Top 26 school holiday activities at home

“A to Z” of Fun School Holiday Activities

With many school holiday camps and attractions closed finding new ways to entertain the kids can be tricky. So here are 26 sure-fire ways to keep boredom at bay for the kids during these school holidays. This is the “A to Z” of fun school holiday activities that are budget-friendly and can be played at home.

A. A is for Acrobatics in the Backyard

Have the children lie on the floor, or the grass, and 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 hand-stands for some fun acrobatic exercise!

What you will need:

Some inexpensive yoga mats, from Kmart [https://www.kmart.com.au/product/blue-fitness-mat/691326]

B. B is for Baking some Cupcakes

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.

What you will need:

Baking utensils
Cupcake mix from Coles [https://shop.coles.com.au/a/national/product/greens-cup-cake-mix-vanilla]

C. C is for Camping in the Backyard

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 own 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?

What you will need:

Order a cheap and cheerful 2 to 3 person tent from Amazon [https://www.amazon.com.au/Trailmate-Waterproof-Windproof-Camping-Outdoor/dp/B07VLXCQ6T ]

D. D is for Diamond Art

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!

What you will need

Order a kit from Spotlight – for example, Minnie Mouse and Micky Mouse kits. [https://www.spotlightstores.com/craft-hobbies/other-crafts/craft-kits/diamond-dotz-minnies-bow-kit/BP80485145 ] and [https://www.spotlightstores.com/craft-hobbies/other-crafts/craft-kits/diamond-dotz-mickey-mouse-kit/BP80485143 ]

E. E is for Experimenting in your Home Lab!

Remember the science fair models you made as a child? Rekindle the fascination with science with some 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 DIY activities, printables and videos that are age-appropriate. For example, they have worksheet about how to design a water pistol! https://icdn.kiwico.com/landing/camp/tinker/day4/CampKiwiCo-Printables_Tinker_Day4-3.pdf

What you will need:

F. F is for Feather Painting

Painting with feathers is not like painting with paintbrushes, so don’t expect a super-realistic outcome. Rather it is all about colour and 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 you that doesn’t appeal then simply get the kids to draw, or paint, a picture of daddy!

What you will need:

Paint, paper, and of course feathers! Order your feathers from art shop like Eckersley [https://www.eckersleys.com.au/d-l-turkey-feathers ]

G. G is for Gardening on the Deck

Watching something grow from seed to a seedling, to a plant is fascinating for kids. There is nothing like growing your own pretty flowers! Or if you don’t want to grow flowers then you can also get seedling kits for herbs or vegetables.

What you will need:

Order a seedling kit from Bunnings [ https://www.bunnings.com.au/mr-fothergill-s-little-gardeners-butterfly-garden-cube_p2962019 ]

H. H is for Hopscotch

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” which is 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. If the shooter lands on a line or outside the square then you lose your turn.

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 then that round is disqualified and they need to wait till the next round to try again.

Not sure of the exact rules? Watch this quick video which describes the rules of the Hopscotch game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZzswQaICfM

What you will need:

Chalk (or painter’s tape) + Milk bottle lid

I. I is for Investigating the History of your House or Address

What is the story behind your address? Ever thought about tracing the history of your home? If you live in a century old house, imagine the stories it could tell! If you live in a new-build then consider researching the story your grand-parents’ house or your school’s story. 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.

What you will need:

Internet access & a printer
Brisbane Guide – https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-and-building/do-i-need-approval/restoring-and-researching-heritage-properties/research-the-history-of-your-house
Sydney guide – https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/learn/archives-history/house-and-building-histories
Melbourne guide – https://guides.slv.vic.gov.au/c.php?g=245236&p=1632991
Adelaide guide – https://archives.sa.gov.au/finding-information/discover-our-collection/house-and-land/house-or-property-history
Hobart guide – https://libraries.tas.gov.au/archive-heritage/guides-records/Pages/building.aspx

J. J is for Jump Rope!

Whether it’s “Jump Around” by House of Pain or “I like to Move It, Move It” by Reel 2 Reel or whatever your favourite song is now get your Smart Speaker and 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 gets to be the next jumper. And that’s just the start!

What you will need:

Skipping rope – like the one from Rebel sport – https://www.rebelsport.com.au/p/celsius-skipping-rope-554923.html
(optional) Smart speaker like the Echo from JB Hi Fi — https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/amazon-echo-dot-with-alexa-3rd-generation-plum-fabric

K. K is for Karaoke at Home

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.

All you need is a smartphone you can turn it into a karaoke machine it an app like SMULE. (App User Recommended age: 13 years+)

What you will need:

Download an app like “Smule” or other sing-a-long app and use with your smartphone

L. L is for Laser Tag at Home!!

Transform your place into a theme park, without the queues. Laser Tag 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. No need to battle through traffic or fight over a car-park. You can rent a 4 pack, 8 pack, 12 pack etc this will keep the kids busy for hours.

The Laser Tag in a Box equipment can work indoors or outdoors, day or night. As the day cools off and twilight approaches then there are even more opportunities to extend the fun times. The light effects of the laser tag equipment seem brighter in the dark. This can make your gaming even more thrilling.

What you will need:

Rent a laser tag set from Laser Tag in a Box (nationwide delivery) – https://lasertag.com.au/product/awesome-in-a-box-rental-of-8

M. M is for Mud. Simple Mud

Simple fun. Good old-fashioned fun. No need to over-complicate it: just add water to some dirt and hey presto! Mud pies.

What you will need:

Dirt + Water

N. N is for Ninja Warriors

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 really exercising. Hand-eye coordination and macro- and micro-movements are part of the drill. Here is a video with some ideas for your place – https://www.youtube .com/watch?v=tcQojvSy_QM

What you will need:

Obstacles like a ladder, or pool-noddles, or ramps

O. O is for Origami

This is an affordable and easy holiday activity. You’ll need some brightly coloured square pieces of paper. 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.

What you will need:

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-make-origami-butterfly
Colourful square pieces of paper

P. P is for Picnic in Your Local Park (or Backyard)

Enjoy an outdoor meal together. Hosting a picnic in your favourite park or in your backyard is a fun way to finish a family day. A picnic blanket on the grass or a BBQ on your deck, either way eating outside is a great holiday tradition. Check out some of the fabulous parks around your city. For example, the Sherwood Arboretum in Brisbane is celebrating its 100^th birthday in 2025.

What you will need:

Picnic blanket like this one from BIG W – https://www.bigw.com.au/product/sperling-picnic-rug-assorted/p/429816/

Q. Q is for Quoifing like there’s no Tomorrow!

Just 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 get back to normal.)

What you will need:

Coloured Hairspray – like these from Coles – Hot Pink https://shop.coles.com.au/a/national/product/loreal-paris-colorista-spray-hotpink-hair-colour and
Whatever else you have in the bathroom!

R. R is for Recording Your Family Tree

Hatched, matched and dispatched! Holidays are often times for family clan gatherings. As the wider family comes together it is a special opportunity to learn about your roots. There are lots of websites to help your research, like Ancestry.com or The Genealogy Guide. See if you can discover old photographs or films of your family’s special times.

What you will need:

Old photographs or films
Info about your family tree
Access to the internet for research

S. S is for Story

This is a fun activity with a group of children. Each child takes a turn in coming up with one sentence in the story. If you have trouble getting started, then begin with a theme – such as “circus” or “space” and go from there. It is amazing how quickly the kids’ imagination will start firing! You might also want to video this activity so you watch it again later.

What you will need:

Your Imagination!

T. T is for Trivia Games

How long has it been since you played a board game like “Trivial Pursuit”? If you don’t have any actual board games to play at home then try playing “20 Questions” instead.

Each child has a turn. First, they think of an object, something that is either an animal, a vegetable or a mineral. And then they let the others know which category this object falls into. Then the others have can ask up to 20 questions to try and work 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 you will need:

Various board games or puzzles

U. U is for Using Boxes to Build a Maze

What better way to prepare the backyard for your fun? Better still you can re-use the maze for your ninja warrior games (see N is for Ninja) or for your Treasure Hunt (see X is for X-marks the Spot) or even for 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!

What you will need:

Cardboard boxes
Paint & paint-brushes

V. V is for Volcano

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 drink and flavours of Mentos to see if you get different results. The kids can create a paper mâché volcano shape around the soda bottle. Here’s a quick video on how to make the paper mâché glue at home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTKQGMy1Joo

What you need:

1 x bottle of cola (diet coke works best)
1 x packet of mint Mentos
Plain flour (for the paper-mâché)
An outdoor area you can hose down afterwards

W. W is for Watching Movies

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, for example, the latest action movie or the newest sci-fi series on Netflix.

What you need:

Popcorn
Netflix or other streaming service

X: X is for X-Marks the Spot: Treasure Hunt!

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 treasure for the kids to discover. If you draw a Treasure Map of your backyard show landmarks like the drive-way or that huge gum tree out the back. Or if you are playing in your local park then 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, get the kids to use a compass to tell in which direction to go.

What you will need:

paper and pencils to prepare the clues in advance
compass (optional, like this one from Dick Smith — https://www.dicksmith.com.au/da/buy/latestbuy-stainless-steel-compass-16962/ )
‘treasures’ such as a small toy or treats / lollies

Y: Y is for Yodelling

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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf71rCWNVIM] Post your video clip of your attempt to Tik-Tok or Instagram! You won’t be able to stop giggling!!

What you will need:

Your voice!
Social media (optional)

Z. Z is for Zoom

Haven’t need Grandma or Grandpa for a while? Tee-up a Zoom conversation! Or are missing your best friend from Soccer? Get together via Facetime! 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.

What you will need:

Laptop or Smartphone

In Conclusion

There you have it: 26 fun ways to combat holiday boredom.

Sometimes it is good to keep 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, it might be better to enjoy a staycation these school holidays.

The good news is that you don’t even have to leave your place to enjoy some fun with the kids. Enjoy this A to Z school holiday activity ideas. Whichever you choose will help create some happy holiday memories.