If you are looking for fun activities to do on school holidays – well we have 100 of them!
If you are stuck for ideas on what to do on school holidays – here are our 100 Fun Activities to do on School Holidays. We have ideas that cost no money through to activities that are a bit more expensive (sometimes activities!).
I love school holidays, we can all sleep in (just a bit), we can eat when we want, there are no school lunches to make and everyone can just take a bit of time to relax and recoup before the next school term starts.
So here are 100 fun School Holiday Ideas for this September’s upcoming School Holidays!
1. Fun School Holiday Activities to Do at Home
Do a Jigsaw Puzzle
Jigsaw puzzles are tough – especially the really big ones that are 1000 pieces or over – perfect to keep little (and big) hands and brains busy for hours and hours! Best of all it is something the whole family can enjoy together.
And Jigsaw Puzzles are cheap!
More Reading:
Make Some Homemade Finger Paint
Fingerpaint is really easy to make at home – and good fun to get a bit dirty too! To make homemade finger paint you’ll need:
- 1/2 cup cornflour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 cups of cold water
- food coloring
Mix them all together in a saucepan (get a grown-up to do this) until the mixture thickens, then take off the heat and let it cool. That’s it!
Have fun painting!
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 over the school holidays 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
Bake Some Biscuits
Kids love cooking – and the school holidays is a time when kids love to cook and love to eat! 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.
Have a MasterChef Competition at Home
This is a great activity for kids 8 and under for school holidays. 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:
Start a Youtube Channel
All kids love watching their favorite YouTubers (but I’ll never get the kids who watch people play computer games – gah!). But actually getting the kids to start their own channel teaches them so much!
Kids learn how much goes into writing the scene, setting up the camera and editing the footage. You never know – they might be the next Dude Perfect!
This is a great activity for Tech-Savvy kids (particularly gaming boys!).
We have step by step instructions right here!
Play Some Board Games over the School Holidays
Board Games are hell fun – and with the internet, it’s almost like kids have forgotten just how fun they are. Parents should get involved too – it’s a fun family activity. Plus many board games are fantastically educational too! For example, Rumikub can be a bit tricky to learn, but it teaches maths and strategy. If you have an only child that has no one to play board games with – you can always get online versions!
Games like solitaire can be good individual games for only children. Online games are also perfect for trying new board games. For example, you can play Yahtzee online. If you like, you can always play with real dice. Sometimes online games can be a good substitute as well. Playing online cribbage means you don’t have to buy a cribbage board, and you can find others online to play against.
More Reading: The 20 Must-Have Board Games
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! A great way to spend a day or two over the school holidays!
Take a FREE Virtual Museum Tour
There are world-renown Museum’s all over the world – and now you can do a virtual tour of most of them! See Museums such as:
- The Louve in Paris
- The British Museum in London
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
- See the Van Gouch Museum in Amsterdam
- See the Boston Children’s Museum
- Check out the Smiothsonian National Museum of Natural History
- The Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Easter Island
- The Uffizi Gallery in Florence
- The NASA Glenn Research Centre
Find out here to get onto the virtual tours here ->
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.
Have a Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger Hunts are super fun and you can have them for all ages (even adult versions!). How it works is that you have a list of specific items (or hints) for what the kids have to find.
Grab your free printable 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.
Watch Some Classic Movies
If it’s raining outside, why not show the kids some of the movies that you loved as a child and have a fun movie day.
If you are stuck for ideas – here are 38 Classic Movies to Watch with the kids!
Give Your Dog a Bubble Bath
Bathing a dog is as fun as just playing under a sprinkler – and you will get just as wet!. So prepare your giant metal pail, doggy shampoo and start wish-washing your cute dog!
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!
Reading out loud is a totally different skill from reading quietly to yourself.
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 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!
Some fantastic podcasts to check out include:
- Science Versus
- The Story Seeds Podcast
- Wow in the World
- The Thrilling Adventure Hour
- Aaron’s World
- The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel
- Story Pirates
Some great ideas for audiobooks to listen to with the kids include:
- A Fortunate Life
- The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrove
- Matilda
- All the Harry Potter Books
- The Hobbit
- Charlotte’s Web
Do Some Nail Art
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 or grab an inexpensive nail kit.
Or if you are looking more for the real deal – check out the 12 Best ‘At Home’ Nail Kits for a DIY Manicure.
Hold a Magic Trick Show.
If your child has an interest in magic tricks, then hold a magic trick show and invite his friends to watch him. There are loads of Youtube Channels that can teach your kids basic tricks to try at home. We love this National Geographic Mega Magic Set!
Teach The Kids about Sorting and Recycling
Not only is recycling great for the environment but there are so many fun school holiday activities that you can do with recycling. Whether it is collecting bottles and cans to trade in for cash, or doing some creative art pieces using recycled goods. Keep the following items to use for arts and crafts at home:
- Milk Bottles
- Toilet Rolls
- Egg Cartons
- Cereal Boxes
- Corks
- Jar Lids
- Baby Formula Tins
Get Some Chalk and Do Some Hopscotch or Handball
It’s fun to give the kids chalk and let them go crazy on the driveway concrete! Perhaps the kids can have a game of Hopscotch! You can pick up chalk in the toy section of most supermarkets.
Other games that use chalk on the driveway include:
Have a Picnic in the Back Yard
Prepare some lunch and lay out a picnic blanket in the backyard to have a family picnic. The kids can plan what foods they would like to include!
More Reading: 7 Adorable Picnic Blankets for Your 2021 Outdoor Adventures
2. Water-Based Activities To Do on School Holidays
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 Your Dog to the Beach
Most dogs love the beach, and so as kids. Give them both the opportunity to experience the joy of romping on the sandy beach!
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.
Make sure you take your bucket and spade!
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!
There are lots of places to get really good pricing on whale watching – try these:
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!
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!
Water Gun War!
Water play is always great fun and gets the kids outside and off the screen! Entertain the kids for hours playing with water guns or water bombs are great fun too!
Grab a Slip and Slide
Oh remember when you were a kid and you added a bit too much soap and got it in every crevice… or sliding and hitting a rock that was under the slide? Oh, they were the good ole days. But seriously – slip and slides are awesome fun!
Run Through a Sprinkler in the BackYard
If you aren’t under any local 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 and adding soap!
3. Educational Activities To Do Over the School Holidays
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!
Find out more about Geocaching here >
Conduct Some Home Science Experiments
Curious kids of all ages are always fascinated with the power of science! Kids can do science experiments at home with whatever they have on hand. Like creating chicken sounds from a cup, the arrow trick and the milk and coke experiment.
We love the National Geographic Earth Science Kit – it contains over 15 different science experiments and Stem activities for kids!
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.
Alternatively, they are pretty cheap to purchase. We love this Uncle Milton Giant Ant Farm – it has a large viewing area and it’s easy to see what the ants are up to!
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 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!
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.
Do Some ‘Behind the Scenes’ Tours
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!
Places you can do behind the scenes tours include:
- The Sydney Cricket Ground (ticket from $33)
- The National Zoo in Canberra
- Brisbane Racing Club
- Sydney Fish Market
- Sydney Opera House
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:
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.
4. Activities in Your Local Area to Enjoy on School Holidays
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!
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.
Here are some of the best Farm Visits you can do in Australia:
Queensland:
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 to our local RSPCA regularly as a family just to give the animals a bit of love!
Have a Family Game of Mini Golf
Mini golf is a terrific whole-family activity that is beloved by people of all ages! Google the nearest location to you!
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!
Go Bird Watching
Some kids are interested in learning more about their feathery friends in the sky. They can learn how to build a bird’s nest or put bird treats if there are trees nearby. They can write in their bird journal the birds they have seen.
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. Check out any local river walks or trails at National Parks.
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. Give them a small budget and see what they come home with.
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?
5. Arts and Crafts Activities to Do On School Holidays
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!
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.
Make and Play with PlayDough
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.
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.
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 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.
You can pick up wool and knitting needles from your local craft shop.
Crochet starter kit from Etsy
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 forth.
Make a Ladybug House or a Bee Hotel
Kiddos can show their love to cute ladybugs by making them a nice and comfy home. During school holidays, kids have more time to explore the trees with ladybugs, collect them and move them to a new home.
Create a Constellation in a Jar
Even us as kids, 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.
6. Sporty Activities To Do on School Holidays
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 visit SKY ZONE Trampoline Park or BOUNCE (Tingalpa) if it is not too far from your location.
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.
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!
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.
Go Roller Skating
Skating is hip, enjoyable and a great morning exercise around your neighbourhood. Or check out your local skating rink – they still exist!
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!
7. Epic Adventurous Activities for School Holidays
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.
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:
- Werribee Open Range Zoo (VIC)
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (QLD)
- Sea Life Aquarium (QLD)
- Australia Zoo (QLD)
- National Zoo (ACT)
- Healesville Sanctuary (Victoria)
- Featherdale Wildlife Park (NSW)
- Wild Life Sydney (NSW)
- Sea Life Aquarium (Sydney)
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!
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!
Nope, no one’s going to complain about boredom these school holidays!
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