Keeping the kids busy and entertained can be a tricky task - especially in the longer summer holidays. There are only so many new ideas you can come up with yourself for at-home activities during the holidays.

Luckily, at Rocketeers, we’re experts in keeping children entertained all day long and have plenty of ideas to share. Here are some of our favourite holiday activities for kids. 

## School Holiday Entertainment Ideas for Kids 

### 1. Creative Painting

Of course, you can dust off the normal paint brushes and encourage your kids to get creative, but what about adding a new approach to artistic expression?  

Instead of paint brushes, use other items to craft your designs and see what new effects you create. Hands, feet and fingers are fun ways to paint. Cotton wool balls are great for fluffy or soft looking pictures, while cotton buds are great for detail. Make shapes out of sponges or potatoes for fun with different images. Fix bubble wrap or mesh from fruit bags around a rolling pin and see what patterns you create. Leaves and twigs are also great options for making unique prints. 

### 2. Bake-off Competition

![Picture2-2.png](https://caprdstdlrs.blob.core.windows.net/public-cms/assets/Picture2_2_f225f8895e.png)

Add a twist to standard baking activities by creating scorecards for shape, colour, smell and taste. Make it less competitive by having everyone follow a different recipe - such as using different flours and flavours for cakes or pizzas. That way you’re judging the recipe, not the chef!

Baking always works well when the recipe doesn’t take long to assemble and is ready to eat quickly.

Another idea is to turn it into present making for family or friends. If it’s the Halloween, Christmas or Easter holidays, try themed decorating too.

Here’s a recipe to get you started:

#### Banana Bread Cupcakes
- These cupcakes can be cooked in a microwave!
- Serves 24

#### Ingredients:
- 2 cups of self-raising flour
- ¼ cup of sugar
- 4 ripe bananas
- Reduced fat milk
- 1 tablespoon of honey

#### Method
Mix all ingredients together
Microwave from 2 – 3 mins (depends on how powerful microwave is)

Yum!

For other baking ideas, here are some recipes created for [The Experimental Cookbook](https://campaustralia.com.au/blog/9-favourite-cake-recipes-for-families).

### 3. Crafting and Construction

![construction-activity.jpg](https://caprdstdlrs.blob.core.windows.net/public-cms/assets/construction_activity_a968c85b75.jpg)

If your children enjoy sewing and storytelling, make puppets and then put on a show. Alternatively, collect some big stones, paint shapes or objects on them. When they’re dry, pick stones at random and use what’s painted on them to make up a story as you go along.

For kids who are more about building than storytelling, challenge them to make something specific out of your junk, like a whole village or a futuristic robot. Maybe you can tie it in to toys they already have so they can use it in their everyday games.

Also consider something they can use in their bedroom - like a dreamcatcher, new cushion cover or a mosaic to hang on the wall.

### 4. Theme Days

This option may take a little more prep but always goes down well. Theme an entire day around a particular topic, character or event.

One of our favourite options is superhero day, where children think about who they know that makes a big difference to someone else’s life, and enjoy games based on their favourite TV and movie characters.

Alternatively, draw their attention to important global topics, like sustainability with an eco-friendly day. Count how many times you see plastic on a walk, see how you can get around without a car or start a vegetable patch.

### 5. Outdoor Skills and Entertainment

![obstacle-course.jpg](https://caprdstdlrs.blob.core.windows.net/public-cms/assets/obstacle_course_6cc0383b96.jpg)

Little ones sometimes need extra entertainment even when they’re outside. Challenge everyone to read a map or give geocaching a go. Younger kids may enjoy building dens or gathering wood for a bonfire. If your children aren’t too squeamish, lead a bug hunt and write down what you find.

For creative children, have them collect things as they go to make a story out of later - they can start developing the tale as they find items to include. Alternatively, give them a camera. Have them take photos of specific items you’re likely to find or stick to a colour theme.

Local council-run parks with water splash facilities or bigger water parks if you have one close by are fun for hot days. The nearest beach or lake is another good choice. Even in your own garden or local park, you’ll be surprised how long you can keep children entertained for by starting a game of tennis, building a home-made outdoor obstacle course or taking a bike ride.

### 6. Holiday Programs and Special Activities

You’re not limited to the entertainment you can provide. On rainy days, try museums and galleries which often have holiday-specific options. An aquarium is a great space to cool down. There are also lots of activities organised especially for the school holidays - think circus skills workshops, martial arts, gymnastics and pottery painting in local recreation centres.

Even better, multiple providers run [school holiday programs](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families/rocketeers) at various locations around Australia and include these types of excursions in their plans. Typically, there are a mixture of in-house activities (where the focus is on sports, science, music, art and heaps more workshop activities) and adventures (excursions to fun and educational attractions).

You don’t have to be at work to take advantage of holiday clubs either - they are about providing access to lots of fun activities that aren’t always easy to organise at home.

### Rocketeers School Holiday Programs

At [Rocketeers](https://campaustralia.com.au/rocketeers), we have loads of experience running school holiday and vacation care programs at locations across Australia.

Not only do we offer a lot of fun, we tailor our program to the interests of the children at each individual site and make sure there’s a wide variety of experiences. Our activities are designed to develop key skills, like social interaction and communication.

You can sign your child up to multiple [Rocketeers](https://campaustralia.com.au/rock-eteers) locations, or just the one that’s closest to your home or workplace. We start early and finish late – we’re here to suit your schedule. You can also use your Child Care Subsidy (CCS), if eligible, to reduce the cost during the school holidays.

Check for your [nearest Rocketeers location](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families/rocketeers) on the Camp Australia website, call our team on 1300 105 343 or [contact us](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/contact) if you’d like to know more.

If you’re not sure how to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays, look no further! We’ve got plenty of ideas to share with you. 

6 School Holiday Activities to Entertain Kids

Blog

Science activities for children are some of the most fun ways to spend spare time. Children love the excitement of repeatedly trying cool science experiments. A science experiment offers so much for children; they learn what goal setting is all about, whilst discovering how to plan and problem-solve. Science allows a child to be curious and to ask questions about what they are learning.

We’ve put together some fun science experiments that you can do in your own home with some basic household items.

### Egg Experiment

In this easy Bouncy Egg Science Experiment, we are going to turn a regular raw egg into a bouncy egg. The result will be an egg that feels rubbery (like a bouncy ball) and bounces. Be sure to do the bouncing on a plate or other container, just in case.

#### You will need:

- Raw Egg
- Glass or Jar
- Vinegar

#### Instructions:

1. Get a raw egg and carefully place it into a glass or jar.
2. Fill the glass with white vinegar until the egg is completely submerged.
3. Leave the egg in the glass for 1-3 days. Each day check back on the egg. When the egg has started to become translucent you will know it is ready.
4. Remove the egg from the glass and rinse it under some tap water. While rinsing the egg, gently rub the outside of the egg and the white film will come off leaving you will a translucent egg.
5. Examine the egg. You’ll notice that is feels rubbery (like a bouncy ball). Then lift the egg 1-2 inches in the air, let go and watch it bounce.
6. When you are ready for some messy fun, lift the egg a little higher in the air and let it go…SPLAT!

#### The Science Behind It

While the egg is submerged, the vinegar begins to dissolve the shell. If enough time passed the shell will completely dissolve leaving the thin membrane of the egg. The result is an egg that looks and feels like a bouncy ball.

### Blow it up!

Exploring Gas with Balloons, Baking Soda and Vinegar. Children will learn about gas and chemical reactions by discovering how to inflate a balloon using baking soda and vinegar.

#### You will need:

Baking Soda
Vinegar
Plastic Bottle
Balloon
Funnel

#### Instructions:

1. Using the funnel pour vinegar into your bottle. You only need to fill about 1/3 of the bottle.
2. Using another (dry) funnel pour baking soda into your balloon. Fill the balloon approximatively halfway.
3. Cover the top of the bottle with you balloon. Make sure you don't let the baking soda spill into the bottle prematurely.
4. When ready, lift your balloon and let the baking soda fall into the vinegar.
5. Watch as the mixture fizzes, bubbles and expands your balloon!
6. Discuss how the baking soda & vinegar produce a gas which fills the balloon.

#### The Science Behind It

Baking soda and the vinegar create an ACID-BASE reaction. When combined/mixed they create a gas, carbon dioxide. Gasses need room to spread, so the carbon dioxide fills the bottle and then moves into the balloon inflating it.

### DIY Puffy Paint

With a few kitchen items, very little set up and clean up time, this is perfect for little scientist-artists who are always looking for new activities and wondering how they work.

WARNING: Watch the paint in the microwave. Cardboard can start to burn if left in too long. Plus, it’s fun to watch the paint bubble and puff while it cooks.

#### You will need:

1 tbsp self raising flour
2 drop of food colouring
1 tbsp Salt
A small amount of Water

#### Instructions:

1. Combine the flour and salt in small bowl.
2. Add a little bit of water and stir until it gets smooth, thin paste.
3. Add your food colouring and mix well.
4. When happy with your masterpiece, pop it into the microwave for 30 seconds and watch your painting puff up.
5. Your artwork will be warm when you remove it from the microwave, but it will be completely set.

#### The Science Behind It

The key to this activity is the self-rising flour because it contains baking powder and a little salt. The baking powder is important because it is an ingredient added to pastries, bread and bakery to make them rise. 

When the baking powder is mixed with water, it releases a carbon dioxide gas. Add the extra salt, which also reacts with the chemicals in the baking powder to release even more CO2, and you have the makings for a bubbling paint potion.

The heat plus the water in the microwave will cause the baking powder to release small amounts of CO2, producing even bigger bubbles. It’s important that you use a thicker paper that can not only support the weight of the puffy paint, but also hold up for a few seconds in the microwave.

### Floating Ink

Dry Erase and Water Trick. It’s a fun and easy science activity to do with kids and a great party trick that will “wow” the grown-ups too.

#### You will need:

- A plate, a bowl or a baking dish
- Dry erase marker
- Water

#### Instructions:

1. Draw a simple picture on the glass. A stick figure is a good one to start with.
2. Pour water onto the plate or into the bowl slowly to lift up the drawing.
3. Swirl the water around to make the picture dance and move.
4. Experiment with different types of drawings – letters, pictures, outlines, solid shapes, etc. to see which one’s float best.

#### The Science Behind It

The marker leaves behind mixture of pigments and a type of alcohol mixed together. The alcohol dissolves and the pigments are left behind as a solid. Glass is so smooth that the solid slides right off when it gets wet!

National Science Week is celebrated at OSHC and children will have the opportunity to experiment with a range of fun science activities. For more information, please speak with your OSHC Coordinator or visit: [https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families/oshc](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families/oshc).

Science activities for children are some of the most fun ways to spend spare time. We’ve put together some fun science experiments that you can do in your own home with some basic household items.

Easy Science Experiments with Household Items

Keeping children busy when they need a break from homeschooling, or on weekends while isolating can be challenging during COVID-19 but getting them active not only keeps them [physically and mentally healthy](https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/HealthyLiving/sport-and-children), but sport can teach them valuable leadership skills.

There are so many creative after school sports activities for kids to do at home and we thought we’d give you a helping hand when it comes to keeping your children busy. 

If you’re stuck with how to decide what to do after school, in this obstacle course example, children will love the challenge of having to complete each task. You'll love the energy it can burn off and the time it will keep them occupied. The best part? You can build this one with things you already have around the house.

### Obstacle Course Guidelines for Keeping Children Busy

**Step 1:**

Gather any or all of these supplies:

- Empty paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls
- Bouncy ball
- Flashcards
- Kitchen spoon or ladle
- Kitchen tongs
- Bucket or other large cup
- Pillows or couch cushions
- Sheet or blanket
- Alphabet magnets
- Coins
- Dice
- Marbles
- Junky toys you get in a party goodie bag
- Spinner from a board game
- Toy that rolls (like a car, bus, or doll stroller)
- Bandanna or scarf
- Tape or yarn
- Book

**Step 2:**

Map out some space inside or in your back garden for your course - it doesn’t have to be a lot! Place a piece of tape, or a piece of yarn, at the 'starting line.'

**Step 3:**

Pick a silly move your kid can do at the starting line to begin the obstacle course. A few ideas: strike a pose, do a dance, do three jumping jacks, spin around three times, pretend to be a certain animal.

**Step 4:**

Decide on some fun ways that your child can get from obstacle to obstacle. Some ideas: crab walk, bear walk, slither like a snake, walk backwards, walk sideways, dance, walk with eyes closed, walk with a book on her head, and so on.

 **Step 5**

Set up some bigger physical obstacles.

Some ideas:

- Drape a sheet between two chairs, where your child has to crawl under or limbo under.
- Pile some pillows that your child has to “mountain climb” over.
 
### Obstacle Course Set Up Instructions

**Step 6:**

Mix the larger physical obstacles with smaller ones for fine motor skills. Some ideas:

- Pile some marbles or junk party favour toys on the floor next to some tongs or a ladle. Now, at this station, your child must transport each toy or marble, using the ladle or tongs, to a bucket or bowl at the next station. Make it more complicated by having them wear a blindfold.
- Or, set up a jar of alphabet flashcards or magnets and have them reach in, pick one, and say a word that begins with that letter before they can move on.
 
**Step 7:**

Personalise these ideas for your child. Are you trying to work on numbers? Use a spinner from a board game at one station – they have to spin it and count to that number or do that station a certain number of times. Are you trying to teach the value of different coins or how to tell time? Make one station about identifying coins and their value, while blindfolded. Do they need to work on their handwriting? Have one station with letters to trace on paper.

### Obstacle Course Tips
The idea is to make a course suited best for your child. If all you want is to burn energy because you’re trapped inside during the winter, make every station about spinning, crab walking, climbing, and doing jumping jacks. A is to make a station where a task is repeated over and over, like having them roll a pair of dice and do a certain move that number of times, or move a pile of something back and forth. If you have small hand weights at home, use them! Your child will be thrilled to get to use grown-up equipment in the game.

In addition, make sure you time how long it takes your child to do the course, because when they finish it, you can say, “Great! Do you think you can beat your time?”.

We hope this obstacle course will bring hours of entertainment while at home after school or on weekends. For more ideas on keeping children and parents busy, head over to this [article](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/blog/how-to-keep-the-whole-family-active-when-isolating-at-home).

Each service at Camp Australia develops fun activities tailored to the needs and strengths of the children attending. Sport is incorporated at OSHC to develop their confidence and leadership skills, and for children to remain healthy and to burn off some extra energy after the school day. To find a location near you, please visit [https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families).

You can build after school activities for kids at home, just like this indoor obstacle course with things you already have around the house. Children will love the challenge of having to complete each task!

Keeping Children Busy with a Great Indoor Obstacle Course Idea

Activities

Our dedicated programmers have been extra busy preparing online kids holiday activities. We believe that everyone should have access to FUN these holidays, and below are some ideas that have been carefully thought out by our team. These holiday activities are designed to stimulate young minds and keep them entertained independently or with the assistance of an adult.

 ### Cooking at Home during the School Holidays
Cooking has many benefits for children. Aside from having fun and feeling satisfied, cooking encourages practical skills such as reading when following directions and measuring. You’ll be able to excuse the mess when you remind yourself that cooking helps with fine motor skill development, hand-eye coordination, maths and science!

These Crunchy Apple Boats are super easy to make and they are sure to bring a smile to the face of any apple fan.

*You will need:*

- Apples – each apple makes two boats
- Your favourite spread – peanut or honey
- Puffed rice or Rice Bubbles
- Cheese
- Toothpicks

*Instructions:*

1. Cut the apple in half, removing the core.
2. Spread the top with peanut butter.
3. Sprinkle with puffed rice or Rice Bubbles.
4. Cut a sail for your apple boat from a thick slice of cheese and attach with a toothpick.

Enjoy!


### School Holiday Program with Experiments
Every kid loves science! Science activities help children to be resourceful. They learn how to set goals, plan and solve problems. We think that science is ideal to generate curiosity in young minds.

Our Science at Home Guide brings you through a complete kids holiday program and this Floating Ink experiment requires just three ingredients:

 *You will need:*

- A plate, a bowl or a baking dish
- Dry erase marker
- Water

*Instructions:*

1. Draw a simple picture on the glass. A stick figure is a good one to start with.
2. Pour water onto the plate or into the bowl slowly to lift up the drawing.
3. Swirl the water around to make the picture dance and move.
4. Experiment with different types of drawings – letters, pictures, outlines, solid shapes, etc. to see which one floats best.

 ### The School Holiday Program at Home to Improve Fitness
Staying fit is extremely important to promote a positive mood, burn off some energy and to have some active fun. Vacation care program ideas will generally include some form of physical activity and our [Fitness at Home Guide](https://campaust-my.sharepoint.com/personal/alicia_holland_campaustralia_com_au/Documents/Blog/April%202020/Holiday%20Club%20Guides/For%20Blog%20Download/fitness-home-activities-guide.PDF) is suitable for all fitness levels.

This Tap Line game will challenge the kids, as well as the adults!

Make 5–10 separate lines of tape, each about a foot apart, on your floor or carpet. Label the first one the “start” line and then give your kids simple instructions:

- Long Jump: See how many lines they can jump over. Have them try and beat their best score each time. Run ‘n’ Jump: Now let them take a running start and see if they can jump even further!
- Long Jump Backwards: Increase the difficulty by performing the tasks jumping backward. Hop: How far can they jump on one leg?

Kids holiday activities are plentiful with our downloadable guides and [Rocketeers program](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families/rocketeers). Be sure to check out the full schedule of activities that will combat boredom these school holidays. 
 

Beating the boredom these school holidays can be challenging, particularly since most families have already spent a lot of time at home due to COVID-19. With restrictions still in place, we’d like to bring vacation care program ideas to you.

Holiday Program Ideas to keep Kids Entertained

The school holidays are a reminder that sometimes we just need to slow down. Now is the perfect time to rest and rejuvenate. Most children enjoy a combination of rest and being entertained. Fortunately, kids holiday activities are at your fingertips and we’d like to share our ideal school holiday program with you. Read on for our top picks that encourage children to learn something new, whilst having fun during the holidays.

### Explore Museums

Museums provide an effective way for children to learn, and there’s the added benefit of being able to enjoy some family time. Museums are places where children can gather information and ignite curiosity. Some museums have created spectacular [virtual tours](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/blog/our-guide-to-fun-activities-when-holidaying-at-home), so your child will enjoy choosing which country to visit virtually next!

Problem-solving is a practical skill that is used when exploring the experiences that a museum offers. Learning about art, history and culture is one of the most fascinating vacation care program ideas for children to immerse themselves in.  

### Reading is Rewarding

Promoting a regular [reading routine](https://www.education.vic.gov.au/childhood/professionals/learning/ecliteracy/emergentliteracy/Pages/readingwithchildren.aspx), in turn, promotes healthy sleep habits. Ask your child what they are interested in reading about so that they are motivated to read each day. Reading not only improves their literacy skills but encourages imagination too. Reading is a kid holiday activity that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.

Reading different genres allows children to boost their creativity and imagination. Some children prefer to read the same books over and over again but getting them out of their comfort zone can also be beneficial when it comes to enhancing their writing skills and vocabulary.

### Budget Boss

Teach your child a life-long skill – how to budget! Start with a trip to the supermarket to show our younger generation how to go about doing the weekly grocery shop. The learning really kicks in when you give them a budget for the week to plan out the meals to shop for.

Budgeting for meals teaches children about planning, cooking and, of course, [how to sensibly spend their money](https://moneysmart.gov.au/teaching-kids-about-money)! Be sure to check in with them, as there will most likely be plenty of questions to help guide them.

Once your child has completed their shop, another kids holiday program idea is to ask them to choose a favourite recipe to have free reign of the kitchen. If your child is younger, you could be their sous chef!

### Top News Discussion
Discussion allows children to listen, analyse, think critically, empathise and problem solve.

Kids holiday activities that involve watching the news, of course should be age-appropriate and [discussions](https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2017/mar/24/read-all-about-it-how-to-get-students-discussing-current-affairs) can be guided by what parents feel their children will understand in a positive way. Have an open discussion with your child and share your opinions with each other.

### There’s Nothing Wrong with Being Bored
Boredom often comes early so the trick is to catch it upfront! If you hear your child declare, “I’m bored!”, don’t be offended or disappointed. Children these days rarely experience boredom, from being involved with extra-curricular activities, to spending time on screens.

Encourage your child to be creative. Get them to enjoy their own company and collect their thoughts to just be. Help them to explore the great outdoors; it’s a way to connect with nature after all.

Kids holiday activities that offer both learning and fun components are a win-win for parents and children. Rocketeers is all about extraordinary school holiday adventures. You can check out some kids holiday activities here: https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families/rocketeers.

Most children enjoy a combination of rest and being entertained during the school holidays. Fortunately, kids holiday activities are at your fingertips with Rocketeers.

5 Fun Learning Ideas – a School Holiday Program for any Family

Hands up if you’ve realised that it’s nearly the end of Term 1…which means it’s nearly the school holidays!

How did that go so fast? It certainly was a wonderful thing that the children were able to complete a full term at school, after a challenging period of schooling from home last year for some.

The school holidays are a time for children to relax and have fun. As a parent, your experience will tell you that children can claim boredom when on school holidays, so we’ve compiled some ideas that will break up the days and give both parents and children a memorable school holiday experience.

### Autumn Themed School Holiday Activities

If variety is what your child prefers, you’ll find it easy to get into the Autumn spirit.

Autumn is a beautiful time of year, and we know children LOVE to play with leaves when we see them running through them with a giggle not far behind. These autumn activities will keep your child entertained for hours at a time and give them an appreciation for the environment. From an adventurous scavenger hunt, to building a terrarium, Autumn proves the perfect time to provide variety with so many outdoor adventures that children will enjoy.

Getting into nature is therapeutic and Autumn is the perfect time to start planting some delicious and nutritious vegetables. Even if your child’s palette steers them away from certain vegetables, there are over twenty types of vegetables listed, with some that will be sure to tickle their fancy!

### Favourite Inside Activities for Kids
 
Some other inside school holiday activities for kids include board games, creative play and cooking activities.

Indoor games are the best wet weather activity. Set up different activity stations in your home with different card and board games. For an added challenge, children can design their own games. Some of our Your OSHC services have created their own Monopoly board game, with street names from around their local area. You can create your own at home too.

Using recyclable materials, from milk lids to cereal boxes, is not only environmentally friendly but unleashes your child’s inner creativity. Let them go wild with big sculptures and colourful craft.

Who could look past cooking for the school holidays? There’s a host of kid-friendly recipes online, like this one and on this site too. Children are empowered when they are given the chef’s hat at home, and they may even surprise you with a home-cooked dinner or two that they’ve mastered.

### Rocketeers – for Extraordinary School Holiday Adventures

We welcome Rocketeers (formerly Holiday Club) to the school holidays this Autumn. With variety and adventure, Rocketeers is designed for fun and excitement. Get to know what our new holiday program is all about with this downloadable Rocketeers word search. Children will even have a second chance to participate in the national handball for kids’ competition, which has proved popular in Outside School Hours Care in Term 1. Rocketeers delivers three distinct types of experiences for children, each with extraordinary adventures to add to the school holiday memories:

- Base Camp Days - The commander and crew design a program around a special theme and tailored to your children. From Pirates to The Deep Blue, Jungle Animals to Environmental Warriors, and everything in between.
- Incursions – special projects could see children designing their own guitar, making veggie enchiladas, experimenting with exploding toothpaste and heaps more. Special guests are also invited to Base Camp, from Silent Discos, sporting carnivals and more. These special guests are experts in their field and are guaranteed to bring an enriching and fulfilling experience to Rocketeers!
- Excursions - Embark on an expedition outside of Base Camp. Every destination is different, every experience is extraordinary. From Trampoline Parks, Science Museums, Inflatable Playgrounds, Animal Sanctuaries, through to Theme Parks and more.
 
The school holidays are set to blast off at Rocketeers, our holiday program for primary school children. For added adventures these holidays, join us at Rocketeers – starting this week. To find a location near you, visit: https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families/rocketeers.

The school holidays are a time for children to relax and have fun. We’ve compiled some ideas that will break up the days and give both parents and children a memorable school holiday experience. 

Fun Activities for Children on School Holidays

The Summer school holidays are here, and much excitement is in the air. Filling your days with fun activities for children to keep them entertained can be a challenge but we’ve put together some ideas for you to try at home.

### DIY Puffy Paint Science Experiment for Children

A few kitchen items, very little set up and clean up time, this is perfect for little scientist-artists who are always looking for new activities and wondering how they work.

**You will need:**
- 1 tbsp self-raising flour
- 2 drop of food colouring
- 1 tbsp Salt
- A little bit of water
  
**Instructions:**
1. Combine the flour and salt in small bowl.
2. Add a little bit of water and stir until it gets smooth, thin paste.
3. Add your food colouring and mix well.
4. When happy with your masterpiece, pop it into the microwave for 30 seconds and watch your painting puff up.
5. Your artwork will be warm when you remove it from the microwave, but it will be completely set.
 
### The Science Behind It?
The key to this activity is the self-rising flour because it contains baking powder and a little salt. The baking powder is important because it is an ingredient added to pastries, bread and bakery to make them rise. 

When the baking powder is mixed with water, it releases a carbon dioxide gas.  Add the extra salt, which also reacts with the chemicals in the baking powder to release even more CO2, and you have the makings for a bubbling paint potion.

The heat plus the water in the microwave will cause the baking powder to release small amounts of CO2, producing even bigger bubbles. It’s important that you use a thicker paper that can not only support the weight of the puffy paint, but also hold up for a few seconds in the microwave.

**WARNING**: Watch the paint in the microwave. Cardboard can start to burn if left in too long. Plus, it’s fun to watch the paint bubble and puff while it cooks.

### Banana Smoothie Cooking Activity for Children
A deliciously healthy way to start the day!

**You will need:**

- 1 Banana
- 1 Cup Milk
- 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla
- 1 to 3 Ice Cubes
 
**Instructions:**

1. Take out your blender and pour in a cup of milk.
2. Peel the banana, break it in half, and add it to the blender.
3. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and the ice cubes.
4. Blend for about 20 seconds.
5. Pour into a glass and enjoy.

Source: [https://www.food.com/recipe/banana-smoothie-for-kids-204780](https://www.food.com/recipe/banana-smoothie-for-kids-204780)

### Fitness Activities for Children

**Wheelbarrow Puzzle Walk**
Take your average Wheelbarrow race to the next level by having your child complete a puzzle. Set-up a wooden puzzle board and scatter the pieces around a room. Grab your child’s ankles (or hips to make it a bit easier for little ones) and hold them up so they can walk on their hands to collect them. They have to bring each piece back 1 by 1 and fit it into the board until the puzzle is complete. 

 **Movement Charades**
Pretend to be your favorite animal, superhero or sports player by imitating their signature moves (no sounds allowed!). The rest of the players try and guess who they are – the first one to do so correctly, gets a point. If your kids have trouble thinking on the spot, write down some suggestions and place them in a hat to draw from when it’s their turn.

**Musical Letters**
Make pieces of paper with big letters on them and spread them around the room. Play some music while they dance and then stop it and call out one of the letters. They have to immediately find the letter and sit down on it. If they pick the wrong one, have them do 15 jumping jacks (or whatever age-appropriate movement you decide).

More activity ideas are available at Rocketeers for an epic adventure during the Summer holidays: [https://campaustralia.com.au/families/rocketeers](https://campaustralia.com.au/families/rocketeers).

The Summer school holidays are here, and much excitement is in the air. Filling your days with fun activities for children to keep them entertained can be a challenge but we’ve put together some ideas for you to try at home.

Fun Summer Holiday Activities for Children

As autumn approaches, we’re starting to think about the [next activities at our OSHC services](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families/oshc). We always pride ourselves on offering a wide range of activities and we’re determined to come up with some different activities for autumn.

We thought we’d share some of our favourite autumn activities for children of all ages for some at-home fun; something that’s extra handy while we’re in COVID-19 lockdown.

** 1. Cooking with warming Mexican flavours**

When it gets chilly outside, we usually start craving some warming foods. We like to take this opportunity to introduce children to some different foods that they might not be used to preparing for themselves but will leave them feeling super satisfied on a cold or dreary day.

This [healthy chicken enchilada recipe](https://www.cleaneatingwithkids.com/healthy-chicken-enchiladas-recipe/) is not only really popular with children, but it’s also easy to make so they can get fully involved. There aren’t too many ingredients or too many steps to follow.

**2. Painting with autumn leaves**

For something different from the usual autumn art activities, make a beautiful masterpiece by using leaves as stencils. 

Lay the leaves out on a white background and hold them in place with blue tac so they don’t rip the paper when you remove them later. Get your children to paint around the leaves using a mixture of autumnal colours. They don’t need to do it neatly - the messier the better! We also like using sponges to paint as it creates a nice texture.

When they’re done, remove the leaves and you’ll have white leaf outlines amongst an amazing array of autumnal tones. You can also put a dab of colour in the white leaves if you want to.

We think this works really well if you get your children to collect leaves that are different shapes and sizes. Depending on how big the leaves are and the size of your paper, they might need anywhere from 5 to 10 leaves.

** 3. Apple and eggshell at-home science experiments**

Mix up your autumn activities by bringing in some science. We have lots of science experiments that children love to get involved with. Here are a couple we like when we’re spending more time indoors.

For the serious scientist, cut apples into cubes and split them into several small containers - such as ramekins or empty plastic containers. Add a different type of liquid to each container so that it covers the apple and then see which set of apples start to brown more quickly. Use something like lemon juice or baking soda in one of your containers for slow browning. Leave one container open to the air to show how quickly apples brown without any protection from the air. [Here’s the experiment for you to follow at home](https://www.pre-kpages.com/apple-science-experiment/).

Another one we love is creating [eggshell geode crystals](https://sciencebob.com/eggshell-geode-crystals/). This requires a little bit of preparation but is really colourful and suits children who like to check in on their experiment over several days.

Prepare your eggshells by cracking them close to the end and removing the contents. Remove the membrane by running the shell under warm water and let them dry. Create several types of water solutions with different solids dissolved in them, and tint each with different food colouring. Fill each eggshell with a different solution, let the water evaporate and watch as crystals grow.

**4. Starting a pinecone weather station**

Did you know that you can use [pine cones to check the weather forecast](https://www.science-sparks.com/pine-cone-weather-station/)? This a fun multi-day activity that you only have to set up once.

Pine cones open or close depending on the weather. In dry weather, they open up to let the wind take the tiny seeds stored inside so more pine trees can grow. If it’s wet weather though, the pine cones close up so the seeds don’t get waterlogged and become too heavy to travel far enough away on the wind.

Take your children out to collect some pinecones, then select an outdoor window sill you can see from indoors. Blue tac your pinecones to the window sill so they don’t fall off, and then send your children to check the weather forecast every morning and afternoon.

You could also set up a chart to monitor the pine cone forecast against the actual weather, so your children can check the accuracy.

**5. Making a herbarium**

A herbarium is a collection of dried plants and flowers in a book or notepad with some notes about the species. Creating your own herbarium is a great activity because there are several parts of the process and you can spread it over a couple of weeks or more.

The first part of the process is going out to find plants and flowers in your area. Then you’ll need to press them, before finally arranging them into your chosen notebook. It pays to do a bit of research about plants in your local area first, so you can guide your children in identifying the plants you pick. If it’s too tricky for them, it could be disheartening.

When you go out to pick your plants, take a small notepad to write down your observations so you don’t have to remember the details. Your children might want to record where they found the plant, what they thought of it, how it smells and of course, the name. You’ll also want some way of knowing which plant the notes relate to - so they should either write a good description or label their specimens with numbers.

Once the flowers and plants have dried, your children get to arrange them in their new herbarium book and decide how to copy in the notes they made when they collected them. They might choose to arrange by colour, location, size, or simply by their favourites.

If you’d like to give this activity a try, check out [this guide](https://www.motherforlife.com/creative-hobbies/crafts/7095-making-a-herbarium.thtml) or [these instructions](https://theherbalacademy.com/herbarium-project-for-children/).

**6. Crafting an autumn leaf suncatcher**

Make your windows beautiful and keep the children entertained at the same time with [this activity](https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/leaf-suncatcher/). You’ll need tissue paper in colours like yellow, orange, red and brown. as well as some sticky back plastic.

Cut the plastic into any kind of leaf shape you like - perhaps a variety if you’re making a few. Get your child to cut or tear up the tissue paper and use the sticky side of the plastic to create a collage.

When they’ve covered the surface, get a second sheet of sticky back plastic to stick over the tissue paper and see the design. They might also like to make a border for the leaves out of other coloured paper you have lying around, even old wallpaper or magazine cuttings can work. Finally, stick the leaves in the window and watch the lovely autumn sunlight come shining through. You can learn how to make a cellophane suncatcher [here](https://www.muminthemadhouse.com/autumnfall-leaf-suncatcher/).

You can use the same process to make smaller leaves and string them together for hanging suncatchers.

**7. Designing a maze or mandala**

We like to get the children outside as much as possible when the weather’s dry. These activities keep everyone entertained for quite a while and can we sometimes return to them throughout the holidays .

Challenge your children to make a [maze out of fallen leaves](https://innerchildfun.com/2015/11/leaf-maze.html). You can dictate size or tell them that it must be square or circular. You might want to have them make more than one maze so they can challenge each other.

If you’re lucky enough to have a big garden, the only thing you might want to do first is spend some time raking up the leaves so they’re easily accessible before you [make a maze](https://happyhooligans.ca/leaf-maze/). If you’re doing this activity in a park, choose a space close to the trees.

Once you’ve done this a couple of times, give your children a different challenge. We love seeing what they come up with when we ask them to make a pretty pattern. With older children, you can explain what a [mandala](https://www.art-is-fun.com/how-to-draw-a-mandala) is and see if they can make their own from leaves.

For children that love action, challenge them to make an obstacle course from leaves - we suggest pop-up tunnels with hanging leaves at either end, flat leaf ladders to jump through and using the maze to finish it off.

**8. Creating leaf crowns and tiaras**

We love this [activity](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkDk6s58KNE) because you can use almost anything you have around as the base of the crown. Use spare paper or felt, for example, to make the headband so it fits snugly. We like to use a narrow band so it’s easier to cover entirely with leaves, but this depends on the final look your fairy queen or elf king wants to achieve!

Once you’ve got the base, glue real leaves to the outside, or make your own leaves out of tissue paper, more felt or any other coloured materials you have at home. Try layering extra leaves at the front to get the extra height in the middle if you’re going for a more tiara-like look. Stick some twigs to the band to make it look more natural.

If your children love getting involved with lots of activities - sign them up for Camp Australia. We tailor all of our activities to the interests of the children attending each session, helping them develop and use new skills and hobbies every day. Visit [https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families](https://www.campaustralia.com.au/families) for more information about our programs.

Don’t rely on the same activities each day. Bring in some different activities this autumn to keep your children entertained all day long.

8 Different Autumn Activities for Children

Tailored activities in Your OSHC engage children, allowing them to follow their interests and try new experiences before and after school. Every activity is designed for children to develop their confidence and curiosity

Your OSHC

Escape the ordinary and experience the extraordinary with Rocketeers. Our open and inclusive crew truly understands that the school holidays are for children and are meant to be fun. Every school holiday break is a new Mission for children to embark upon, and every day is a new adventure.

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