Ten fun and free things to do with the kids these holidays
“I’m bored” – two words that are guaranteed to send a shiver of fear down your spine at holiday time. Well fear no more – here’s our top 10 fun and free (or almost free) school holiday activities!
- Create a picnic The kids will love getting organised for a picnic and there are loads of simple recipes ideas on the web that are perfect for small fingers. Try healthy wraps, fruity kebabs and strawberry lemonade.
- Have a water balloon fight When it comes to activities for kids, tossing water balloons at each other is a whole load of fun and the kids will love the chance to give you a good soaking.
- Check out the library If you haven’t visited your local library for a while your might be surprised at the range of free events and programs they run.
- Organise a treasure hunt Treasure hunts are awesome and one of the ultimate boredom busters! Develop 10 or so clues or riddles for each player, tailoring them for the ages of your little hunters. The clues guide each player from one spot to another, building excitement and anticipation for the treasure at the end of the hunt.
- Make a movie Get the kids to make a movie using a smart phone or tablet. To make it more interesting put half a dozen movie ideas in a hat and get them to draw out the theme for their home movie. It’ll keep them occupied for hours as they set the scene and get recording.
- Make a cardboard playhouse If you’ve ever had a large item delivered you probably have a big cardboard box sitting around somewhere (or if not, zip down to your local white goods store and pick one up). Cut out some windows and doors and then let the kids decorate it with paint or markers.
- Create an obstacle course Whether it’s in the back yard or at the park, an obstacle course is a fun way to get the kids moving and burn off some energy.
- Play charades Check out the free charades apps on your mobile or tablet – they’re loads of fun and will keep everyone entertained for hours.
- Decorate a T-shirt A little glue and some ribbon or sparkly sequins or stones will turn an ordinary T-shirt into something extra special.
- DIY trivia game Trivia games are fun, and even more so when the kids make up their own trivia questions about each other.
There's no doubt about it, school holidays will probably hit your back pocket no matter how hard you try, so it's good to know there are still plenty of low cost activities to keep the kids entertained. But if your budget is stretched a bit too far or you need some emergency funds for the holidays, check out our mini loans - with a simple application process, it's easy and affordable.