Wooden Models

This is something that is quick and easy and that I didn't think of trying until recently because I assumed (as it turns out, wrongly) that it would be too expensive and my kids were likely too young to get the most out of it.
There is a Japanese store near us called Daiso and they sell many many different wooden model kits from cars to dinosaurs, to dolls house furniture and more. Each of these kits has loads of little pieces and although quite complex and fiddly, costs only $1.50 a pop.
This afternoon just one of these kits occupied four kids between the ages of two and four for around an hour. They diligently painted each tiny little piece all different colours with watercolour paints and then I fitted it together for them, to their delight.