There's just under a month to go until Halloween. But if you're a parent, the thought of entertaining kids during the upcoming school holidays probably has you more scared.

So this school break why not take the terror out of having your kids home all day and put the horror back in Halloween by creating a scarecrow. This fun activity is fantastic for keeping children busy and entertained, and also helps keep birds away from precious vege gardens.

The best scarecrows are made from recycled clothes, junk and anything you can find at home. Got some old tomato stakes? Try using them for the frame of your scarecrow. Simply tie the stakes together in a cross.

Any old container or round shaped object can be put on the top of the cross to create the head. But of course, for a genuine Halloween scarecrow, you can't go past a pumpkin. It will also keep the kids (or parents!) busy carving out the eyes and mouth.

Dress the frame in old clothes and stuff with straw, old cushion stuffing, or anything suitable. The best scarecrows are the ones with the best accessories. So have a look around for braces, glasses, hats, gloves and belts.

And for a true All Hallows theme, why not prop an old broom up next to the scarecrow or better still create a witch to go along side. Spiders, ghosts and bats also add to the effect.