School holidays can bring that familiar question: what can the kids do today that doesn't involve another screen? You don't need a packed schedule or a trolley full of new toys. These five easy holiday activities for kids use familiar toys, a little imagination and whatever space you've got, whether it's a rainy afternoon at home or a sunny spring or summer day outside.
Looking for easy holiday activities for kids?
Try a craft challenge, build a fort or toy city, set up a backyard game, make up a story with figures, or hide toys for a treasure hunt. Most of these screen-free ideas need only a few things you already own. Pick one that suits the weather and let the kids decide what happens next.
1. Get creative with the toys you already have
That toy at the bottom of the basket might be interesting again with a new job. Invite the kids to make a paper backdrop for their dolls or action figures, design a sign for a toy-car garage, or draw a comic about a favourite character. A few pencils and scraps of paper will do.
Try a quick craft challenge
- Make a crown or decorate an old cape for dress-up play.
- Collect fallen leaves and make a nature collage, or try pressing flowers or leaves for a later project.
- Draw a new outfit for a doll or a flag for a toy fort.
If you'd like to personalise an actual toy, check that its surface is suitable before using paint or markers. Decorating paper accessories instead keeps things simple. The original post also suggested a nature craft set for a more guided project, but you don't need one to start. Parent tip: put out just two or three supplies and let the children choose the brief. Less setup, less cleanup.
For another starting point, see our ideas for creative play with toys.
2. Build something together on a rainy day
Indoor play doesn't have to mean a complicated project. Use blocks, construction toys or cushions to build a tower, bridge, maze, fort or whole little city. Toy cars can test the roads; figures can move in when the building is done. The building is half the fun, and the story afterwards is the other half.
Give the build a simple mission
Ask, ‘Can you make a bridge that a toy car can cross?’ or ‘Where will the figures sleep tonight?’ If everyone wants to join in, make one big build rather than competing for the tallest tower. On a quieter afternoon, pull out a puzzle or make up a board game with paper, counters and a die. Our games and puzzles collection offers more family-play inspiration.
Parent tip: begin with the first few pieces, then step back. Kids often have a plan of their own once they get going.
3. Take play outside
On a warm Australian school-holiday day, the backyard or a nearby open space can become the activity. Bring out a ball, scooter, frisbee or toy cars, then offer a small challenge: race the cars along a chalk track, make an obstacle course, or see how many passes the family can manage without dropping the ball. You can also skip the equipment and play tag, What's the Time Mr Wolf? or Duck, Duck, Goose.
Add a summer twist
If the weather suits, a gentle water game can change the mood. The original article suggested a water gun or reusable water balls; ordinary cups of water can work too. Choose a safe space and supervise water play. On a drizzly day, gumboots and a puddle walk are another option, provided conditions are safe.
Parent tip: demonstrate one round, then let the kids invent the next rule. For more ideas beyond the backyard, read our natural play ideas.
4. Make time for imaginative play
A doll, action figure, animal figure or toy car can be the start of a whole new world. Suggest a pirate voyage, a rescue in a toy city or a magical forest, then ask, ‘What happens next?’ Figures and playsets give children characters and places to work with, but the story belongs to them.
When they need a little prompt
Write a handful of settings or characters on scraps of paper and let the kids draw one at random. They could act out the story, draw it as a comic or invite a friend to add a new character. If they enjoy making films, a stop-motion story is an optional project, not a requirement for play.
Parent tip: join in as a character for five minutes, then hand the adventure back. Browse imaginative play toys if you're looking for story starters, but try mixing the toys already in the house first.
5. Let them take the lead with a toy treasure hunt
This one works at home, indoors or out, and takes just a few minutes to set up. Hide a few small toys, such as figures, blocks or cars, around an appropriate play area. Give children a short checklist of what to find, or draw a simple map. Keep hiding places suitable for the children playing.
- For a puzzle hunt, add a clue or riddle for each toy.
- For family play, search together and take turns writing clues.
- For more independent play, ask the kids to hide the toys and make a hunt for each other.
Parent tip: when they ask for another round, swap roles instead of doing all the hiding yourself. It's a lovely way to rediscover toys that haven't had much attention lately.
More ways to keep kids busy
Need something even quicker for a weekend or a spare hour in the school holidays? Try one of these low-preparation ideas:
- Put out two toys that don't normally play together and ask the kids to invent a story.
- Build a cosy reading fort with cushions, then take a book inside.
- Make a toy-car maze with blocks and change the route after each run.
- Choose a puzzle or card game for a short family session.
- Try a simple tactile play break by sorting familiar blocks or figures by colour or shape, then making a scene with them.
There is no need to fill every minute. Sometimes the most useful invitation is simply, ‘What could we make with these?’
Why holiday downtime matters
Unplanned time gives children room to choose a game, change the rules and follow an idea wherever it goes. It can be a quiet solo build, a noisy family game or an elaborate story made from the same old toys. Those ordinary moments are part of what makes school holidays and weekends memorable. You don't have to be the entertainment committee all day.
Frequently asked questions
What are some easy holiday activities for kids?
Try a toy treasure hunt, a paper-and-pencil craft, a block-building challenge or a backyard ball game. Start with what you already have and keep the rules flexible.
How can I keep kids entertained without screens?
Offer a small invitation rather than a full plan: two figures and a story prompt, a puzzle on the table or a few toys hidden around the room. Join in briefly if they need help getting started.
What can kids do at home during the school holidays?
They can build a fort, make a toy city, draw comics about their favourite characters, play cards or create a hunt for a sibling. These work especially well when the weather keeps everyone inside.
What are some outdoor activities for kids?
Try a chalk track for toy cars, a ball-passing challenge, an obstacle course or an old-fashioned game of tag. On suitable summer days, add supervised water play.
How can toys encourage creative play?
Use them as props, not as instructions. Blocks can become a bridge, figures can become story characters and a toy car can start an adventure across the living room.
What can kids do when they're bored?
Let them pick a toy they haven't used lately and give it a new job: build it a home, write its story or hide it in a treasure hunt. A little boredom can be the starting point for their own idea.
For more inspiration, visit the team at Toyworld Byron Bay, Toyworld Lismore or Toyworld Ballina, or browse Toyworld online. Carey, Carmel and the Toyworld team love helping families find ways to play, starting with the toys already at home.