with.”

Thursday’s workshop will see kids make dragon lanterns for Chinese New Year, while Friday will give children the chance to make fabric flowers.

The activities at the library will continue the following week with Ghost Jam on January 23, where ghost stories are told and kids can make up their own in a workshop following the performance.

Two workshops from Fizzics Education, called LEGO Robotics and Gross Science, will be held on January 23.

Each workshop costs $10 per child. More information about each workshop, including times, are available from www.facebook.com/BathurstLibrary or by phoning the library on 6333 6281.

“Some of them are booking out very quickly, so we do need people to come in and make their bookings,” Ms Conn said.

Bathurst Regional Art Gallery also has workshops coming up for kids from Tuesday, January 17 through to Friday, January 20.

The workshops are Totem Sculptures, Paper Rolling, Birds in the Landscape and Ink Blowing.

Each workshop is $10 per child and places can be booked by calling the gallery on 6333 6555.

More details, including times and age restrictions, are available from www.bathurstart.com.au.