School holidays often arrive with a mix of excitement and pressure: Children are ready for freedom, while parents quietly wonder how to keep them busy without relying on endless screen time and expensive outings.
According to Phethego Malapane, assistant principal: Social Services and Counselling at SPARK Schools, the holidays are “an opportunity for children to learn through everyday life – without the structure of the classroom, but with just as much curiosity.”
Here’s her guide to keeping your children happy and stimulated this holiday season:
1. Spark creativity with imaginative play
Creative play doesn’t require fancy supplies. All you need is a willingness to let things get a little messy. Malapane says holiday downtime is the perfect time for art projects using what you already have at home: toilet-roll animals, cereal-box robots or a ‘design your own superhero’ station with scraps of paper and fabric.
Storytelling games are another powerful tool. Encourage your children to create a puppet show using socks or let them dig into a dress-up box and invent characters.
“When children play imaginatively, they practise language, problem-solving and emotional expression, all at once,” she explains.
2. Turn everyday tasks into learning moments
Children learn best when they can see, touch and question the world around them, and your kitchen, garden and shopping list are full of opportunities. Baking together – watching dough rise, feeling textures change, measuring ingredients and counting scoops – doubles as a mini science lab. (And remember, it’s not about how a homemade cake looks – it’s all about the taste.)
Running errands? Turn them into adventures. Ask your children to find groceries in different aisles, count how many apples go into the bag, and read simple signs.
Chores? Invite them to match lunchboxes with the right lids or to organise a bookshelf, or the washing by colour. These small tasks naturally build early maths, sequencing and problem-solving skills, without feeling like ‘work’.
3. Keep bodies moving with playful activities
Untapped energy can easily become restlessness. Channelling energy through movement helps children regulate their emotions, sleep better and stay healthy.
Try building an obstacle course in the backyard using chairs, skipping ropes and boxes, and time each other to add excitement. Balloon volleyball, hopping races and skipping challenges are low-cost high-laughter ways to spend an afternoon. Indoors, dance-offs are a guaranteed hit.
Neighbourhood walks are easy to turn into games: Create a ‘spot it’ list of things like a red car or a round stone; find interesting leaves, track passing clouds or follow ants on the pavement.
4. Make space for quiet time
Stimulation doesn’t always mean noise and activity. Quieter activities teach children to self-regulate, focus and enjoy their own company. They also help children (and you!) to recharge emotionally and mentally.
Age-appropriate reading, whether it’s picture books, short stories or graphic novels, exposes them to new vocabulary and ideas. Set up a corner with puzzles, colouring books or word games. Journalling can also be powerful: invite your child to ‘draw their day’, write a few sentences or imagine a dream holiday.
And screen time doesn’t need to disappear – it just needs to be balanced. Pair it with hands-on activities and outdoor time. Even better, co-watch occasionally so that you can chat about what they’re seeing and learning.
5. Strengthen family and community connections
School holidays offer a precious opportunity to slow down and reconnect. Game nights teach children to take turns and solve problems. Small chores like watering plants, sorting laundry or setting the table help build responsibility.
Exploring your neighbourhood is another affordable activity. Visit the local library, go to the park or sign up for holiday programmes.
Tips for parents navigating the school holidays
A loose routine helps children feel secure without feeling rigid. Keep predictable mealtimes and bedtimes, but leave room for spontaneity. Rotate activities to prevent boredom and offer your children choices so that they feel included in planning their days.
Malapane emphasises that you don’t need fancy outings, expensive toys or jam-packed schedules to keep your children stimulated: “Simple activities can create rich learning experiences and core memories. Follow your child’s interests, enjoy the slower pace and remember that ordinary moments can be extraordinary for growing minds and bodies.”
