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50 free school holiday activities for kids in 2021

Easy ways to keep childhood boredom at bay.

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Stephanie Yip

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Dylan Crismale
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Keep it simple and stick to your budget these school holidays with these free (or close to free) school holiday activities, experiences and crafts.

If the cardboard box has taught us anything it's that you don't have to spend big on the kids to keep them entertained and amused.

Happy holidays!

Free school holiday activities at home

baking_shutterstock

Bake and decorate

kid_costume_shutterstock

Play dress ups

woolworths_fruit

Make crazy fruit juices (image: Woolworths)

  1. Build an arts and crafts table. If you don't mind spending a little bit, you can buy arts and crafts materials like pipe-cleaners, cardboard, glue, coloured pencils and buttons and let the kids go nuts. However, to keep this activity free, instead find scrap material and packaging around the house they can use to craft with.
  2. Stream something. Watch the flicks from the comfort of your home. Stan has a 30-day free trial and you can get a 7-day free trial for Paramount Plus. Although Netflix doesn't have a free trial, if you're already paying for it then it's no added expense. If your plan allows for multiple devices you don't even need to watch the shows with them. Leave them with cartoons while you catch up with The Handmaid's Tale. Alternatively, you can watch flicks on free-to-air if you don't have an account and want to keep this one free.
  3. Make an indoor obstacle course. Grab all the pillows and quilts, move the couches and build an obstacle course they can run around in.
  4. Learn origami. Download a free design online to get them crafting with paper, it's a fun school holiday activity that can keep them occupied for hours.
  5. Bake and decorate. The school holidays are a great time to clean out the pantry and see what's lying about. Bake cupcakes or biscuits and get the kids to decorate them with icing and sprinkles. Their reward? A delicious treat.
  6. Play dress-ups. They can do this with their clothes or your clothes. (If they wreck your clothes, well, that's an excuse to go shopping).
  7. Draw a picture. All you need are some cards and coloured pencils and they'll take care of the rest.
  8. Write a story. Got a chatterbox with a huge imagination? Ask them to write it down.
  9. Perform simple science experiments. Google "simple science experiments" (there are heaps) and use household materials you already own.
  10. Complete a puzzle/activity book. Activity books are a fun way to keep them occupied throughout the day. You can even download activity pages online.
  11. Read a book. Harry Potter anyone? It really is best to start them off early.
  12. Make fingerprint animals. All you need is an ink-pad, paper and a pen. Press your fingerprint onto the sheet and use it as a head or body to draw animals.
  13. Hold a family board games night. From Monopoly and UNO to Game of Life and Ticket To Ride, the possibilities are endless. Stock up at these top games shops.
  14. Go on a treasure hunt. This is one of the most unique school holiday activities. Create a map for your kids to find a bounty that you've stashed somewhere.
  15. Create a paint station. Grab some butcher's paper and a couple of pots of colourful paint and the rest is up to their imagination.

Play hide and seek

Sparkly-Fairy-Dust-Dough

Make fairy glitter dough (image: Pinterest)

Play with a cardboard box

  1. Build a scrapbook or collage. All they need is some old magazines, a pair of scissors and some glue to create a collage or scrapbook.
  2. Make crazy fruit juices. This is a top way to get them eating fruit and having fun in the kitchen. Give them a station of fruits to choose from and mix them up in the juicer with some ice. PS: Shops like Woolworths and Harris Farm often offer free fruit for kids with your shop.
  3. Play hide and seek. Two words: endless fun. You might also like to play tag, dodgeball or pretend the floor is lava.
  4. Perform a play. Have the kids write and perform a play for you.
  5. Do face painting. You can do this or you can let them have the fun. Just don't forget the baby wipes. Don't have face paint? Make-up will do, just don't let them near your good stuff.
  6. Make a flower crown or pressed flower bookmark. Pick some flowers from the garden or ask a neighbour. You can find instructions online for how to make simple crowns or unique bookmarks.
  7. Make macaroni necklaces. A fundamental component of any childhood. All you need is a piece of string and a packet of dried macaroni and the rest is up to their imagination.
  8. Make fairy dust dough. For a unique scientific play session, they can create fairy dust playdough by mixing hair conditioner and corn flour and adding food colouring and glitter.
  9. Host a sleepover. Invite your kids' friends over for a night of movies, games and all-round fun. If you share duties with other parents you can each take a turn hosting a sleepover in the school holidays throughout the year.
  10. Host a fashion show. This could be with their own clothes or with yours. Your choice.
  11. Have a dance party. Turn up the volume on the radio and cover the lights with cellophane for a musical evening.
  12. Make eggheads. Give eggshells a new lease of life by filling them with alfalfa and asking the kids to draw faces on them.
  13. DIY aquariums. This super fun activity is perfect after a day at the beach. Ask them to collect shells and pebbles which they can then place into jars of coloured blue water to marvel at and keep.
  14. Make masks. Paper plates and spare cards are perfect for these. They can then roleplay their characters with the masks.
  15. Play with a cardboard box. From building a cart or a dollhouse to crafting a rocket ship or mini-golf course, a cardboard box can offer so much play for kids.

Free school holiday activities outdoors

Get them gardening

kids_beach_shutterstock

Visit the beach

  1. Get them gardening. Visit the shops with them and let them choose the flowers, plants or seeds they'd like to grow and have them plant them in the garden. They can watch them grow and look after them throughout the holiday period. To keep this one free you can have them help weed or replant botanicals you already have in your garden.
  2. Be a photographer for a day. Give them the camera for a day and see what shots they come up with. You can choose to print or frame their best ones.
  3. Spend a day in the park. If a trip to the theme park is off the cards then a local park is just as good. Choose one with a colourful and extensive playground area and your afternoon is set. Pack a picnic lunch too for when they get tired and hungry.
  4. Take a coastal walk. On a nice day taking a coastal walk is a relaxing way to get out. In Sydney, Bondi to Coogee boasts some spectacular views and if you take it during spring you can catch the Sculptures By The Sea exhibit as well.
  5. Go camping. If you can't get out-and-about for a family camping adventure you can keep it local and make this an in-the-house or backyard affair. Pitch a tent or grab a table and lay a long cloth over it. They can camp during the day or stay inside at night – with a dinner delivery service, naturally.
  6. Play some sport. Get out of the house and throw the footy around, play basketball or hit a tennis ball.
  7. Go star gazing. Set up some blankets in your backyard and lay yourself down to stare at the stars.
  8. Go fishing. Grab the tackle and fishing rods and go on a fishing trip.
  9. Visit the beach. A classic free school holiday activity. Spend a sunny day at the beach, have a splash in the water and make some sandcastles.
  10. Visit a farm. Heaps of local farms offer fruit picking or allow you to visit the animals. For something closer to home, try a petting zoo. The Grounds at Alexandria in Sydney has one over the weekend that goes down well with the kids.
  11. Go bushwalking. Bushwalks for every strength are available in national parks like the Blue Mountains in New South Wales and Mount Ainslie in Canberra.
  12. Go for a bike ride. Cycle the streets wherever you are. Melbourne boasts a bike share scheme that gives you 30 minutes of free hire while Canberra has some beautiful cycle loops including one around Lake Burley Griffin.
  13. Go to the pools. A low-cost day out in general, and some harbourside pools like Murray Rose Pool and Maccallum Pools in Sydney are free to enter. Look up free pools for your city.

Free school holiday activities in the city

Visit a museum

Father and son North Bondi walking on rocks

Walk the city

Botanical Gardens Melbourne, Australia

Visit the botanical gardens

  1. Catch public transport. This is a free school holiday activity you might never have thought about. The thrill of hopping on a train, bus or ferry to anywhere is one of the simple joys of being a child. Some cities offer a free city transport service. For example, Sydney has its 555 tourist shuttle and Melbourne offers a free city circle tram ride. Check online to see if your city has a free service.
  2. Visit a museum or public library. Free museums and libraries for kids in Australia include the State Library of New South Wales, Australian Museum, Anzac Day Memorial, National Gallery of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria.
  3. Walk the city. To little ones, anywhere outside of the home is an adventure. Take them on a trip through the city to explore its iconic sights.
  4. Visit an art gallery. Many galleries offer free entry to their general exhibition spaces. Major galleries in Australia that have free entry include the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney, QAGOMA in Brisbane and MONA (under 18s are free) in Hobart.
  5. Go to the markets. From Glebe Markets and Eveleigh Farmers markets in Sydney to Salamanca Market in Hobart and Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne, a visit to the market is a fun day out and who knows, they could even come home with a trinket afterwards.
  6. Visit your local botanical gardens. Bursts of colour and wildlife will distract kids to no end.

The ultimate free school holiday activity

  1. Finally when you've exhausted all your other options… visit family. The school holidays are perfect for taking the kids to visit relatives. You can even drop them off for a day to play with them… (hint, hint, nudge, nudge). You'll thank yourself and your relatives later.

See the latest school holiday activities deals

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RedBalloon
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Activities for kids from $17 + an extra $5 off with code

Verified 4 days ago
Available on select dates when you spend a minimum of $250. Activities include day tour cruises, hop-on hop-off bus tours, attraction passes and more. Destinations include Gold Coast, Cairns, Melbourne, Adelaide and more. T&Cs apply.
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Everything New Zealand
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Adrenaline
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$55: Karting experience for kids in Eastern Creek, Sydney

Verified 5 days ago Expires 8 Nov 2021
Available from Thursdays to Sundays from October 2021 - March 2023.
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Adrenaline
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Verified 5 days ago Expires 8 Nov 2021
Available on Thursdays to Sundays until 31 March 2023 for a 30-minute experience.
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Verified 5 days ago Expires 8 Nov 2021
Available on select dates from 18 October 2021 - 31 March 2023 at The Hills District.
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Big Bus Tours
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Up to 20% off + kids go free on Dublin bus tours

Expires 31 Oct 2021
Available on classic and premium tickets booked online. T&Cs apply
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KidCampus
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NSW: Arts and crafts activities from $45

Verified 4 days ago
Available on select dates on programs for kids including creative writing workshops, ceramic pottery classes and more. Sample rate is for an electronics class.
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KidCampus
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Available on select dates and school holiday programs for kids including basketball camp, aerial gym, tennis, soccer, parkour and more. Sample rate is for a 3D design class.
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Adrenaline
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Experience Oz
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Adrenaline
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RedBalloon
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Up to 48% off things to do in Brisbane + an extra $5 off with code

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Available on select dates when you buy 2 or more vouchers. Activities include bridge climbs, driving experiences, hot air balloon flights, high teas and more. T&Cs apply.
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Adrenaline
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Experience Oz
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Experience Oz
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Experience Oz
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Experience Oz
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Up to 20% off SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast tickets

Expires 26 Oct 2021
Available on select dates from October - December 2021.
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