Five-year-old Josh Lee and his brother Joash, nine, will be doing something this week that is rather low-tech, instead of playing the usual computer games that many kids normally do. They will attend a scrapbooking class at eXplorerkid in Downtown East.

'They have a lot of photos from my brother's wedding, so it will be nice to put them in a scrapbook to remember in future,' says their mother, housewife Laurie Lee, 39.

Scrapbooking is just one of many activities organised during the one-week March school holidays which start tomorrow. Organisations such as NTUC Club and PA Kiddies are holding classes such as cartoon-sketching and poetry appreciation and yo-yo workshops.

So, parents, there is life out there for your kids beyond the Wii and PlayStation gaming consoles.

For those aged six to 12

Cartoon Pencil Sketching

• Where: Caspian Room, 4th floor, Pasir Ris East Community Centre (CC)
• When: Tomorrow and Tuesday, 10.30am to noon
• Where: Activity Room, 03-05 Kampong Kembangan CC
• When: Tomorrow and Tuesday, 2 to 3.30pm
• What: Children learn pencil-sketching skills such as rendering and the finer points such as tone, depth and shadow.
• For those: Aged six to 12
• Register: The fee is between $25 and $30 for the sessions at Pasir Ris East CC, and $25 to $28 for those at Kampong Kembangan CC. Both charge a $6 fee for materials. Register at www.one.pa.gov.sg

Scrapbooking

• Where: eXplorerkid at E!hub, Downtown East, Pasir Ris
• When: Saturday, noon to 1pm
• What: Kids learn to mark different periods of their childhood in a book and how to decorate these scrapbooks.
• For those: Aged six to 12
• Register: Sign up at the Guest Relations Counter, eXplorerkid, on the third level of E!hub. Visit www.explorerkid.com or call 6589-1668 for details. The fee is $15 for eXplorerkid members and $18 for non-members.

An Introduction To Poetry

• Where: eXplorerkid at E!hub, Downtown East
• When: Tuesday and Thursday, 3 to 4 pm
• What: Children learn about the power of visual imagery in poetry and how it can make language come alive.
• For those: Aged seven to 12
• Register: Free. Sign up at the Guest Relations Counter, eXplorerkid, at E!hub. Visit www.explorerkid.com or call 6589-1668.

Puzzle Activity

• Where: eXplorerkid at E!hub, Downtown East
• When: Tomorrow to Friday, noon to 1pm
• What: This fun word-hunt activity will capture children's interest and help expand their vocabulary.
• For those: Aged six to 12
• Register: Free. Sign up at the Guest Relations Counter, eXplorerkid, at E!hub. Visit www.explorerkid.com or call 6589-1668.

Jelly Making

• Where: eXplorerkid at E!hub, Downtown East
• When: Tomorrow and Wednesday, 3 to 4pm
• What: Let your little ones busy themselves designing their jelly in different colour schemes and flavours.
• For those: Aged six to 12
• Register: $12 for eXplorerkid members and $15 for non-members. Sign up at the Guest Relations Counter, eXplorerkid, at E!hub. Visit www.explorerkid.com or call 6589-1668.

Make Your Own Story Book

• Where: Activity Group Room, Radin Mas CC
• When: Every Saturday till May 23, 10 to 11.30am
• What: Through stories, songs and games, children learn to create their own illustrated storybook.
• For those: In Primary 3 and 4
• Register: The fee for the 10-session course is from $120 to $130 (plus $5 for materials). Register at www.one.pa.gov.sg

Fun Maths Workshop

• Where: Lecture Room, 04-04 Serangoon CC
• When: Thursday, 2 to 4pm
• What: Children explore maths puzzles to discover that numbers can be fun.
• For those: Aged 10 to 12
• Register: The fee is between $20 and $30 (plus $5 for materials).
• Register at www.one.pa.gov.sg

For those aged up to 16

Creativity and You Workshop

• Where: 02-01 Kolam Ayer CC
• When: Friday, 2 to 4.30pm
• What: Kids learn about the importance of creativity in this activity-filled workshop.
• For those: Aged nine to 14
• Register: Go to www.one.pa.gov.sg . Pay $5 for materials

Yo-yo Clinic for Kids

• Where: Rivervale CC
• When: Thursday, 2.30 to 4pm
• What: Join this workshop to learn the basics of this timeless toy as well as pick up cool tricks to impress your friends.
• For those: Aged nine to 14
• Register: The fee is between $30 and $35. Each participant will receive a Duncan Bumblebee Yo-yo worth $15. Register at www.one.pa.gov.sg

Cold Dessert Little Chef

• Where: 02-01 Tampines North CC
• When: Tomorrow, 1 to 2.30pm
• What: Children will learn to make cold desserts such as ice cream.
• For those: Aged five to 16
• Register: The fee is between $15 and $20 (plus $6 for ingredients). Call 6783-2900 or go to www.one.pa.gov.sg

For all ages

Ostrich Chase

• Where: Jurong BirdPark (Palm Plaza)
• When: Saturday, 2 to 5pm
• What: Kids embark on an Amazing Race-style search for clues. Teams, comprising three to six people, will also need to overcome challenges and obstacles along the way.
• Register: E-mail ostrich chase@birdpark.com.sg or call 6661-7818 by noon on Friday. The contest is free and participants are accepted on a first-come-first- served basis. Normal park admission rates of $18 (adult) and $9 (child between three and 12 years old) apply.

Bird's Eye Tour

• Where: Jurong BirdPark (Main Station)
• When: Till next Sunday, 10am, 1 and 3.45pm
• What: A 90-minute, guided tour on a buggy to get close to and feed the birds at Lory Loft, Dinosaur Descendants, Swan Lake and African Waterfall Aviary.
• Register: E-mail info@birdpark. com.sg or call 6265-0022. The tour costs $25 (adult) and $15 (child), on top of normal park admission rates.

Save the Baby Animals with Dora the Explorer

• Where: Rainforest Kidzworld, Singapore Zoo
• When: Today, Saturday and next Sunday, 11.15am and 3.30pm
• What: Follow Dora the Explorer as she goes on a journey with Boots to look for and reunite missing baby animals with their parents by learning about the special characteristics of each creature.
• Register: Free. Normal zoo admission rates of $18 (adult) and $9 (child between three and 12 years old) apply.

Bear and Chicken Go Camping

• Where: Shaw Foundation Amphitheatre, Singapore Zoo
• When: Today, Friday and next Sunday, noon and 2.30pm
• What: An enchanting song-and-dance performance by Singapore Repertory Theatre's The Little Company, it aims to encourage children to have a deeper appreciation for nature.
• Register: Free. Normal zoo admission rates of $18 (adult) and $9 (child between three and 12 years old) apply.

This article was first published in The Sunday Times.