School holidays are a wonderful time for kids to unwind, explore new interests, and engage in activities that promote their overall wellbeing. Instead of letting them spend hours in front of screens, why not encourage them to try healthy options for school holiday activities? Here are ten healthy options that combine fun with wellness, ensuring your children have a memorable and enriching break from school.

1. Nature scavenger hunt

A nature scavenger hunt is a fantastic way to connect with the outdoors and discover the beauty of nature. Before heading out, prepare a list of items for your kids to find, such as rocks of a certain shape or size, different colours of leaves, flowers, or creatures to spot like birds or insects. Equip them with a small bag or basket to collect their treasures. As they search, encourage them to observe and appreciate the natural environment. This activity promotes curiosity, observation skills, and a love for nature, especially in autumn where nature going through a lovely period of change.

2. DIY fitness circuits

Creating a DIY fitness circuit is a fun and interactive way to get the whole family moving. Set up stations with different exercises like star jumps, skipping, box jumps, balancing, or doing lunges. Time each station and challenge your kids to complete the circuit as quickly as they can. You can even make it competitive by recording their times and encouraging them to beat their own records. This activity boosts cardiovascular fitness, coordination, and endurance, while making exercise enjoyable.

3. Healthy cooking class

Host a hands-on cooking class focused on preparing nutritious and delicious meals together. Choose recipes that are kid-friendly and incorporate a variety of food groups. Teach them basic cooking techniques like safely chopping vegetables, measuring ingredients, and following recipes. Discuss the importance of balanced nutrition and the benefits of eating fresh, whole foods. Allow them to get creative by decorating healthy snacks or making their own smoothie bowls. This might require a bit of patience and time from parents, but cooking together not only enhances culinary skills but also fosters a positive relationship with food and encourages healthy eating habits.

4. Dance party!

Turn your living room into a dance floor and host an energetic dance party with your kids. Play upbeat music and encourage everyone to let loose and show off their best dance moves. You can create a playlist together with their favourite songs or find dance tutorials on YouTube to learn new moves. Incorporate fun challenges like dance-offs or freeze dance games to keep the excitement going. Dancing is a fantastic way to improve coordination, boost mood, and burn calories while having a blast.

5. Storytime yoga

Combine storytelling with yoga poses for a calming and imaginative activity. Choose a children's book with a nature or adventure theme and read it aloud to your kids. As you narrate the story, introduce corresponding yoga poses inspired by the characters or settings. For example, if the story is about animals in the jungle, incorporate poses like downward dog (for dogs), cobra (for snakes), or tree pose (for birds in trees). This activity promotes flexibility, mindfulness, and creativity, while also fostering a love for reading.

6. Bike exploration

Embark on a biking adventure with your family to explore new places and enjoy the outdoors. Plan a route that includes nice scenery, parks, or interesting landmarks. Pack snacks and take breaks to rest and appreciate your surroundings. Biking is an excellent workout that also builds endurance and strengthens leg muscles. It's a refreshing and eco-friendly way to spend quality time together while staying active.

7. A winter garden

Gardening is a wonderful way to teach kids about nature, responsibility, and the joy of watching things grow. Autumn is an ideal time to plant broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, beetroot, spinach and Chinese cabbages. Involve your children in choosing the seeds or seedlings, preparing the soil, planting, and caring for their garden by watering, weeding, and pruning. Gardening not only promotes physical activity through digging and watering, but it also instills patience, nurturing skills, and a sense of accomplishment as they harvest their own produce.

8. Museum visits

Exploring museums is a fantastic way to stimulate curiosity and learning. Research local museums that offer interactive exhibits suitable for kids. Before visiting, engage your kids by discussing what they expect to see and what they already know about the subject. During the visit, encourage them to interact with exhibits, participate in hands-on activities, and ask questions. Many museums offer tours or workshops designed for children, enhancing their understanding and engagement. 

9. Listening to music or podcasts

It's important to balance active and engaging activities with restful and slow-paced ones to promote relaxation and recharge. Allow your child to unwind by listening to soothing music or child-friendly podcasts. Music has a calming effect and can improve mood, while podcasts can be both entertaining and educational.

10. Reading

Encourage your child to indulge in books! Set up a cozy reading nook with soft cushions and blankets where they can escape into different worlds. Reading not only improves literacy skills but also promotes relaxation and imagination.

These engaging activities offer a mix of exercising, creativity, relaxing and exploration, making them perfect for a healthy and memorable school holiday break. Customise each activity based on your child's interests and abilities to ensure they have a fantastic time while reaping the benefits of a balanced lifestyle.