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Fun & Games
School's out soon! Many of us are planning new ways to entertain the kids next school holidays. So here are 26 sure-fire ways to keep boredom at bay for the kiddos during these upcoming school holidays. This is the “A to Z” of fun school holiday activities that are budget-friendly and can be played at home.
A is for Acrobatics
Have the children lie on the floor, on the grass or yoga mats. Then use their bodies to form the letter “A”.
Let the children in each group switch places and re-form the letter “A”, so each child gets a turn at being a different part of the “A”.
Take a photo of each of the “A” shapes and get the kids to compare them afterwards.
Want to extend the fun? Try some different letters!
The kids could also try doing somersaults and handstands for some fun acrobatic exercise!
Some inexpensive yoga mats, from Kmart
It's time to get messy in the kitchen!
Bake some yummy cupcakes and then enjoy eating them.
Decorate them as you wish, that way you can feed your hungry munchkins with some fun-themed cupcakes. Make it even easier with a cupcake mix.
HINT: check the ingredients to ensure you get Australian-made.
Baking utensils
Cupcake Kit such as this one from Bake Believe
Camping is amazing for families.
It gets you all into the great outdoors, connecting with nature and spending time together. And it is even easier if you camp in your backyard!
Forget the long drives with the chorus of “Are we there yet?” from the back seat. This way you only have a 5-second commute.
As a night-time activity try star-gazing.
Can you spot the Southern Cross constellation?
Combine paint-by-numbers and cross-stitch and you'll get a good idea of what Diamond Art is all about.
The kids apply brightly coloured rhinestones onto a template.
And voila!
You create artwork that sparkles, shimmers, and shines!
Remember the science fair models you made as a child? Rekindle the fascination with science with simple STEM experiences in your kitchen (also known as your “Home Laboratory!”).
KiwiCo offers a "Camp from your Couch" program.
This is a series of free age-appropriate DIY activities, printables and videos.
For example, they have a worksheet about how to design a water pistol.
Painting with feathers is not like painting with paintbrushes, so don’t expect a super-realistic outcome.
Rather, it is all about colour, texture, and fun. Not sure what to paint?
Take the kids out to the backyard and ask them to paint a plant from the garden.
Or paint the view from the back verandah. Or, if that doesn’t appeal, simply get the kids to draw or paint a picture of Daddy. Or other family members.
Watching something grow from seed to seedling to a plant is fascinating for kids.
There is nothing like growing your pretty flowers!
If you don’t want to grow flowers, you can also get seedling kits for herbs or vegetables.
First, draw out a traditional chalk hopscotch ladder on the driveway with 8 squares.
Or if you want to play inside, and if you have tiles in your kitchen or house, use them as default hopscotch squares outlined with painter’s tape.
You will also need a “shooter” like a milk bottle lid or small stone.
Each child stands at the bottom of the ladder and throws the shooter into the first square. You lose your turn if the shooter lands on a line or outside the square.
Each player hops and lands one foot in each square where there are two squares next to one another, land with both feet.
Once you get to the top, turn around and come back! When you reach the square with the shooter, pick it up (while still on one foot) and complete the course.
If the kid falls, jumps outside the square, or touches the lines, that round is disqualified, and they need to wait until the next round to try again.
Not sure of the exact rules? Watch this quick video that describes the rules of the Hopscotch game.
What is the story behind your address?
Have you ever considered tracing the history of your home? Imagine the stories it could tell if you lived in a century-old house!
If you live in a new building, consider researching the story of your grandparents’ house or your school's.
Either way, you can build up a dossier: plans, old photos, the people.
Loads of info can be found at State Libraries, State Archives, or your local city council. See below for some links to get you started.
Whether it's "Jump Around" by House of Pain. "I Like to Move It, Move It" by Reel 2 Reel or whatever your favourite song is, get your Smart-Speaker a skipping rope and some friends for a jumpin' fun time!
Here's a simple jump to start: Two kids turn a long skipping rope. and one child jumps in. The turners call out actions (like "touch your nose" or "jump on one leg") for the jumper to complete while jumping. They keep shouting out actions until the jumper makes a mistake. Then, the person who called out the action becomes the next jumper.
And that's just the start!
This puts a whole new meaning to "garage band."
No need to travel to your family entertainment centre to give your vocal cords a workout these school holidays.
Now you can sing your heart out to your favourite songs anywhere, anytime. in the comfort of your own home. Sing like no one is watching!
All you need is a phone you can turn into a karaoke machine in an app like SMULE. (App User Recommended age: 13 years+)
Transform your place into a theme park without the queues.
Laser Tag is like a "live" video game that gets the kids out and about. It’s high-tech hide-and-seek!
Laser Tag in a Box delivers laser tag fun to your door. There's no need to battle through traffic or fight over a car park. You can rent a laser tag set where 8 play at once or go big and get a 12-pack. This will keep the kids busy for hours.
The Laser Tag in Box rental equipment can work indoors or outdoors, day or night, rain or shine!
As the day cools off and twilight approaches, there are even more opportunities to extend the fun. The light effects of the laser tag equipment seem brighter in the dark, which can make your gaming even more thrilling.
Rent a laser tag set from Laser Tag in a Box and play on! (nationwide delivery).
Simple fun.
It's good old-fashioned fun.
No need to over-complicate it: add water to some dirt, and hey presto! Mud pies.
Inspired by the latest TV series, Ninja Warriors, you can create an obstacle course in the backyard.
Obstacle courses are great ways to get kids active.
They will hardly realize that they are exercising. The drill involves hand-eye coordination and macro- and micro-movements.
Here is a video with ideas for a ninja warrior course at your place.
This is an affordable and easy holiday activity. You'll need some brightly coloured square pieces of paper. For more origami ideas, check out our Christmas Tree Origami blog.
There are so many options!
The BBC has a simple step-by-step guide on how to make an origami butterfly. So that's a good place to start.
Enjoy an outdoor meal together.
Hosting a picnic in your favourite park or backyard is a fun way to finish a family day.
A picnic blanket on the grass a BBQ on your deck, or eating outside is a great holiday tradition.
Check out some of the fabulous parks around your city. For example, the Sherwood Arboretum in Brisbane celebrates its 100th birthday in 2025.
Like a “Crazy Hair Day” at school, this is a fun way to unleash your inner celebrity stylist.
Raid the bathroom and see what you can find: curlers, bobby pins, combs, etc.
Go wild with some coloured hairspray. (NOTE: It’s best to do this school holiday activity at the beginning of the vacation period because the hair dye might take a couple of washes to return to normal.)
Hatched, matched, and dispatched!
Holidays are often times for family clan gatherings. As the wider family comes together, learning about your roots is a special opportunity.
There are many websites to help with your research, like Ancestry.com or The Genealogy Guide. See if you can discover old photographs or films of your family's special times.
This is a fun activity with a group of children.
Each child takes a turn in creating one sentence in the story.
If you have trouble getting started, begin with a theme—such as “circus” or “space”—and go from there.
It is incredible how quickly the kids’ imaginations will start firing!
You might also want to video this activity so you can watch it again later. If you don't have a film clapper board, you can use two wooden rulers to make a similar sound.
How long has it been since you played a board game like “Trivial Pursuit”?
If you don’t have any board games to play at home, then try playing “20 Questions” instead.
Each child has a turn. First, they think of an object, either an animal, a vegetable, or a mineral.
Then, they let the others know which category this object falls into. Then, the others can ask up to 20 questions to try to figure out what this mystery object is.
The child can answer either yes or no to each question. If someone guesses the object, then it's their turn next.
What better way to prepare the backyard for your fun?
Better still, you can reuse the maze for your ninja warrior games (see N is for Ninja), your Treasure Hunt (see X is for X-marks the Spot), or even your laser games (see L is for Laser Tag at Home).
Collect some cardboard boxes from your local hardware store or Bunnings and paint them up.
You can choose a camo pattern or bright colours. It’s hours of fun!
Try this famous "Mentos + Coke" experiment.
It is a simple science experiment that your kids will love.
Simply drop a Mentos into a bottle of Diet Coke, and "WHOOSH!" a geyser is formed.
Get imaginative: Try different types of soft drinks and Mentos flavours to see if you get different results.
The kids can create a paper mache volcano shape around the soda bottle. Here’s a quick video on how to make paper mache glue at home.
Why not create a pop-up home cinema?
All you need to do is to get some comfy cushion and popcorn and relax.
It is a great way to wind down.
If you are also doing other activities, such as laser tag at home, then you can choose a film that’s in theme, such as the latest action movie or the newest sci-fi series on Netflix.
Try a classic treasure hunt that's fun and gets the kids moving.
A treasure hunt game encourages children to be active and explore the backyard.
Beforehand you'll need to draw a map of the garden and strategically place some treats or treasures for the kids to discover.
If you draw a Treasure Map of your backyard, show landmarks like the driveway or that huge gum tree out the back.
If you are playing in your local park, include landmarks like the swings, the water fountain, or the car park. Use an ‘X’ to mark the spot where you’ve hidden the treasure.
Take the experience to the next level by having the kids use a compass to determine which direction to go.
Take turns in Yodelling.
Who has the best/the longest?
There are lots of videos on YouTube on how to yodel, such as this one. Post the video clip of your attempt to TikTok or Instagram!
You won't be able to stop giggling!!
Haven’t seen Grandma or Grandpa for a while? Or are you missing your best friend from Soccer? Tee up a Zoom conversation!
Get together via Facetime!
During these school holidays, you might not be able to meet up in person with your friends and family, but you can still keep in touch.
There you have it: 26 fun ways to combat holiday boredom.
Sometimes, it is good to stay away from the hustle and bustle of school holiday destinations, away from the argy-bargy of shopping centre car parks, and away from the noise and hassle of getting to a theme park or entertainment centre.
Instead, enjoying a staycation these upcoming school holidays might be better.
The good news is that you don’t have to leave your place to enjoy fun with the kids.
Enjoy these 26 ways to take school holidays to the next level. Whichever you choose will help create some happy holiday memories. What other 'stay-at-home' school holiday activities do you and your family enjoy?
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