Summer Holiday Fun: Creative Crafts and Play Ideas to Keep Kids Busy at Home

Did you know you can experience the beauty of Australia without leaving your living room? Thanks to a growing number of virtual tours available online, it’s easier than ever to explore the stunning landscapes and vibrant culture of this vast country. From the ancient wonders of Kakadu National Park, where you can see breathtaking waterfalls and wildlife, to the world-class exhibits at the Melbourne Museum, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. 

• Kadadu National Park
• Great Barrier Reef
• National Gallery Victoria
• Parliament House
• White Rabbit Gallery Sydney
• Blue Mountains
• Queensland National Parks
• Wild Life Sydney
• Uluru

Whether you're walking through the wild terrain of the Blue Mountains, discovering the Great Barrier Reef, or taking in the art at the National Gallery of Australia, these virtual tours allow you to visit some of Australia’s most iconic destinations right from your home. It’s a perfect way to experience the country's natural beauty and rich history, all while staying cool indoors!

But Why Stop There? Explore Amazing Places Around the World

If you’ve explored Australia virtually, why not take your travels global? There are countless virtual tours of incredible destinations around the world, allowing you to experience landmarks and attractions without ever leaving your home.

• Baalbek's Roman Monuments
• Amazon Rain Forest
• Buckingham Palace 
• The Colosseum
• International Space Station
• Canadian Farm Tours
• Mount Everest  
•  Yosemite National Park 

Virtual travel opens up a world of exploration, letting you immerse yourself in different cultures, landscapes, and histories from the comfort of your living room. The world is your oyster – no passport required!

Looking for some fun ways to spend quality time with the family these holidays? Here are a few ideas that will keep everyone entertained and create lasting memories:

1. Build a Fort – Get creative with blankets, cushions, and furniture to build the ultimate indoor fort.
2. Home Camping – Camp out in the lounge with fairy lights, microwave popcorn, and card games for a fun indoor adventure.
3. Breakfast Pancake Party – Perfect for after your home camp-out! Let the kids help make pancakes, and enjoy a family breakfast together.
4. Nerf Challenge – Set up targets for the kids to hit in a specific order, and keep track of their points with a tally card.
5. Baking – Kids love making cupcakes or decorating cookies. Try an extra challenging recipe, like a gingerbread house, for some festive fun.
6. Fancy Family Dinner – Host a special dinner for the family, invite of your extended family and make a night of it.
7. Charades – Get silly with a family game of charades. We love using the HeadsUp app for added fun, especially with younger kids.
8. Sewing – Start with simple projects like pillowcases or handbags, or try a creative challenge like making wearable arts from recycled materials. Our do the toilet paper challenge and make a full outfit from toilet paper only, followed by a family fashion show.
9. Lego Challenge– Challenge the kids to build something amazing with Lego, like their dream island or a scene from their favourite movie. Bonus points for creativity!
10. Outdoor Scavenger Hunt – Create a list of things to find or do around the yard or local park for some outdoor fun.
11. Nature Walk – Explore a nearby trail or park, taking in the sights and sounds of nature as a family.
12. Plant a Garden – Start a small vegetable or flower garden together. Even just a few pots on the veranda or a cherry tomato plant on your windowsill will do!

These activities will keep everyone engaged, promote creativity, and create memorable moments with the whole family!

Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to enhance your little learner's education with more ideas from our FREE 18-page play ideas PDF!

Download it today and let the fun begin!

DIY Room Decor for Tweens

What tween doesn’t love creating something unique to decorate their room? Try these Yarn-Wrapped Cardboard Letters from ArtBar.com, perfect for adding a personal touch to any space. Or, make a paint chip name garland for a pop of colour and fun! It’s a great excuse to visit Bunnings and explore the endless paint choices – picking out favourite shades can be half the fun!

If your tween is obsessed with Minecraft, why not bring that passion to life with a fun DIY project? Try making a Minecraft-inspired pen holder, like the one from Red Ted Art. It’s an easy and creative way to bring their favourite game into their room while keeping things organised. Whether it’s a Creeper design or a blocky Minecraft character, this craft is sure to be a hit with any Minecraft fan! It’s a perfect way to add a little extra personality to their desk while indulging in their love for the game.

Easy Cartoon Drawing for Kids

Got a kid who loves comics or graphic novels? Encourage them to create their own! This video offers beginner-friendly tips on cartoon drawing, sparking their imagination and bringing their stories to life.

Here are some more ideas to keep your teens and tweens entertained and off their tech over the school holidays:

• Host a Mini Talent Show – Get creative with music, dance, or comedy routines for family fun.
• Cook a Meal Together – Find a new recipe and have fun preparing it as a team.
• Make a DIY Puzzle – Take a photo and glue it onto cardboard, then cut it into puzzle pieces to make a custom challenge.
• Origami – Learn the art of paper folding and create intricate designs, from animals to flowers.
• Write Letters – Write letters or postcards to family or friends and brighten their day with something personal.
• Start a DIY Spa Day – Create homemade facemasks or bath bombs and enjoy a relaxing spa day at home.
• Write a Short Story or Poem – Encourage their creativity by writing a fun short story or poem.
• Make a Scrapbook – Start a scrapbook with memories, photos, and tickets from past events.
• Upcycle Old Clothes – Turn old clothing into something new with fabric paint, patches, or by adding embellishments.
• DIY Phone Case – Let them design their own personalised phone case using paints, markers, or embellishments.
• Create a Vision Board – Gather magazines or printouts to make a visual representation of goals or dreams.

These fun, tech-free activities are perfect for helping your kids stay entertained and creative over the holidays!

Want to enjoy the beautiful summer weather? Here are some exciting ideas to get everyone outside and make the most of the sunshine, fresh air, and outdoor fun. From active adventures to relaxing activities, these ideas are perfect for spending quality time as a family while soaking up the summer vibes.

1. Go for a Bike Ride – Explore your local neighbourhood or bike trails. It’s a fun way to get some exercise and see new places.
2. Outdoor Movie Night – Set up a projector and screen, grab some blankets, and enjoy a family movie under the stars.
3. Visit a Local Park – Pack a picnic and spend the day at a nearby park, enjoying nature and playing outdoor games.
4. Go for a Swim – Head to the beach, a local pool, or a river to cool off and have fun swimming.
5. Try Geocaching – Go on a modern-day treasure hunt by finding hidden geocaches in your area using a GPS app.
6. Have a Water Fight – On a hot day, grab water balloons or water guns and have an epic water fight in the yard.
7. Explore a Botanic Garden – Visit a local botanic garden to learn about different plants and enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
8. Go Horseback Riding – Book a session at a local stables and enjoy exploring nature on horseback.
9. Take a Sunset Walk – End the day with a relaxing sunset walk, either at the beach or a local scenic spot.
10. Organise a Family Sports Day – Set up a mini sports competition with activities like sack races, tug-of-war, and three-legged races in your backyard or at the park.

These outdoor activities will help you make the most of the beautiful weather and keep the whole family active and engaged!

Summer storms and rainy days are bound to happen, but don’t worry – there’s still plenty of fun to be had indoors! Here are some creative and engaging ideas to keep the kids entertained when it’s too wet to play outside:

• Attend a Local Library’s Children Story Time – Check out your local library’s schedule for story time sessions, a great way to enjoy stories and get immersed in a book-loving environment.
• Paper Airplane Races – Spend the afternoon making amazing paper airplanes and have races to see who can fly the furthest or perform the most loops.
• Build a Blanket Fort – Get cosy and creative by building a fort with blankets and cushions, then watch movies or play games on an iPad inside it.
• Fill Out a Summer Journal – Let the kids get creative with a Summer Journal, offering fun prompts to inspire drawings, stories, and memories from the season.
• Cotton Ball Indoor Fight – Have a soft and silly cotton ball fight indoors. It’s a great way to release energy without any mess.
• Slime Bubble Lab Playset – Get out a slime bubble lab playset and have fun experimenting with gooey, bouncy slime.

• Create a Home Library – Have your kids set up their own mini library at home, where they can "check out" books and read them with the family.
• Wreck This Journal – Let your kids get creative with a Wreck This Journal —it’s a fun way to encourage creativity and silliness as they complete the journal’s wild prompts.
• Make a Silly Movie – Use the iPad or another device to create a silly movie using iMovie or another kid-friendly app—then watch it together for laughs.
• Create a Lego City – Build a Lego city with all the imagination you can muster, from houses to cars and everything in between.
• Origami Fun – Get out some paper and try your hand at origami. There are lots of easy designs to start with, like paper cranes and boats.
• Puppet Show Time – Set up a puppet show with hand-made puppets or toys, and create a fun story to perform for the family.

Rainy days don’t have to be boring – with these ideas, the whole family can enjoy a cozy, creative day indoors!

No matter what the weather is like, there are endless ways to keep the kids entertained and engaged throughout the holidays.

 Whether you're making the most of the sunshine with outdoor adventures or creating cosy indoor moments, these activities are perfect for bringing the family together.

 So, embrace the fun, get creative, and make this holiday season one to remember. Enjoy the time spent together and create memories that will last long after the holidays are over!