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5 free school holidays activities that kids will love

23 September 2020

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It’s hard to believe that the school holidays are just around the corner – yet again! After a challenging few months, simple and easy holiday activities are top of the list for keeping the kids busy.  We’ve put together five suggestions for children 10 years and under – best of all, they’re completely free to do.

DOC Kiwi Guardians Programme

This fantastic initiative by the Department of Conservation will get the kids exploring nature without any complaints. From crafting to nature walks, there’s something that every child will enjoy. They’ll even earn a beautiful medal for their efforts when they complete each fun task.

Get going with Kiwi Guardians, here.

Plan a playground explore

You may have tried and tested out the playgrounds in your local neighbourhood – but how about venturing a little farther and exploring those in your wider region? You could even create a list of simple ‘find & seek’ items to tick off along the way. An ice-cream reward for their efforts always goes down a treat!

Find out some of the best playgrounds in NZ with this list.

One for a rainy day

The weather isn’t always kind to parents when it comes to the holidays, so here are a few ideas to keep them occupied indoors.

  • Lego challenge – build one creation using every piece of Lego in the house.
  • Cool crayons – gather-up broken crayons and bake them in old, unwanted silicone muffin moulds at a low temperature for 10 or so minutes until they melt (watch them carefully!) Once cool and hardened, you’ll have a gorgeous new crayon collection.
  • Baking challenge – ask the kids to ring a relative, write (or dictate to you) one of their favourite recipes and then get to work baking it. Everyone will love the delicious reward at the end!

Find other great suggestions for indoor play, here.

Plan a trip

Put the kids in charge to plan their own adventure. They’ll love the responsibility and all you need to do is print out a local map to plot the route. Ask them to estimate how long it will take and list what you need to bring along.

Take along a free Te Papa activity book to enjoy on the journey.

Go rock hunting

The rock hunting craze is still going strong throughout New Zealand, and it’s so much fun! They can be tucked away in the most creative places, so if you’re wanting guaranteed delight, take a few along with you to secretly stash for your little hunters to discover.

Take a look on Facebook for your local rock hunting group, or visit Rock Hunters NZ.

Stay safe and well

Make it a holiday to remember by staying safe and well, as well as making sure to follow any restrictions required to prevent the spread COVID-19. 

The information in this article has been compiled from various sources and is intended to be factual information only. Full details of policy terms and conditions are available from Asteron Life Limited or your financial adviser. For advice on product suitability, please contact your financial adviser. While we take reasonable steps to ensure that the information contained in this article is accurate and up-to-date, it is subject to change without notice. Asteron Life Limited and its related companies does/do not accept any responsibility or liability in connection with your use of or reliance on this article.

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