By Jody AllenThe Christmas School Holidays are just about here.. again!
Well, here are just a few suggestions of fun things to do on school holidays! All of our activities are ‘Covid Friendly’ and we have ideas that cost no money through to activities that are a bit more expensive (sometimes activities!).
Learn How to Fly the Trapeze
Be a Circus Star for a day by learning how to fly the trapeze at a local Circus School. Professionals will safely strap you into a harness and will teach you the topes to fly across the circus tent!
New South Wales:
Victoria:
Visit a Local Park
Ohh yeah – you’ve heard that one before. But not just any park, get out the UBD or on the internet and find a park that you haven’t been to before. Many of the new Council playgrounds are marvellous.
There is water play, flying foxes, all sorts of do-be-watchits and thing-a-majigs! A lot of them are fun for parents too!
Go Swimming at a Local Pool
Well, this one is for summer – check out your local pool. It’s cheap to get in. All kids love swimming and there is always a nice shady spot for Mum to sit and read whilst Dad watches the kids! Sick of the local pool?
Visit one of the really big water parks – some of them have heated pools indoors!
Take a Steam Train Ride
There are still a couple of old steam trains around the trap. Make a day of it and take the whole family – even grab Nanna! The Mary Valley Rattler in Gympie has just started running again – only two hours drive north of Brisbane.
In Melbourne, there is Puffing Billy who steams along the Dandenong Ranges. And in Tasmania is the West Coast Wilderness Railway.
The Mary Valley Rattler in Gympie
Go to Code Camp and Learn How to Be a YouTube Creator
If your kids are mad about computers, what about enrolling them into a Coding Camp! There are classes for all ages and interests (from building games to just learning the basics). Best of all – Code Camp is covid-friendly as you can study at home!
They cater to all ages – and even have a camp suitable for ages 6 – 10!
Our picks:
Check out Ninja Warrior School
Ninja Warrior is so popular with kids and families around Australia, so why not take the kids to a Ninja Warrior School? Book in for an hour at a time – your kids will be pooped I promise!
- Ages: 5 – 15 years
- Location: Wetherill Park, NSW
- More Information >
Plant a Vegetable Patch in the Back Yard
It is a fact that kids that grow their own vegetables are much more likely to actually eat their veggies. Spending time learning how to grow veggies is a fantastic way to get the kids outside and interested in the world around them. Start with a couple of plants like lettuce and tomatoes that are easy to grow. See what vegetables the kids might like to try growing!
More Reading: The 7 Vegetables That are Easiest to Grow
Try Geocaching
Geocaching is a boredom-buster activity that can take place nearly anywhere. It enables children to continue learning and have fun at the same time. So how about taking your kids for a Geotour? Enjoy finding goodies!
Visit the Zoo
No matter how old you are, the zoo is a family outing that really creates memories forever! And here in Australia, we have some of the very best zoo’s in the entire world.
Some of those include:
- Wild Life Sydney (NSW)
- Werribee Open Range Zoo (VIC)
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (QLD)
- National Zoo (ACT)
- Healesville Sanctuary (Victoria)
- Featherdale Wildlife Park (NSW)
- Australia Zoo (QLD)
- Sea Life Aquarium (Sydney)
Take the Kids Horse Riding
Horse riding is something all kids should try at one stage or another. There are plenty of places around Australia – and there is even a fantastic two-day overnight horse riding camp available! Rainbow Beach Horse Riding has a few different amazing horse rides in parts of the most beautiful part of the world!
Where to Go Horse Riding:
New South Wales:
Victoria:
Queensland:
Western Australia:
Bake Some Biscuits
Kids love cooking – so choose a few easy biscuit recipes to make (we have some suggestions) and spend some time in the kitchen – licking bowls and trying the batter.
Create a Photo Album Comic Book
Just download and print your funny pictures and start creating your real-life comic by using thought and speech bubbles!
Run Through a Sprinkler in the Back Yard
If you aren’t in water restrictions, this is a really fun activity, especially for little kids. It’s a good way to keep cool too! If you have a trampoline, think about putting the sprinkler under that!
Make a Box Village
Don´t throw those used milk and juice cartons and cereal boxes in the rubbish bin! If they are still in good shape, then have fun with kids by building a city out of boxes. Even better – if you get loads of online deliveries in boxes over Christmas – keep them and make a cardboard box city!
Perfect for 10 years and under
Create Story Stones
Sky’s the limit in terms of the characters you illustrate on your stones. You can collect as many stones as you want and use either acrylic paints or the oil-based sharpie. I suggest the Nature of art for kids® brand of acrylic paints, or you can also buy the Liquicryl.
Have a MasterChef Competition at Home
This is a great activity for kids 8 and under. Keep the meals simple – something such as pizza (just the toppings for little kids) is perfect. This works especially well if the kids have a few friends over. Have a competition as to who makes the best pizza – you can be the judge. Making the dough from scratch is fun (and tiring!) but very inexpensive. Plus an added bonus – you don’t have to cook dinner!
Here are some simple recipes for you to try:
Check Out a New Mountain Bike Track
There is an app called Trail Forks that tells you where all the Mountain Bike Tracks are in Australia! Find a new one and give it a go!
Build an Ant Nursery Farm Home
You can create your own by using two jars with lids, one should be thinner and a little shorter than the other. Or if you prefer a flat one, you can purchase a skinny aquarium at a local store. Video Tutorial below.
Make your own Indoor Obstacle Course
Choose the activities that match your kid’s skill level, or might as well have them choose the activities. You can be creative in making your own family-friendly obstacle course, like a laser maze. You can set this up in for your kids to climb through, using a red yarn or ribbon.
Skateboarding Lessons
Let your little ones perfect their skills on the deck with these skateboarding lessons for beginners.
Conduct Some Science Experiments
Curious kids of all ages are always fascinated with the power of science! Kids can do science experiments at home with whatever you have on hand. Like creating chicken sounds from a cup, the arrow trick and the milk and coke experiment.
Or do an online home science experiment course for only $10!
Plan a Farm Visit
Old school? Yes, it is not a unique activity but it never goes boring. You can do lots of activities on a farm, ride horses, feed goats, watch the ducks fall in line and take a plunge in a nearby river.
If you live in Brisbane, there is a half-day animal tour at Trevena Glen Farm that is worth checking out!
Visit an Animal Shelter or Your Local RSPCA
Kids can join educational-based programs about animals which include hands-on service projects for animal care. Plus who doesn’t love going to give the animals a bit of love! You may even end up with a new member of the family!
We go regularly as a family just to give the animals a bit of love!
Take Your Dog to the Beach
Most dogs love the beach, so as kids. Give them both the opportunity to experience the joy of romping on the sandy beach!
Visit a Theme Park
Australia has loads of theme parks now (we even have a list of them!) and there is more and more every day in every state! You can grab a cheap three day pass from Adrenaline.
Visit an Aquarium on a Really Hot Day
When the temperatures over the Christmas Holidays get up around the 40-degree mark – head to the local Aquarium! Not only is it fascinating, but it is also cool!
There are SeaLife Aquariums in Melbourne, Sydney and Mooloolaba.
Go on the High Ropes
High Ropes are a fun and safe way for the family to be dare-devils (without having to worry about them). Even if you are scared of heights, High Ropes are a fun way to explore the tops of the forest!
There are High Ropes Complexes:
Queensland:
Western Australia:
New South Wales:
Go Ice Skating!
Ice Skating is something not many Aussie kids get the chance to do – but if it is stinking hot – what is better than having fun in a freezer! There are loads of ice rinks around the country!
Some of them include:
Hold a Cup-Stacking Contest
No doubt being the boys’ favourite, but the girls can get into the fun too! Hop onto Youtube to see some amazing cup stacking videos!
Visit an Inflatable Water Park
My boys just adore the inflatable water parks – and they are fun for grown-ups too! If you grab your tickets online – you can get a really good deal. Inflatable Water Parks are all over Australia!
Here are a few of the online deals:
Queensland Inflatable Water Parks:
- Blast Aqua Park Coolum (Coolum Beach)
- Gold Coast Aqua Park Southport
- Gold Coast Aqua Park – Oxenford
- Aqua Splash Redcliffe (Clontarf)
New South Wales Inflatable Water Parks:
- Central Coast Aqua Park (Gosford)
- Stoney Aqua Park (Telegraph Point)
- Cables Wake Park & Aqua Park (Penrith)
Western Australian Inflatable Water Parks:
- Perth Aqua Park (Wellard)
ACT Water Parks:
Have a Family Game of Mini Golf
Mini golf is a terrific whole family activity that is beloved of people of all ages! Google the nearest location to you!
Visit a Maze!
There are still some of these beautiful mazes made out of shrubs around Australia. Get lost in these mazes – and have heaps of fun doing it!
They are located:
Visit Your Local Botanical Gardens
Botanical gardens may sound like a huge snooze fest – but they are a treasure of beauty and information. Join a guided tour and have the kids identify some of the better-known species of plants!
Attend a 2-Hour Kids Skateboard Deck Painting Class
Yep, unique. If your budding artist is also into skateboarding, why not send them to this class where they can professionally paint their skateboard deck just the way they want! The class starts at $60 and is located on the Gold Coast.
Build a Sandcastle at the Beach
Kids of all ages love building sandcastles or any structure on the beach, their imagination thrives in open-ended play.
Go Whale Watching
Countless coastlines around Australia are home to the most beautiful whales on the planet, the humpback! See these curious giants close up – it is truly a wonderful experience for the whole family!
Find some Whale Watching Deals here >
Visit an Alpaca Farm
Nawww Alpaca’s are so cute! Now you can love them and feed them and spend time with them for a whole 90 minutes in Jilibyu from only $30!
Play ‘Name That Place’ Game
Utilise your flat screen TV for expanded viewing when playing this game. Download pictures and flags of famous places, create a slide show gallery and have your kids guess the name of that place.
Visit the Legoland Discovery Centre in Melbourne
LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre is a unique family attraction located in Australia’s leading shopping centre, Chadstone – The Fashion Capital. With 12 different LEGO® experiences within the attraction, there is something new and exciting to experience on every visit to the ultimate indoor LEGO playground.
Go for a Nature Walk
It is much healthier when you turn a walk into a nature walk with your children. This gives them the opportunity to explore and appreciate the natural world.
Visit Your Local Library
There are lots of fun activities children can do on library visits along with other kids, bookmark contests, games and lots more. Your local library always has loads of free activities over the Christmas Holidays so check out the list of things to do on your local library website!
Do a 10 Week School Holiday Acting Course for Kids
For only $99, get 10 whole weeks of Acting Classes with Perform Australia. Multiple locations.
Visit a Museum
Learning fun facts and hunt details in museums have an advantage in preparing your child’s historical knowledge when the school holiday is over. Some great Museum’s to check out include:
- Australian National Maritime Museum (Sydney)
- National Museum of Australia Building and Architecture Tour (ACT)
- Retro Video Game Museum (WA)
Do a ‘Behind the Scenes’ Tour
Have you ever wondered how the Sydney Cricket Ground operates – or the National Zoo? Now you can do ‘Behind the Scenes’ tour to find out how the big machines work!
- Tickets for Behind the Scenes Tour of Sydney Cricket Ground are only $33 >
- Tickets for Behind the Scenes at National Zoo (Canberra) start at $155 >
- Tickets for Behind the Scenes Stingray Encounter at Sea Life (Melbourne) starts at $58 >
Other places that do ‘Behind the Scenes’ Tours include:
Visit a Trampoline Park
Bouncing high is crazy fun! Kids love it, and it’s the best way to wear them out. You can either purchase your own trampoline or much rather visit SKY ZONE Trampoline Park or BOUNCE (Tingalpa) if it is not too far from your location.
Get a session at Flip Out in Strathpine (Qld) for only $9 here >
Play hidden objects (in a sandbox) game
Little ones can’t get enough digging for goodies inside a sandbox. Using balls with numbers, letters, shape sorting cubes or those cute hide n’ seek squeak eggs are better options than small toys. Ask Daddy to build a sandbox instead of purchasing one.
Have a DIY training with Daddy
Kids get curious about what Daddy does inside the garage or in the backyard when he is not at work. So why not turn this into a mega-meaningful bonding time for the children to learn how to build and repair some cool projects?
Take a Music Lesson
What if your child is the next The Voice (AU) winner? Many great singers started with playing the guitar or other musical instruments along with singing.
Ideas for music lessons include:
Play Beach Cricket
Both parents and their children can have a great bonding moment at the beach playing cricket. This sport has the benefits of eye coordination and physical fitness.
Do a Bedroom Makeover
It is pretty hard to plan re-arranging your kids’ bedrooms during the school term, so might as well do this on their school holiday. Spruce up your bedroom decor and activate your child’s makeover ideas!
Play Mini Golf
Try adding another level of entertainment on your mini golf, put some stuffed toys, colourful flags or whatever you can add and make a fun theme.
Make and Play with Play Dough
Don’t you find it cute watching your child’s face with the tongue out while concentrating on forming shapes out of clay?
We have an easy recipe on how to make Play Dough at home.
Go Roller Skating
Skating is hip, enjoyable and a great morning exercise around your neighbourhood.
Visit a Distant Family Member
Visiting a distant family makes a healthy relationship, especially for kids to spend some bonding moment with their cousins.
Visit a Car Show
Little boys love watching hot rods. This will motivate them to dream BIG.
Hold a Mini Fashion Show
Little girls and even little boys love playing dress up in Mum and Dad´s clothes of course! Don´t forget to grab the camera and take cute shots.
Play Balloon Games
Choose from Balloon Stomp (fill pre-blown balloons with lolly treats,) or Valley Balloon that they can play outside. Both old fashion balloon games will surely get them energised.
Do a Morning Boot Sale
Kids can sort the toys, books and clothes that they are no longer using – they love selling their old stuff.
Visit a Thrift Shop
Visit your local thrift shops. You might get amazed by your child’s cheap finds.
Do Knitting and Crocheting
I bet the little fashionistas love to flaunt their pretty knitted carry bags, hats and long vests when school term begins, crocheting is a lovely idea to spur on the designer in them.
Give Your Dog a Bubble Bath
When school holiday begins, mums need a backup plan to get the kids busy while Mum is busy with the household chores. Bathing a dog is as fun as just playing. So prepare your giant metal pail, doggy shampoo and start wish-washing your cute dog!
Make balloon and ping pong plates.
Balloon ping pong is a fun indoor or outdoor game for kids and would only need basic supplies to make. Have the kids design the paper plates and then tape the craft sticks at the back of each paper plate to create paddles. They can now hit the balloon back and fourth.
Have a Family Reading Day
One of the best ways to entice your kids to improve their reading skills is by reading with the family — not only surrounding them with reading materials to motivate them, but reading it with them can help them more!
Listen to Audio Books and Podcasts
Kids love listening to stories but it is just easier for some parents to let them listen to podcasts and audiobooks. Mums can run the errands at home while the kid is busy holding the headphone to his ear. Plus these are fantastic for playing in the car on a long trip to entertain the whole family!
Water Gun War!
Water play makes a mess, but it’s pretty normal for kids to get entertained for hours playing with water guns – even the adults! But if you don’t have water guns, water bombs would do too!
Make a Giant Rainbow Bubble
Let’s add more life to the bubbles we blow up in the air by making it colourful. All you need is a dishwashing soap, food colouring, three-feet long dowels and cotton piping or clothes line rope, two eye screws and two washers. You get the complete instructions here.
Nail art with Mummy
This is a great bonding idea for mums and daughters. If you have the budget, there are many child-specific nail polish brands you can purchase for your little girls. Suncoat Girl, Hopscotch Kids, and Piggy Paint are the best ones.
Hold a magic trick show.
If your child has the interest in magic tricks, then hold a magic trick show and invite his friends to watch him.
Go Bird Watching
Some kids are interested in learning more about their feathery friends of the sky. They can learn how to build a bird’s nest or put bird treats if there are trees nearby. They can write on their bird-journal the birds they have seen.
Create a Constellation in a Jar
Even us as kids, we dreamt of touching the bright stars we gaze at night. There’s a version of that you can keep in your kids’ room. The how-tos can be found here.
Do House Hop Playdates
Parents join forces to fight against school holiday boredom! Have the kids with their friends play any games every day in different homes. At least they don’t have to go for a sleepover, so who’s home next for the teddy bear tea party tomorrow?
Have a Wild West Party
With just a sock filled with polyester fibre, wood dowel, two buttons for the eyes and a little sewing, you can make a hobby horse for the kids.
Have a Mini Wonder Terrarium Kids Activity
This is a very easy and cute terrarium that will definitely make the mummy-kiddo bonding time on the table a fun learning experience. Here’s a DIY Terrarium Craft for Kids: Make a Gnome Garden tutorial.
Visit an Art Gallery
Children can take inspiration from art galleries, so it is always good to take them to art exhibits. You never know your child might become one of the art legends one day.
Teach them about sorting and recycling
I have enlisted here a number artworks from recycled materials and with that, kids should already know the value of reusing, recycling and reinventing. But, before that they need to practice sorting recyclables first, this should be a starter for self-discipline and also help Mum do the household chores.
Make a Ladybug House
Kiddos can show their love to the cute ladybugs by making them a nice and comfy home. During school holiday, kids have more time to explore the trees with ladybugs, collect them and move them to a new home.
Nope, no one’s going to complain about boredom these school holidays!
