10 Easy Holiday Activities for Kids
On holiday, children often seem to run at full speed from breakfast to bedtime, while parents would quite like five minutes with a book. These ten activities need little or no equipment, work in most holiday accommodation, and keep children absorbed for long enough to give the grown-ups a breather.
1. Let them plan tomorrow
Give children the job of planning the next day: what time everyone gets up, where you go, what you do and where you eat. It works best a few days into the holiday, once they know what's on offer. Hand over a guidebook, a map or a pile of leaflets from reception, and ask for as much detail as possible. Set some limits first: a budget for older children, or a shortlist of approved options for younger ones.
2. Origami and paper crafts
All you need is paper, and an old magazine or a leaflet will do. Start with something simple, such as a paper aeroplane, then see whose flies furthest. Paper boats can be tested in the pool, the bath or the sea, and fortune tellers are a favourite with many children. If you're organised, print out or save some simple folding instructions before you leave home.
3. A scavenger hunt
Write a list of around 20 things to find nearby, such as a feather, a white stone, something red, a shell or a leaf bigger than your hand. Set clear boundaries on where they can search, and mix easy items with a few harder ones so nobody gives up. To avoid a room full of treasures, make it a photo hunt: they only need to photograph each item.
4. Chalk drawings
A small box of chalk takes up almost no room in a suitcase. Find a terrace, patio or path that can be rinsed with water afterwards, ask first if you're in a hotel, and let them create.
5. A teddy bears' picnic
Great for younger children. Set up a picnic on the balcony, the terrace or a towel indoors for their favourite toys. It's also a good way to introduce some local foods, such as fruit, bread or pastries, in a fun, low-pressure way.
6. DIY floor games
If your accommodation doesn't have games, make your own. Draw a hopscotch grid in chalk, or a colourful dot mat for a homemade version of a twisting game. On the beach, draw circles in the sand and number them. For the spinner, use a bottle, or write instructions on scraps of paper and pull them from a hat.
7. A holiday play date
It sounds counter-intuitive, but more children can mean more peace. Children often make friends by the pool or with the family next door, and playing together keeps them busy for hours. If the other parents would rather stay nearby, invite them too: you can chat, or everyone can quietly read.
8. Set a challenge
Children who love a reward respond well to a challenge: learn ten words in the local language, do 20 keepy-uppies, swim a width, write an A to Z of animals, or finally master tying their laces. Holiday rewards, such as choosing dessert or the next day's activity, tend to be extra motivating.
9. Postcards and journals
Writing postcards to grandparents, friends or even themselves is a lovely, calm afternoon activity for children who can write independently. Pack pre-printed address labels to skip the fiddly part. A travel journal works well too: drawings, tickets, wrappers and a few lines about each day.
10. Screens, in moderation
There's no shame in a tablet or e-reader for a bit of downtime, on holiday or at home. Mixing it up with some of the ideas above simply means screens are one option among many rather than the only one.
Keep a few ideas in your back pocket
None of these need much planning, but it helps to pack the basics: paper, pens, chalk, a deck of cards and some address labels. For the journey there and back, try our car games for long journeys, and for more on carving out adult time, see how to make time for you on a family holiday.