🎒 School Holiday Activities For Kids

Creative, Affordable Ideas for Parents, Au Pairs, and Nannies

School holidays are a time for kids to unwind, explore, and make lasting memories. But for parents, au pairs, and nannies, the challenge often lies in keeping them busy, without breaking the bank or running out of ideas.

Whether you’re in Cape Town, Durban, Joburg, or somewhere in between, this list of fun, free, and unique school holiday activities will help you plan an exciting break for the kids in your care.

🏡 At-Home Holiday Activities That Actually Work

Let’s start with ideas you can do at home — no travel, no fuss, just creativity and connection.

🎨 DIY Art & Craft Projects

Make puppets out of socks and put on a puppet show
Create a “holiday scrapbook” with drawings, photos, leaf rubbings
Build cardboard forts or castles using recycled boxes
Make friendship bracelets with beads, wool or string

🎥 Backyard Movie Night

Hang a sheet, borrow a projector, and enjoy an outdoor cinema night
Let kids “buy tickets” and help make popcorn before the show

📚 Build a Reading Nook

Use blankets and cushions to create a cosy corner
Set up a daily reading hour or a holiday reading challenge

🌍 Low-Cost Day Trips Across South Africa

Perfect for au pairs, nannies, and families looking for fun, affordable adventures during the holidays — no matter where you live.

🏞 Visit Local Nature Reserves & Parks

Explore the outdoors, pack a picnic, and let kids burn off energy!

Johannesburg: Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens
Cape Town: Green Point Urban Park, Company’s Garden
Durban: Durban Botanic Gardens, Mitchell Park
Pretoria: Pretoria National Botanical Garden
Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha: Settlers Park Nature Reserve
Bloemfontein: Free State National Botanical Garden

🌿 These spots are ideal for bug-spotting, running around, and learning through play in nature.

🦖 Explore Child-Friendly Museums

Cool, calm, and often interactive — a win for both kids and caregivers.

Cape Town: Iziko Museums (check for free entry days!)
Durban: KwaZulu-Natal Museum – super kid-friendly
Pretoria: Ditsong Museums of South Africa (several to choose from!)
Port Elizabeth: Bayworld – museum, oceanarium, and snake park combo
Bloemfontein: National Museum – fossils, cultural exhibits, and natural history

💡 Many museums offer discounted or free entry for kids — always check online first.

🐾 Visit an Animal Sanctuary or Rescue Centre

Many are more interactive and affordable than traditional zoos — and they’re educational, too.

Mbombela: Chimp Eden
Durban: CROW Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Cape Town Area: Horses for Healing, DARG, SPCA
Pretoria: Bester Birds & Animal Zoo Park
Port Elizabeth / Gqeberha: SANCCOB (Marine bird rehab)
Bloemfontein: Cheetah Experience

🥕 Pack a picnic, bring snacks, and chat with the kids about caring for animals and the environment.

✨ Unique & Unexpected Holiday Activities

These aren’t always on the radar — but kids love them!

🎭 Attend a Kids’ Theatre Show

Check People’s Theatre (Joburg) or Artscape (Cape Town)
Many shows offer meet-the-cast moments afterwards

🌌 Backyard Stargazing

Download a stargazing app, grab a blanket, and go constellation hunting
Make it magical with music, snacks, and a “galaxy playlist”

🧪 Kitchen Science Experiments

Make slime, a DIY volcano, or fizzy rockets with pantry items
It’s messy, memorable, and sneakily educational

🧩 Create a “Holiday Olympics”

Host games like sack races, water balloon toss, hula hoop contests
Give out badges or certificates for effort and teamwork

🛠️ Free Community Events & Local Programs

Tap into the activities hiding in plain sight.

📚 Libraries

Join free story time, craft mornings, or junior book clubs
Perfect for children who are always on screens!

🎨 Community Art Days

Artjamming or local centres sometimes offer discounted creative workshops
Plus side, you may make some extra friends!

🏃‍♀️ Join a Beach or Park Clean-Up

Teaches empathy and responsibility
Pack snacks and make it a day of giving back

🐶 Volunteer With Animals

Visit your local SPCA, DARG, or Woodrock Rescue
Wash bowls, walk dogs, fold blankets
Create DIY toys or organise a blanket drive

🎨 Cultural Gems That’ll Actually Excite Kids (and Grownups Too!)

Looking for something fun and educational? These spots are packed with stories, creativity, and South African magic — perfect for curious minds and energetic kids!

📍 Johannesburg & Gauteng

🧱 Constitution Hill – Discover freedom and justice in a cool, interactive way. Bonus: Play Africa (a children’s museum) is right there too!
🏠 Mandela House (Soweto) – Walk in Madiba’s footsteps and hear stories about one of the world’s greatest leaders.
🖼 Apartheid Museum – Older kids and teens love the powerful exhibits and thought-provoking displays.
🎨 Ditsong Cultural Museum – From rock art to ancient tools, it’s like time travelling without leaving Pretoria!
🌳 Jan Smuts House (Irene) – A chill historical house in a lovely garden setting. Great for a picnic and run-around.

🌊 Cape Town & Western Cape

🚢 Robben Island – A boat ride + real stories from former prisoners = unforgettable.
🏰 Castle of Good Hope – A real-life castle with cannons, secret rooms, and military history.
🏠 Bo-Kaap Walking Tour – Colourful houses, spicy history, and some of the best samoosas in town.
📚 District Six Museum – Touching and thought-provoking, but kid-friendly and interactive too.
🎭 Zeitz MOCAA – Huge art installations in a funky silo building = creative heaven for arty kids.
⛓ The Slave Lodge – A powerful place to learn about SA’s past, presented with care.
🎨 Owl Art Museum (Stellenbosch) – Quirky, beautiful, and filled with amazing local artwork.

🌍 Durban & KwaZulu-Natal

🎨 Phansi Museum – Wild masks, beadwork, and culture galore. It’s like stepping into a colourful world!
🐘 Luthuli Museum (Groutville) – Learn about peace, leadership, and bravery through Chief Albert Luthuli’s story.
⚓️ Maritime Museum – Love ships and sea stories? Durban’s waterfront has it all.
🎨 KZNSA Gallery – Modern art, cool exhibitions, and a fun café — perfect for a chilled afternoon.

🐘 Eastern Cape

🌟 Owl House (Nieu-Bethesda) – Whimsical statues, quirky designs, and a story as unique as the art itself!
🌊 SA Air Force Museum (Gqeberha) – See real planes, sit in cockpits, and explore the sky from the ground.
🎨 Nelson Mandela Art Museum – Discover Eastern Cape artists and amazing local stories
🏠 South End Museum – A powerful glimpse into the past of a vibrant, diverse community.

🌄 Free State & Bloemfontein

🦖 National Museum – Dinosaurs, fossils, and natural history all under one roof.
🏛 Anglo-Boer War Museum – A mix of stories, uniforms, and kid-friendly displays that bring history to life.
🎖 Museum of Boer Republics – Learn all about South Africa’s early days in an engaging way.

🧠 Northern Cape & Limpopo

⛏ Kimberley’s McGregor Museum – Diamonds, old trains, and ghost stories — what more do you need?
🧬 Origins Centre (Joburg) – Technically in Gauteng, but worth repeating — the birthplace of humankind in a fun format.

🧭 Add These Hidden Gems to Your List:

✨ Bartolomeu Dias Museum (Mossel Bay) – There’s a life-size ship inside. Enough said.
🧸 Warrior Toy Museum (Simon’s Town) – Thousands of tiny cars, dolls, and toys = joy for all ages.
🕊 Gandhi House (Joburg) – Peace, inspiration, and a quiet garden — a surprising hit with reflective little souls.
🕍 Jewish Museum (Cape Town) – Beautiful, welcoming, and packed with fascinating stories.

🎒Why These Matter

They’re not just fun — they’re full of lessons on bravery, creativity, justice, and resilience. Whether you’re caring for toddlers or tweens, there’s a cultural gem waiting to wow them.

✨ Pro Tip: Make it even more exciting by creating a “Holiday Explorer Passport” — stamp it (or draw something) after each visit!

🏖️ Beach Days — With a Twist

Beaches are free — and can offer much more than swimming.

Fun Beach Ideas:

🏰 Sandcastle Competitions
🐚 Shell Hunts & Sorting
📸 Nature Photo Challenges
🌞 Early Morning Walk + Picnic
🎨 Sunscreen Art (let kids “paint” shapes before rubbing it in)

🧺 Picnic Adventures Anywhere

No need for fancy destinations — your garden or a public park works!

Picnic Themes:

🐻 Teddy Bear Picnics
🥪 DIY Sandwich Bar
🎒 “Picnic Passport” – track different locations you visit
📖 Book baskets + outdoor reading

🍰 Bake-Offs & Cooking Challenges

Great for skill-building, bonding — and sugar lovers.

🍪 Cookie decorating competitions
🧁 Cupcake bake-offs with surprise judges
🧂 Mystery Box Ingredient Challenge
👨‍🍳 Book an actual kids’ cooking class
📝 Teach a family recipe + its story

🚴‍♀️ Bike Parks & Backyard Obstacle Courses

Get them moving (and sleeping better!).

Visit local bike parks or nature trails
Set up a backyard challenge course
Teach road safety using bikes & scooters
Host a “bike parade” with decorated wheels

💅 Spa Day for Kids (Yes, Really)

Help overstimulated little ones wind down.

🥒 Cucumber eye masks + music
💅 Child-safe mini mani/pedis
🧴 Scented lotion hand massages
📓 DIY booking sheet
📚 Storytime + chill vibes

Bonus:
Life Day Spa Kids offers actual kiddie pamper packages across SA!

💡 Bonus Idea: The “Holiday Adventure Jar”

Before the break starts, write 20–30 fun ideas on small slips of paper. Include both big adventures and small wins like:

Bake cookies
Go for a walk
Visit a grandparent
Make a time capsule
Let the kids draw one each day. It adds surprise and structure to the holidays!

🎯 Keep It Simple. Keep It Fun.

You don’t need a packed calendar or a big budget to give children an incredible break. You just need a bit of structure, creativity, and presence.

Whether you’re a parent, a nanny, an au pair or a grandparent — the magic is in the little moments. And with this list, you’ll have plenty.

🎒 Need Easy, Screen-Free Fun? Try Our Printable Activity Books!

We’ve created original activity books designed to keep little ones entertained and learning… perfect for school holidays, quiet time, or when you need a break from screen time.

✅ Available as instant downloads or in hardcopy on Amazon!

👉 The Perfect Pre-School Activity Book
Packed with tracing, shapes, colouring, and fun challenges for ages 3–5.

👉 My Valentine’s Day Activity Book
Crafts, puzzles, themed games and colouring to celebrate love and creativity!

✨ Loved by parents, au pairs & teachers. No prep needed. Just print or order!

Download today or grab a hardcopy on Amazon and make school holidays easier (and more fun!)

📘 Want to Become a Better Childcare Provider?

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