School Holiday Activity Ideas

Well, it’s that time again Mums, the school holidays! I cannot believe how fast these ones have come around and more to the point I didn’t actually realize it was the end of the term until this last week - it honestly snuck up on me!

We haven’t got much planned at all as it is a busy time here on the farm with lambing, we have pet lambs to feed so it makes it hard to be able to head away. I enjoy my time at home during the school holidays - I love the slower mornings, and the no need to be rushing around anywhere. The kids do as well. They enjoy staying in their pj’s for a while longer and Florence especially likes just being at home, she goes on the school bus, and also lots of traveling into town for after school activities so it’s nice that they stop for the 2 weeks! 

But - what I do not look forward to is the constant “Mum, I am hungry!” “Mum, what can I eat?” “Mum, I am bored, can I watch you tube?” …. It can be constant, and it makes it hard work especially when you know they have eaten morning tea just 5 minutes ago. So, I like to have some activities planned that are fun for them and keep them busy! Because I know it’s in fact them being ‘bored’ and not hungry. Florence is at an age where she is happy to keep herself occupied playing with her Lego, games, artwork etc. but Quinn likes to do things with me, and Tommy - well he is happy just carting things from one end of the house to the other, ALL THE TIME! - keeps him busy I suppose ha-ha.

So, I like to have a few ideas up my sleeve that we can do each day. Some will last for as long as I stay at the activity with them, and others carry on for the whole day or longer. I thought I would share a list of ideas that I use that are either for at home or are a trip out at a low cost or no cost for you.

Some of these ideas can be found on the Highlights reel on my Instagram page called “Kids Activities” so you can check it out there for the recipe, idea etc.

Here we go!

1. Make your own Puffy Paints (on Highlights reel)
2. Teddy Bears Picnic (on Highlight Reel)
3. Make your own play dough (on Highlights Reel)
4. Set up an inside Camp site (on Highlight reel)
5. Make your own Cloud dough (on Highlight reel)
6. Baking with kids
7. Set up a baby bath to bath their dolls/appropriate toys - Quinn likes to bath his dinosaurs too
8. Arts and crafts - it's a good idea to keep tissue boxes, paper towel rolls, toilet rolls, boxes etc. for them to create some masterpieces
9. Collect some rocks to paint. Can keep them or go and hide them at your local park for other kids to find and enjoy.
10. Set up a beauty salon and have a pamper session together (hide the scissors!)
11. Set up a grocery store with food from the pantry - the kids love this one!
12. Can make up a treasure hunt - great for inside if it's raining or outside on a nice day
13. Find a new playground/park or bike park to go and explore.
14. Find a new walk to go and explore together.
15. Kids design a menu for a day. Can write a shopping list if ingredients are needed to go and get. Write the Menu up, talk about the order of things that need done, set the table etc. I’m thinking they will want pancakes or waffles for breakfast? Mini pizzas for lunch - these work well on muffin splits, and their favourite for tea?
16. A trip to the swimming pool - this can be a good one to arrange with a friend to meet up. With the logistics of taking more than one child swimming on your own, if the kids need to go to the toilet etc. can be easier with another person to go with.
17. Go to your local museum - we may think this could be boring, but I promise you your kids will love it and often they have holiday sessions set up also; look up their Facebook page to see if anything fun is happening.
18. Go to your local library, enjoy reading books to your little ones in a cozy nook, if you have a card take some books home the kids have chosen. Also check out the holiday programme on their Facebook page as libraries often have holiday sessions running through out that are free also.
19. Having a Movie Day at home, curtains closed, popcorn and yummy snacks, set up some cozy cushions or sleeping bags and enjoy a movie together.
20. This one is for the Christmas enthusiasts - set up your Christmas Tree, oh my gosh I said it! I don’t think this will be us, but I do know the kids would love it and a bonus you get to enjoy the Christmas Tree for longer….and it would be done and ready and not a big rush come November / December! Hmmm now I have myself thinking will I or won’t I? 

I hope these ideas give you some easy fun experiences for the holiday break! Please tag and let me know if you get up to any of them - I would love to see! I also will be sharing what we get up to on my stories so keep your eye out for our holiday fun!

Jo xx