Young girl playing hopscotch.

Staying active during the holidays

Kids aren't designed to stay still, so it's important that they are kept active to help them grow into healthy adults. Children are recommended to do a minimum of 60 minutes exercise every day.

If you need inspiration to help keep your kids busy, take a look at the links below. In addition to ideas for getting them to hit that daily 60 minute target, we've got suggestions for, arts, cooking, outdoor activities and wellbeing.

It's also worth checking out your local borough or district council's website as they often run holiday activities.

Club4 dance sessions

A creative dance class to get your imagination and bodies nice and active using an item of clothing to inspire us. For 5 to 7 year olds. 

Young children doing archery.

Fun Workouts

Active Bursts

Yoga and mindfulness

  • Millions of children have followed mindfulness and yoga sessions from Cosmic Kids Yoga, delivered in a way that's fun for ages 5 - 10. 


 

Other mood boosters

Kids are incredibly resilient, but it does us all good to try and find some time to focus on our own wellbeing and be aware of how we're feeling:

  • If the weather is ok, get the whole family closer to nature with the Get Outside hub - tips on everything from walking for beginners to using routues on maps to create art. 
  • Check out these ideas for self guided family walks around Surrey.
  • Help for mood and mental health, created for kids from Stormbreak. They can choose to boost self-care, resilience, their relationships and more with the help of age appropriate videos.
  • If you're worried about your child's mental health you can also check out our 'Help For Parents' page. 

 

Young girl at table working on a craft activity

Arts & crafts

Even kids can't keep going out all the time, but to stop them turning to the TV or games consoles, check out some of these carefully selected ideas:

  • Surrey Libraries have some fantastic resources for kids, from interactive audio theatre show's to story and Rhymetime, coding and Lego club. If your child doesn't have a library card, don't miss out on the chance to register to recieve one. Surrey Libraries have a great range of activities available online and in your local library.
  • Lots of kids will tell you that they can't draw, but these well-produced videos from author and Guiness World Record Holder Rob Biddulph can turn any child into an artist.
  • Spelthorne Council have some great creative videos on their Resource Centre Craft Club Facebook, with new activities uploaded twice a week.
  • Elmbridge Council's Shout Facebook page has some equally good ways to keep your son or daughter busy during the holidays or wet weekends.
  • Surrey Arts SMASH Activities' ideas for practicing percussion will have you making your own instrument out of junk.
  • Designer Annalees Lim's 30 days wild activity sheet bundle has plently to keep kids active over the holidays.
  • Craft activities for early years and primary children from the national crafts council.
  • If your child has a taste for the dramatic, show them the theatre ideas from the Fly High Stories crew.
  • Creative indoor and outdoor ideas (goodhousekeeping.com) that will keep them entertained for hours. 


 

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Food and cooking ideas

Good cooking is also an art. It can keep kids occupied and help them learn about making good food choices (and help you make dinner!).

  • Get some healthy and easy new recipe ideas to try with the family from NHS Better Health.
  • Recipe cards, games and #CookTogether ideas for parents, carers and kids from Phunky Foods.
  • Healthy kids' recipes from BBC Good Food including healthy and simple recipe ideas that will keep the whole family happy from homemade fish fingers to pasta with tomato and hidden veg sauce.