“I’m bored.” Three little words no vacation care educator wants to hear five minutes after an activity has finished!

So, what makes a vacation care activity one that children actually want to join in with?

It isn’t about filling every minute of the day. It’s about creating experiences that are fun, different, hands-on and give children something to talk about when they get home.

Kids Want to DO Things

Children love to touch, build, create, experiment and explore.

That’s why hands-on vacation care activities are such a hit. Whether they’re making giant bubbles, hunting for fossils, experimenting with science or building something from scratch, they’re actively involved rather than simply watching.

And the best part? They’re often learning without even realising it.

They Want Something Different

Vacation care is a chance to step away from the usual school routine.

Give children the opportunity to try something they might not normally experience — an exciting science experiment, a wildlife encounter, a creative challenge, a cooking experience or something completely unexpected.

Those are the activities that create the classic:

“Guess what we did today!”

They Want to Get Messy

Let’s be honest — kids don’t always mind a little mess.

Science, cooking, art, craft and water play give children permission to experiment, make mistakes and get stuck in.

Sometimes the mess is the fun!

They Want to Be Active — Without Calling It Exercise

Not every child is excited by the word “exercise”.

But a giant ball challenge, obstacle course, dance session or team game?

Now we’re talking.

The best active school holiday activities feel like play while helping children develop teamwork, coordination, confidence and fitness along the way.

They Want a WOW Moment

Every great vacation care program needs a few activities that children remember.

The giant bubbles.

The unexpected science experiment.

The animal encounter.

The challenge they’ve never tried before.

These are the moments that turn an ordinary day into a “WOW, that was awesome!” day.

You don’t need a WOW activity every day — just enough to give children something exciting to look forward to.

They Want Variety

Not every child wants the same thing.

Some want to run. Some want to create. Some want to build. Some want to investigate. Some want to perform.

That’s why variety is so important.

Mix science, sport, creative activities, animals, cooking, STEM, entertainment and just-for-fun experiences throughout your program and you’re much more likely to have something that gets everyone excited.

And Sometimes… They Just Want to Have FUN

Not every activity needs a lesson.

Sometimes kids just need to laugh, play, be silly and spend time with their friends.

And that’s what school holidays are all about.

So, What’s the Secret?

There isn’t one perfect vacation care activity.

It’s the mix that makes a great program — a little science, something active, something creative, something unexpected and a few big WOW moments along the way.

At Vacation Care Australia, we bring together a huge range of experiences to help educators create school holiday programs children genuinely look forward to.

Because when the holidays arrive, “I’m bored” doesn’t have to be part of the program.

Ready to start planning?

Explore our activities and discover something your kids will love.