50 Ways to Keep Kids Busy in the School Holidays

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Quick answer: 50 Ways to Keep Kids Busy in the School Holidays. This guide gives 50 ideas in 7 sections: Indoor ideas for any weather; Outdoor ideas for fresh air; Creative ideas for rainy afternoons; Active ideas to burn off energy; Calm ideas for quiet moments. Budget: Many free, most under £15. Best for: Ages 3 to 12 (adapt for older and younger).

Written by the PinkDux Team. Last updated October 2026.

• Time: 5 minutes to a whole afternoon
• Budget: Many free, most under £15
• Best for: Ages 3 to 12 (adapt for older and younger)

It is 9.14am on day three of the holidays, the biscuit tin is already empty, and someone has announced the dreaded words: “I am bored.” If that sounds familiar, you are in good company.

This guide gives you fifty ideas, grouped into seven themes so you can pick by weather, mood and energy level. Some cost nothing, some need a quick trip to the shops, and all of them can be scaled up or down for different ages.

Top tip: Write ten ideas on lolly sticks and keep them in a jar. When boredom strikes, a child draws one at random. Choosing is half the battle, and it stops the endless “what can I do?” loop.

Indoor ideas for any weather

These need very little set-up, which makes them perfect for the mornings when you have not had your first cup of tea yet.

• Build a blanket den: Drape sheets over chairs and weigh the edges with books. Add cushions and a torch for a hideout that can easily last the whole morning.
• Run a teddy hospital: Bandage toys with strips of kitchen roll and sticky tape. Younger children love being the doctor, and it is a gentle way to practise caring and counting.
• Make a marble run: Tape cardboard tubes at angles to a wall or a clear box lid. Testing which slope is fastest turns into a surprisingly long experiment.
• Host a toy cafe: Children write a menu, take orders and serve pretend food. Use real plates and tea for an extra thrill, and let them add up the bill.
• Play indoor bowling: Line up empty plastic bottles and roll a soft ball. Fill each bottle with a little water or rice so they do not fall over too easily.
• Try a jigsaw challenge: Set a timer and see who can finish a 48 piece puzzle first. Older children can race a 100 piece puzzle on a tray so it can be moved.
• Stage a puppet show: Draw faces on paper bags or old socks and perform behind the sofa. Siblings make a very forgiving audience, and grandparents love a video call performance.

Outdoor ideas for fresh air

Even twenty minutes outside can change the mood of the whole house. Pack a snack, check the forecast and go.

• Chalk a pavement road: Draw a town with roads, zebra crossings and car parks, then drive scooters or toy cars around it. Chalk washes away with the next rain.
• Go on a puddle hunt: Wellies on, rain or not. Measure the deepest puddle with a stick, which is a clever way to sneak in some maths.
• Make a mud kitchen: An old pan, a wooden spoon and a corner of the garden are enough. Add a bucket of water and let them whip up soup.
• Fly a kite: Windy days are made for it. Choose a simple diamond kite and find an open space away from trees and overhead cables.
• Play shadow tag: On a sunny day, you tag someone by stepping on their shadow. It is quick to explain and gets everyone running about.
• Do a bug safari: Lift logs gently, peek under leaves and put every creature back where you found it. A magnifier makes it feel like proper detective work.
• Set up a bike skills course: Use cones or plastic cups to make a weaving track. Add a start and finish line, and time each run with your phone.

Creative ideas for rainy afternoons

When the mess is welcome, these ideas turn kitchen table chaos into something you can stick on the fridge.

• Paint with sponges: Cut a kitchen sponge into shapes, dip in washable paint and stamp patterns. Great for little hands, and the cleanup is mostly one wet cloth.
• Create a salt dough keepsake: Mix flour, salt and water, roll it out, cut shapes and bake low and slow. Paint once cool. Adults handle the oven.
• Make a friendship bracelet: Plastic beads and stretchy cord mean no knots to tie. Ideal for ages 6 and up, and a lovely gift to swap with friends.
• Design a comic strip: Fold a sheet of paper into six boxes and draw a short story. Stick figures are absolutely fine, the joke matters more than the drawing.
• Print with potatoes: Adults cut a potato in half and carve a simple shape; children dip it in paint and stamp. Use it to make wrapping paper.
• Craft a paper plate mask: Cut eye holes, decorate with feathers and glitter and add an elastic strap. Then everyone puts on a show.
• Make a jam jar firefly lantern: Stick tissue paper to a clean jar and place a battery tea light inside. Never use real candles with children.

Active ideas to burn off energy

For the days when the sofa cushions are being used as a trampoline and you would rather they were not.

• Hold a family sports day: Egg and spoon, sack race, relay with a beanbag. Give every child a medal made from card and ribbon, so everyone wins something.
• Try a kids yoga session: Follow a free video or make up animal poses. Cat, cobra and tree are easy starters, and it is a lovely way to wind down.
• Set up a hula hoop contest: See who can keep one spinning the longest, then try rolling it along the ground. A child sized hoop is much easier for beginners.
• Play musical statues: Pause the music at random and freeze. The funniest wobbly pose wins. It works equally well in the living room or the garden.
• Make an indoor obstacle course: Crawl under chairs, step over cushions, balance along a rolled towel. Time each go and try to beat your own record.
• Skip, hop and jump: A simple skipping rope offers hundreds of games. Try counting jumps, or teaching a new rhyme with the whole street.
• Dance freeze with scarves: Give everyone a scarf and let the beat lead the way. Scarves make even shy dancers look elegant, and they are cheap.

Calm ideas for quiet moments

Everyone needs a breather, and these ideas help the house settle without a screen in sight.

• Build a reading nook: Beanbag, blanket, a pile of library books and a small lamp. Let your child choose the spot and decorate it themselves.
• Listen to an audiobook: Lay down with colouring pages and listen together. Your local library offers many free audio titles through its app.
• Make a calm down jar: Fill a clear bottle with water, a spoonful of glitter glue and glitter. Shake, then watch it settle. Seal the lid firmly with glue.
• Colour a mandala: Print a free pattern and use fine pens or pencils. It is a slow, soothing task that older children often enjoy more than they expect.
• Do a sticker scene: Reusable sticker books are a gift on long afternoons because there is nothing to tidy up afterwards.
• Write a letter to a relative: Ask a grandparent or cousin about their favourite game as a child. Real post is a treat, and the reply is a bonus.
• Create a feelings chart: Draw simple faces and let each child point to how they feel. It helps little ones put words to big emotions.

Kitchen ideas for hungry helpers

Cooking together counts as maths, science and lunch all at once. Always supervise, and check ingredient labels for allergies.

• Decorate your own pizza: Use ready made bases or pitta bread. Let each child choose toppings and design a face with sweetcorn, peppers and cheese.
• Bake simple flapjacks: Oats, butter, syrup and a pinch of sugar. Children can weigh, stir and press the mixture into the tin; an adult handles the oven.
• Make fruit kebabs: Thread chunks of melon, grapes cut lengthways and berries on blunt skewers. Younger children should use short straws instead.
• Roll homemade sushi style wraps: Spread soft cheese on a tortilla, add cucumber and ham, then roll and slice. Cut small for toddlers.
• Host a smoothie challenge: Each child invents a recipe, names it and sells it to the family. Banana plus berries is a safe starting point.
• Try pancake art: Use a squeezy bottle of batter to draw shapes in the pan. Practise on simple stars before attempting a name.
• Bake and decorate biscuits: Roll, cut and decorate with icing. Look for nut free sprinkles if you share them with others at school.

Free ideas that cost nothing

When the budget is tight, the best ideas often come from what is already in the house or on your doorstep.

• Walk the park A to Z: Find something that starts with each letter of the alphabet, from acorn to zigzag path. Take a photo of each find.
• Visit the library: Many libraries run free holiday sessions and reading challenges. Ask the librarian about events for different age groups.
• Make a time capsule: Fill a box with drawings, a favourite toy and a letter to their older self. Bury it or hide it in the loft.
• Create a family treasure map: Draw a map of the house and hide a small surprise. Stain the paper with a damp teabag first, then let it dry, for an instant antique look.
• Have a talent show: Songs, jokes, magic tricks and handstands. A cardboard stage and a hairbrush microphone complete the effect.
• Do a toy swap with friends: Children pick toys they have outgrown and swap with a friend. It is a lovely lesson in sharing and saves money too.
• Plan a backwards day: Dinner for breakfast, pyjamas on after lunch, say goodbye instead of hello. Giggles are guaranteed.
• Go cloud spotting: Lie on a blanket and look for animal shapes in the clouds. Take turns describing what you see, then guess what the weather will do next.

Helpful links and further reading

A few trusted places to find out more.

• National Trust: Find gardens, parks and historic places for a day out.
• English Heritage: places to visit: Castles, abbeys and gardens with family events through the year.
• Forestry England: Forest walks, trails and family activities across England.

Frequently asked questions

How do I keep kids busy without screens?

Offer a choice of two or three activities rather than an open question. Having supplies in a box, such as paper, scissors and glue, makes it much easier to say yes.

What if my children are different ages?

Pick one theme and give each child a role that suits them. Older ones can lead or time the game, while little ones join in at their own level.

How can I do all this on a tight budget?

Start with the free section, borrow books and games from the library, and use recycled boxes and tubes for craft. A few basic supplies stretch a long way.

More ideas you might like

• Rainy Day Activities for Kids
• Free Things to Do With Kids
• Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids
• Screen Free Activities for Kids