School holidays can be a magical time for children, offering a break from routine and the chance to play, explore, and create. However, as any parent knows, it doesn’t take long before the familiar refrain of “I’m bored” starts echoing through the house. To help you keep boredom at bay, we’ve compiled a list of 15 fun, free, and engaging activities that will entertain and inspire your little ones without costing a cent.

1. Cardboard Creations

Turn old cardboard boxes into castles, cars, or rocket ships. Provide scissors, markers, and tape to let your kids bring their imagination to life. This open-ended activity is perfect for fostering creativity and problem-solving.

2. Nature Weaving

Collect sticks and create simple weaving frames by tying string or yarn between them. Use leaves, flowers, and grasses to weave beautiful natural tapestries. This combines art with nature and keeps little hands busy.

3. Backyard Obstacle Course

Set up a DIY obstacle course using items from around the house. Think hula hoops to jump through, chairs to crawl under, or sticks to balance on. Encourage kids to design the course themselves for added fun.

4. Rock Balancing

Head outside and gather rocks to stack and balance into towers or sculptures. This simple activity helps develop focus, patience, and fine motor skills while connecting kids with nature.

5. Shadow Art

On a sunny day, set up paper and pencils outside to trace shadows from toys, plants, or even family members. Once the outlines are drawn, kids can color in or decorate their shadow shapes.

6. Stick Mazes

Gather sticks from the garden and arrange them into mazes or patterns on the ground. Kids can guide small toys or marbles through their creations, adding new challenges as they go.

7. DIY Story Stones

Find smooth stones and let kids paint or draw simple images on them, like animals, weather symbols, or people. These story stones can then be used to create imaginative tales, making storytelling interactive and fun.

8. Puddle Play

After a rain shower, dress your kids in gumboots and let them explore puddles. Add small floating objects like leaves or sticks to create mini-rafts or races. It’s messy but magical.

9. Leaf Crowns

Gather leaves of different shapes and sizes and help kids craft their own crowns by threading or sticking them together. They’ll love playing pretend with their handmade accessories.

10. Mud Kitchen

If you have an outdoor area, designate a space for a mud kitchen. Kids can use old pots, spoons, and containers to "cook" mud pies and create pretend meals from dirt, water, and natural elements.

11. Homemade Scavenger Hunt

Create a list of items for kids to find in your home or yard, such as a feather, a round stone, or something blue. Add riddles or clues to make it more challenging and engaging.

12. Cloud Watching

Lie on a blanket outside and look up at the sky. Encourage kids to describe the shapes they see in the clouds and create stories about them. It’s a calming way to spark creativity.

13. Stick Sculptures

Use sticks, twine, and other found objects to create 3D sculptures or small structures. Kids can build anything from miniature houses to abstract art pieces.

14. Wildlife Spotting

Set up a "wildlife watch" in your backyard or local park. Provide binoculars (real or pretend) and a notebook to record any birds, insects, or animals spotted. It’s an engaging way to connect with nature and learn about local wildlife.

15. Paper Airplane Challenges

Teach kids to fold different styles of paper airplanes, then hold a flying contest. See which design flies the farthest, highest, or most accurately to a target. Encourage experimentation and tweaks to improve designs.

School holidays don’t have to be a battle or super expensive. With a little creativity and some inspiration from this list, you can transform downtime into quality playtime that’s fun, educational, and meaningful. Whether it’s through building cardboard castles or weaving nature tapestries, these activities are sure to keep your kids entertained and inspired all holiday long.

If you need extra inspiration, download our our guide to discover how to create enriching play environments that foster creativity, independent thinking, and social-emotional development.

What you'll learn in this guide:

• The science behind play: Understand how play shapes your child’s brain development, especially in the critical first 1,000 days.

• Open-ended play and loose parts: Learn how to use simple, everyday materials to spark your child’s creativity and problem-solving skills.

• Balancing screen time and green time: Practical strategies for managing screen time and ensuring your child engages in nature-based, outdoor play.

• How to create play environments: Set up spaces at home or in educational settings that encourage exploration, independence, and creativity.

• The stages of play and schemas: Identify your child’s play patterns and how to support their natural urges to learn through play.

• Long-term benefits of play: See how the skills developed through play today will support your child’s success in school, relationships, and beyond.

Happy playing xx