Best lockdown activities for kids during NSW school holidays

As millions of families’ school holiday plans are thrown into disarray by the lockdown, here’s a list of the top activities to keep the kids entertained.

AS NSW continues its two-week lockdown, millions of parents stuck at home with children during the school holidays are looking for cheap and screen-free activities to keep them entertained.

Education expert and mother-of-two Bronwyn Reid O’Connor said that with a bit of creativity, parents could use the lockdown as an opportunity to bond with their children.

“It’s about thinking a little outside the box … and reframing the lockdown as an opportunity to connect with children,” she said.

Dr O’Connor said activities like board games, drawing on the pavement, cooking or even building a veggie garden would allow parents to teach their children important lessons while having fun.

“Getting back to playing traditional board games, card games is a great way to keep them busy and mentally engaged. There’s a lot of mathematical aspects and spatial awareness,” she said. “Building a garden can start a great educational discussion, so can baking.”

Dr Bronwyn Reid O'Connor says the lockdown can be used as an opportunity to connect with kids. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Artist and mother Daniela Minns has written a list of 130 screen-free activity ideas which has gone viral on social media. Her ideas include writing to residents at a local nursing home, making playdough and tinting shaving cream with food dye and using it to paint the windows.

“Find a favourite activity and give it a twist. So if your child likes drawing, maybe try it under a table with the paper taped to the underside of the table. I call this ‘Michelangelo’,” she said.

BUILD A VEGGIE GARDEN OR CUBBY

While most retailers are closed during the lockdown, shops like Kmart and Bunnings are still open if you want to get your kids involved in some DIY activities.

Taking your kids to Bunnings and purchasing some seeds or plants to make your very own veggie garden is a great way to keep them engaged while teaching them important lessons about the environment and food production.

If you’re looking for a more challenging project, ask your child to design their dream treehouse or cubby house and build and paint the house together.

Build your kids their dream cubby house. Picture: Tim Hunter.

GET CREATIVE WITH EXERCISE

While people are only allowed out for essential reasons during the lockdown, thankfully, exercise is still permitted.

This means that a bush walk, bike ride or trip to the playground are all still allowed. Group exercise is allowed outdoors in groups of 10 or less, so a game of soccer, for example, is still allowed.

The NSW Government’s $100 Active Kids voucher can also be used to stock-up on sporting supplies.

While there are no restrictions on how far you can travel to exercise, it is recommended that you stay close to home to be Covid-safe.

Let your kids get busy in the kitchen during lockdown.

HOST A CRAFT, SCIENCE OR COOKING WORKSHOP

Craft is a sure-fire way to keep your children occupied while encouraging them to show-off their creative side.

And with the NSW Government offering $100 Creative Kids vouchers, you can buy free arts and craft supplies for free.

Decorating a face mask with stick-on jewels or child-safe texter is a great Covid-safe activity. Or if you want something a bit different, try cardboard weaving or painting egg shells like cute animals or fruit and vegetables.

Another activity to keep the whole family entertained is to get your kids to put on a fashion show. Or if you’re looking for a more hands-on activity, teach your kids how to make family classics like spaghetti or cupcakes.

HOST A MOVIE OR GAME NIGHT

An easy, low-cost idea good for a rainy day or night is transforming your living room into a cinema and hosting a family movie night.

Bring out the popcorn and lollies, close the curtains, get out the woollen blankets and switch on your kid’s favourite flick.

Or, if you want to reduce their screen time, swap the movie for a board game or Lego building activity.

Get out the popcorn and set up a family movie night at home. Picture: Stuart Milligan

OUTDOOR PLAY

We may not be able to explore the rest of the state, but we can still venture into our backyards.

Drawing a ‘sensory path’ on the pavement with chalk featuring prompts like ‘twirl,’ ‘roar’ or ‘touch your toes’ is a great way to get your child to take note of the world around them.

Or if you’re looking for stay-at-home exercise ideas, why not transform an outdoor table into a table tennis game, start a scavenger hunt or get kids to play charades?

OTHER IDEAS

Artist and mother Daniela Minns has written a list of 130 screen-free activity ideas for kids during the lockdown, which has since gone viral on social media.

Her ideas include writing to residents at a local nursing home, making playdough and tinting shaving cream with food dye and using it to paint the windows.

Ms Minns says coming up with activity ideas is simple.

“Find a favourite activity and give it a twist so if your child likes drawing, maybe try it under a table with the table taped to the underside of the table. I call this ‘Michaelangelo,’” she said.