Unplugged Fun: 20 Screen-Free School Holiday Activities for Kids at Home
Updated September 2026
School holidays are here!
While the break from school is exciting for kids, parents often hear those two little words surprisingly quickly…
βIβm bored!β
And while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with a movie, gaming session or a bit of screen time during the holidays, sometimes it’s nice to switch the devices off and find something different to do.
The good news?
Keeping kids entertained doesn’t have to mean expensive outings or having every minute of the holidays planned.
Some of the best childhood memories come from incredibly simple things β building cubby houses, baking with Mum or Dad, creating something, playing outside or spending an entire afternoon making up a game.
So, if you’re looking for some inspiration, here are 20 screen-free school holiday activities you can do right at home.
π¨ 1. Create an Arts & Crafts Station
You don’t need an elaborate Pinterest-worthy craft room.
Put together a box with whatever you already have:
β’ Coloured paper
β’ Textas and pencils
β’ Glue
β’ Scissors
β’ Stickers
β’ Paint
β’ Cardboard boxes
β’ Toilet rolls
β’ Recyclable containers
Then give the kids the freedom to create whatever they like.
You could even hold a mini art exhibition at the end of the week and have everyone display their masterpieces.
π§ͺ 2. Become a Scientist for the Day
Turn the kitchen into a mini science laboratory.
There are plenty of simple experiments that can be done using everyday household items.
Try making a baking-soda volcano, growing crystals, creating slime or experimenting with floating and sinking objects.
For younger children, make sure an adult supervises and always check that the experiment and ingredients are suitable for their age.
The messier the experiment, the more they’ll probably love it!
πΏ 3. Create a Backyard Scavenger Hunt
Write a list of things the kids need to find around the backyard.
For example:
β Something yellow
β A smooth rock
β A feather
β Three different leaves
β Something that smells nice
β An insect
β Something shaped like a circle
For older kids, turn it into a treasure hunt by adding clues and a prize at the end.
π± 4. Plant Something
Give the kids their own little gardening project.
They could plant herbs, flowers or vegetables in the garden or even decorate a pot and grow something on a balcony or windowsill.
Fast-growing plants are particularly fun for younger children because they don’t have to wait forever to see something happen.
It’s also a lovely way to give them a small responsibility throughout the holidays.
π² 5. Have a Family Game Night
Pull out those board games that have been hiding in the cupboard!
Let each family member choose one game and make a night of it.
Add some snacks, put the phones away and enjoy some old-fashioned competition.
And yes β you may discover exactly which family member is far too competitive when playing UNO!
π 6. Build a Reading Hideaway
Reading becomes much more exciting when you’re doing it somewhere special.
Create a cosy reading nook using cushions, blankets and fairy lights.
Or let the kids build their own reading cubby.
Take a trip to your local library, choose some new books and spend a lazy afternoon reading together.
Older children could even start their own mini book club with a friend.
πͺ 7. Bake Something Together
School holidays are the perfect opportunity to let kids spend some time in the kitchen.
Depending on their age, try:
πͺ Cookies
π§ Cupcakes
π Homemade pizza
π Banana bread
π₯ Pancakes
π« Chocolate slice
Let them measure, mix, decorate and β most importantly β taste test.
Cooking together also teaches some pretty handy life skills without feeling like a lesson.
ποΈ 8. Have an Indoor Campout
Who says camping has to happen outside?
Build a tent or cubby in the lounge room using blankets, sheets and cushions.
Add sleeping bags, torches and snacks and let the kids spend the night camping in the living room.
Tell stories, play games and have a special supper before bed.
Sometimes simply sleeping somewhere different makes an ordinary night feel like an adventure.
𧩠9. Start a Giant Puzzle
Choose a jigsaw puzzle that’s challenging enough to last several days and leave it somewhere the family can work on it throughout the holidays.
Everyone can add a few pieces whenever they walk past.
For children who aren’t interested in jigsaws, try:
β’ Sudoku
β’ Crosswords
β’ Word searches
β’ Mazes
β’ Riddles
β’ Brain teasers
π 10. Have a DIY Pamper Day
Create a relaxing afternoon at home.
Depending on your child’s age, you could have:
β¨ Nail painting
β¨ Hair braiding
β¨ A foot soak
β¨ Age-appropriate face masks
β¨ Relaxing music
β¨ Fluffy robes or PJs
Add some fruit, snacks and fancy drinks and you’ve created your own little home retreat.
π 11. Pick a Country & Explore It
Let your child choose somewhere in the world they’d love to visit.
Then spend the day learning a little about it.
You could cook food from that country, make a craft inspired by its culture, learn a few words in the local language or find it on a map.
Finish the night with a themed dinner.
It’s travelling without the airfare!
π 12. Have a Living-Room Dance Party
Let everyone choose their favourite songs, move the furniture out of the way and dance.
You could add:
π€ Karaoke
πΊ Freeze dance
πΆ Musical statues
π A lip-sync battle
If you need some music inspiration, check out our Ultimate Slumber Party Playlist on the Slumber Wonderland blog.
π 13. Tie-Dye Something
Turn a plain T-shirt, tote bag, pillowcase or pair of socks into something completely unique.
Tie-dye kits are readily available, or older children might enjoy trying fabric paints or markers instead.
It’s an activity and they end up with something they can actually use afterwards.
π· 14. Make a Family Memory Book
Print some favourite photos and let the kids create a scrapbook or family memory book.
Add drawings, stickers and little notes about the memories behind each picture.
You could include holidays, birthdays, funny family moments and special achievements.
It’s also a wonderful opportunity to tell children stories about photos from when they were younger.
β 15. Have a Backyard Stargazing Night
Grab some blankets, pillows and snacks and head outside once it gets dark.
Lie back and see what you can spot in the night sky.
Look for the Moon, bright stars and familiar constellations.
You could even make hot chocolates and turn it into a special family night outside.
π₯ 16. Hold the Backyard Olympics
Create your own family Olympic Games.
Events could include:
π Sack races
π₯ Egg-and-spoon races
π― Target throwing
π¦ Long jump
π Obstacle course
π Balloon races
Let the kids make medals beforehand and hold an official medal ceremony afterwards.
The sillier the events, the better!
π 17. Do Something Kind for Someone Else
School holidays are also a wonderful opportunity to teach children about kindness and community.
They could:
β’ Make a card for a grandparent
β’ Bake something for a neighbour
β’ Sort through toys or clothes to donate
β’ Pick up rubbish during a family walk
β’ Make a little gift for someone who’s having a hard time
Ask your child, βWhat could we do today to make someone smile?β
You might love the ideas they come up with.
π§ 18. Create a Quiet-Time Basket
Not every school-holiday activity needs to be exciting.
In fact, having some downtime is important too.
Create a basket containing things your child can quietly choose from when they need a break:
β’ Colouring books
β’ Puzzles
β’ Books
β’ LEGO
β’ Journals
β’ Drawing supplies
β’ Fidget toys
β’ Craft activities
It’s also a great option for that afternoon period when everyone needs a little space!
π 19. Put on a Show
Give the kids a challenge:
You have one hour to create a show!
It could be a play, dance routine, magic show, comedy performance, puppet show or concert.
They can make tickets, costumes and a stage before performing it for the family.
This is a particularly good activity when siblings or friends are spending the day together because it can keep them busy for hours.
π 20. Have a School Holiday Sleepover
One of the best things about school holidays?
There’s no school the next morning!
Invite a cousin or a couple of friends over and let the kids enjoy a midweek sleepover.
Keep it simple β pizza, games, music, popcorn and plenty of time to talk and laugh.
You don’t need to schedule every minute.
Often the best part of a sleepover is simply giving kids the time and space to enjoy being with their friends.
π² BONUS: Download Our FREE Sleepover Games
Need an activity that requires almost no preparation?
Slumber Wonderland has FREE downloadable games that kids can enjoy together.
Print them before the holidays and keep them handy for sleepovers, rainy days or those inevitable βI’m bored!β moments.
They’re designed to encourage kids to talk, laugh, play and connect together β without needing another screen.
π Remember: Boredom Isn’t Always a Bad Thing
Here’s something parents sometimes need reminding of:
You don’t have to entertain your children every minute of the school holidays.
Boredom can actually be where creativity begins.
When children don’t immediately have an activity or screen put in front of them, they’re encouraged to use their imagination, find something to do and create their own entertainment.
So have some ideas ready β but don’t put pressure on yourself to create an action-packed school holiday schedule.
Sometimes a cardboard box, some cushions and an afternoon with nothing planned can create more memories than an expensive day out.
β¨ Making Memories at Home
At Slumber Wonderland, our whole business is built around something we truly believe in β creating spaces where children can connect, laugh, use their imaginations and make memories together.
And you don’t need a special occasion to do that.
Whether it’s baking together, camping in the lounge room, playing games or inviting a friend over for a sleepover, sometimes the simplest moments are the ones children remember.
So these school holidays, switch the screens off for a little while, slow things down and see where their imaginations take them.
And if a school-holiday sleepover is on the agenda, Slumber Wonderland creates magical sleepover experiences for families throughout Wollongong, the Illawarra and surrounding areas.
β¨ Slumber Wonderland β Where giggles, whispers and imagination come to play!