All images: Supplied.
School holidays can be synonymous with too much screen time for kids and too much stress for parents. The solution? Making time to get active outdoors.
Research shows that 55 per cent of adults and 70 per cent of kids don’t meet the guidelines for physical activity.
The school holidays are a perfect time to change that. Do you need to spend every waking moment doing star jumps at the local park? Of course not. But integrating some fun – and free – activities into your school holiday plans is a great way to connect and give those endorphins a boost.
Here are some of the activities I’ve tried to keep my boys bouncing, entertained and off the couch
1. Team up for tennis.
Playing tennis is a great workout and teaches kids about teamwork while improving their hand-eye coordination. It also doesn’t take a lot of planning – but you will need some tennis rackets and a few tennis balls. Find your local community court and you’re good to go.
My kids love teaming up as doubles partners and they look super professional in their matching Nike Pro Tees from rebel. While I’d love to say I let them beat me, they’ve already surpassed my very limited ability. And I don’t look half as cool while playing!
2. Grow your own veggie garden.
Now is the perfect time to get outside and plant some veggies with the kids. I have two black thumbs but we had a great time transforming our tiny backyard with a vertical herb garden and some tomato plants.
Will we manage to keep them alive? Who knows! But the satisfaction of working on a garden project together made us feel proud and completed pooped. Gardening is my new cardio…who knew?
3. Get racing at your local BMX track.
One surefire way to get my kids outside is to suggest a ride around our local BMX track.
Before I can say “grab your helmets”, they're jumping into their Nike Pro Shorts and peddling down the street.
While we’ve had a fair few stacks over the years, this is without a doubt my kids’ favourite holiday activity.
4. Hit the pavement with pooch.
If you have a dog, add their daily walk to your kids holiday to-do list.
I hate to admit that in the busyness of Term Three our dog’s exercise regime was left lacking. These holidays I’m committed to giving our beloved fluff child as much park time as possible.
In addition to their indoor chores, my kids have to pop on their new ASICS and Nike runners and walk the dog every day during the holidays. If they tick the task off with a smile, they might just get another fluffy sibling from Santa.
5. Press play at the local pool.
With the weather improving, the local pool is the perfect spot for a play date.
Pack a picnic basket and set up camp for a few hours while the kids run, jump, dive and splash around with their friends.
If you’re game, you might even get those winter white legs out for a vitamin D infusion. My local pool charges $15 entry for a family of four which provides a cheap and cheerful afternoon of fun.
And if the weather isn’t quite warm enough in your state, there are plenty of indoor heated options available.
6. Discover new playgrounds.
It’s easy to get in a park rut and visit the same ol’ playgrounds time and time again.
These school holidays, I’m committed to finding new playgrounds beyond my usual hood. The kids get super excited when we find more challenging play equipment and we’re enjoying adding new spots to our list of favourites.
Again, it’s free, it’s fun and it keeps the kids off the tablet.
You don't need to spend a fortune on ticketed activities to entertain the kids. If there is one thing I’ve learned from this parenting ride, it’s that the simplest things are often the most enjoyable.
And if they keep my kids active, healthy and away from the remote or tablet, that’s a massive bonus.
What have you got planned for the school holidays? Any great ideas we need to know about? Tell us below!