Winning Winter School Holiday Activities

Winning Winter School Holiday Activities

Summer school holidays are a magical time when the sun is shining and the long days allow endless opportunities for trips to the beach and the park, time for glorious picnics with friends where you can drink wine while the kids play cricket. There just seems like there is so much to do. Winter school holidays however can be a lot less carefree, rainy days trapped in the house, and freezing walks to wet playgrounds can bring you down after a week or so. I have compiled the top five winter holiday activities that will keep you both warm and sane over the school break.

Movies

Although most of us have a range of streaming services that allow us to choose from thousands of movies online from the comfort of our loungerooms, going to the movies is still an exciting venture for any child. The big seats, the popcorn, the enormous screen. It is all very exciting. Importantly it also gives you a couple of hours of relative peace. Yes, you may not be watching the movie of your choice, but you are sitting quietly in a darkened but well-heated room while your children are entertained. Top tip, take your own food, make your own popcorn before you go, or buy some snacks from the supermarket. If you cut out the shamelessly overpriced cinema candy bar, it can be a reasonably priced outing.

The Aquarium

Though it can be a little pricey (definitely pack your own lunch for this one), it is both indoors and incredibly interesting. The entire aquarium experience is focused on children, with little maps and educational displays everywhere. It also has interactive areas where your kids can touch starfish and anemones. Unless you are a marine biologist yourself, adults will find the information and huge range of underwater life quite impressive. 

The Museum

This is another indoor activity that holds up year after year. Well-priced and hours of fun, even if you don’t see the seasonal exhibitions, which usually involve an added fee, Museums constantly update existing exhibitions so you are bound to see something new every time you visit. It is an educational experience for the older kids and a source of wonderment for the younger ones as they marvel over gigantic dinosaur bones and life-size sabre tooth tigers. 

Ten Pin Bowling

It is a classic family activity and with the help of bumper lanes and ball ramps kids as young as three can get involved. It is a great activity when you really want to interact as a family. There is nothing like a bit of friendly family competition to get everyone’s attention. Most bowling alleys have deals that include a meal (I am using the term ‘meal’ quite loosely here, I mean a hotdog and chips or some such) and they usually have a games room attached so you can make an afternoon of it. 

Indoor Play Centres

Indoor play centres are the saving grace for many parents during the cold winter months. They have everything a child and parent need when the weather is working against you. They are temperature controlled, they have all manner of fun and exciting equipment for children to play on and they always have a coffee shop. The fact that they are a secure environment with one exit means you don’t have to constantly worry that your child is going to jump off a slide and run towards the road like at an outside playground, you can just sit with your coffee and watch your kids play. 

So there you have it, five warm indoor options to keep you and your little ones busy and out of the house during the coldest of school breaks. Have fun!