'The playtime shortcuts I swear by (when I've exhausted all other options).'

Thanks to our brand partner, LEGO®

As a mum of three, I feel like I'm constantly surrounded by my kids.

Their voices, tiny hands, not-so-tiny demands and mess fill my days.

But when I collapse into bed at night reflecting on (and usually exhausted from) the chaos, I'm often hard-pressed to pinpoint moments of real connection or interactive play.

You know those days, right? When "I'm bored" echoes through the house a good 47 times before lunch and nothing holds their interest for more than 10 minutes?

Those days.

So what's a worn-out mum to do when you've exhausted every trick in your metaphorical Mary Poppins bag?

I've got you. These are my fail-safe play hacks that actually work (and might just make you feel like you're winning at this whole parenting thing).

Let them make their own fun.

Let me tell you about the day I pulled out the LEGO® Friends Pet Accessories Shop set.

My eldest daughter, Miss Animal-Obsessed-Since-Birth, literally squealed when she saw this set. I'm talking eyes-wide, can't-stand-still excitement.

"Mum! The dog's eyebrows actually MOVE!"

And just like that, our living room transformed into the busiest pet salon in the city. Between the working lift (because apparently, even pets need fancy elevators) and a conveyor belt that takes pets through a washing and drying station, this made for hours of fun.

The best bit? She created entire storylines with the three mini-dolls and their adorable animal friends — a dog, cat and bunny who soon became the stars of her very own pet salon series.

Image: Supplied.

At first she was running a professional pet grooming service: "Bubbles, wash, brush... and a treat for being such a good doggy!"

And then she moved on to hosting a pet fashion show using the accessories that come in the set: "And here comes Pickle showing off his new hat!"

But here's the thing — while she thinks she's just playing with LEGO®, I'm watching her role-play and boost her social and communication skills as she acts out different scenarios.

This one's a definite win for encouraging creativity and giving them the freedom to dream up their own fun-filled adventures.

Turn your backyard into a playground.

Speaking of getting creative (and burning off that endless energy), here's another sanity-saving hack that's saved me on many afternoons.

You know what kids love more than anything? Watching you turn everyday objects into something "magical".

Our backyard obstacle course started with just a few random bits and pieces, and now it's turned into one of my kids' favourite ways to burn off energy.

The setup is simple: grab whatever you can find.

Those couch cushions that somehow always end up on the floor anyway? Now they're "hot lava" stepping stones. That cardboard box ready for the next bin day? It's now a tunnel to crawl through. The skipping rope buried at the bottom of the toy box? Now it's a wiggly snake to jump over.

The real magic happens when you let them take charge of the course. They never fall short on creating elaborate rules like: you have to hop on one foot while patting your head through the "super tricky section".

It's one of the easiest ways to pull them off screens and get them outside to do something physically active. It's especially nice to see them take turns, problem-solve their way through challenges and build more confidence as they complete each lap.

Create sketch and snack sessions.

Pack your regular lunch — nothing fancy, we're talking sandwiches, snacks and whatever fruit hasn't been squished at the bottom of the crisper — and grab a blanket, sketch pad and pencils.

Find a spot in the shade, spread out your lunch and suddenly, your regular sandwich spot becomes an artist's studio. Between bites everyone chooses something different to sketch: that interesting tree, the fluffy cloud that looks like an elephant or the flower that's popped up in the grass.

Those usual complaints of "I'm finished, what now?" disappear when they're busy creating their outdoor masterpieces. There's definitely something about being outside that makes everything more interesting to draw. 

Their drawings may not be gracing the Louvre anytime soon with their slightly wobbly tree drawings and cloud interpretations, but watching them get lost in their own little world of creating — tongue poking out in concentration, sandwich forgotten mid-bite — makes this simple combination of lunch and art one of our favourite ways to reset a day.

Plus, it gives me time to catch up on my reading while I enjoy a little peace and quiet.

While these hacks might seem simple, they're little lifesavers on those long days! They also build so many skills without you having to be the fun or entertainment, which is definitely a win in my books.

Shop the LEGO® Friends Pet Accessories Shop online.

Feature Image: Supplied.

LEGO® Friends provides a vibrant world for kids to unlock their creativity. Packed with adorable details from everyday life that spark countless stories and so much fun!