School Holiday Activities

School holidays is on the way! As it’s a busy time of year, it’s important to find activities that will keep your kiddos occupied during the break. So, we decided to jot down some of our favourite summer time and school holiday activities so that you can try them for yourself.

School Holiday Activity 1 – Sponge Sailboats

Miniature sailboats made of sponge and paper in a variety of colours sit on grass.

How adorable are these miniature sponge sailboats? Not only are these super cute, but they’re very fun to put together. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Sponges
  • Wooden skewers
  • Construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Wire cutters
  • Glue

We recommend these are made with parental supervision, as you’ll need wire cutters and scissors. For the full process of making these boats, visit here.

School Holiday Activity 2 – Water gun painting

Okay, so we know that this one sounds very messy. We can’t argue – it definitely could be! But doesn’t it look fun? The best part about this activity is that it is low cost, and non-complex.

This water gun painting activity is especially great for little ones who aren’t too keen on detailed arts and crafts. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • A water gun
  • Water colour paper
  • Liquid water colour paints (or, mix a solid paint with some water)
  • An easel, or an outdoor clothesline

Next, here are the steps to creating your own water colour painting:

  1. Set up your paper by clipping it to the easel or clothesline
  2. Let your child fill up their water gun
  3. Squirt the gun for colourful fun!

School Holiday Activity 3 – Cupcake liners

Three colourful diy butterflies made out of cupcake liners, pipe cleaners and beads.

Bringing it back to a cleaner activity, this one is a bit more detail oriented!

These quick and easy cupcake liner butterflies are fast to make, and would make adorable room décor. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Cupcake liners
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Little beads
  • Scissors

Next, here are the steps to creating your own beautiful butterflies:

  1. Fold your cupcake liner
  2. Add beads to your pipe cleaner
  3. Place two folded cupcake liners together
  4. Wrap the pipe cleaner with beads around them to tie together
  5. Stretch out the wings
  6. Embellish the antennae

School Holiday Activity 4 – Fluffy Slime

Blue, pink and purple fluffy slime arranged into a spiral.

Let’s be honest – who doesn’t love slime? It’s gooey, sticky and doesn’t make a mess!

Well, we’re taking slime to the next level with this super fun and colourful fluffy slime recipe. We recommend that adults make this one with supervision from the kiddos. Once it’s all made, it’s safe for play!

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • White glue
  • Baking soda
  • Cup water
  • Shaving cream
  • Contact lens solution (we’ve heard laundry detergent works too!)
  • Liquid food colouring

Next, to make your own fluffy slime, you’ll need to:

  1. Add white glue to a bowl
  2. Mix in water and baking soda, stirring well
  3. Place in the shaving cream and mix
  4.  Drop in food coloring until you are happy with the colour and shade
  5. Add in your contact lens solution and knead – this will be a sticky stage!
  6. Done!

School Holiday Activity 5 – Rainbow Lamington

Are you looking for something a bit more advanced to keep a teenager or older kid entertained? Well look no further!

These super yummy rainbow lamingtons are not only fun to look at, but they’re engaging to make and tasty to eat! Here’s what you’ll need…

For the lamington:

  • Unsalted butter
  • Caster sugar
  • Vanilla bean paste
  • Eggs
  • Self-raising flour
  • Buttermilk
  • Milk
  • Food colouring
  • Raspberry jam
  • Shredded coconut

For the white chocolate ganache:

  • White chocolate
  • Thin cream

Next, for the full process on how to make your own delicious lamingtons, visit here.

School Holiday Activity 6 – Bubble Painting

A baking tin full of bubbles that are pink. Underneath is a painting of hydrangeas in pink and purple.

Alright, let’s revisit crafts. We love a good painting activity, and this surprisingly easy bubble painting is no exception. We love this one because the bubbles could be whatever you want – flowers, leaves, fur or hair, and much more!

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • A tupperware container
  • Non-toxic acrylic paint
  • Dish soap
  • Water
  • A straw
  • Paper

Next, to make your own pretty and colourful hydrangea painting, you’ll need to:

  1. Mix the paint, dish soap and water in your tupperware container
  2. Take your straw and carefully blow some bubbles in the mixture
  3. When there is a big clump of bubbles, carefully place your paper on it! The paper should touch the bubbles, but not the paint mixture below
  4. Repeat until you have your desired shapes and patterns
  5. Embellish! Add leaves, a background, other flowers, or whatever you want!

Other ideas

While this list is a fun place to start, it doesn’t include every activity we love! If you’re still looking for something to do, you can read some of our favourite books for under 11’s here, or alternatively, have a look at past activities on our blog!