Affordable at home activities with kids - perfect for holidays
Being at home with kids can be tough on Parents, with boredom, noise and the classic 'what do we do?' In this guide, we have assembled the perfect range of affordable at home activities to do with the kids this season, perfect for busy parents who enjoy budget friendly living (lets be honest, who doesn't.)
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Build an Indoor Den
One of the simplest and most exciting activities for children is building an indoor fort. Using blankets, pillows, chairs, and sofa cushions, kids can create their own little hideaway right in the living room.
Once the den is built, the fun can continue. Bring in torches for storytelling, read books together, or play quiet games inside the cosy space. You can even turn it into an indoor camping experience by making popcorn or simple snacks and watching a family film inside!
Encouraging the kids to play and read inside the den can give Parents 5 minutes to relax, perfect for busy folk! Why not get the kids a FREE Lego magazine, filled with activities for kids, or purchase a puzzle or game book?
Host a DIY Craft Day
Craft activities are perfect for school holidays because they keep kids occupied while encouraging creativity. The best part is that you can use everyday items you already have around the house.
Some simple craft ideas include:
- Making animals from paper plates
- Decorating homemade greeting cards
- Creating characters using toilet roll tubes
- Painting stones collected from the garden or a local walk
- Making salt dough handprints
Setting up a small craft station with paper, markers, glue, and recycled materials can provide hours of entertainment. Craft day can even become a weekly holiday tradition. Hobbycraft is brilliant for affordable crafting materials, or alternatively, buy a cheap crafting kit!
Check out our Easter DIY craft idea blog, for affordable seasonal crafts!
Try Easy Kitchen Science Experiments
Kids naturally love experimenting and discovering how things work. Simple science activities using kitchen ingredients can be both educational and entertaining.
A classic favourite is the baking soda and vinegar volcano. Children love watching the fizzy reaction and learning about basic chemical reactions. Other easy experiments include making slime, creating a rainbow milk experiment with food colouring, or testing whether eggs float in salty water.
Science activities not only entertain children but also help spark curiosity about how the world works, with using what you already have at home!
Baking Soda Volcano
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What you need:
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Food colouring (optional)
- A cup or small bottle
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Steps:
- Put 2–3 spoonfuls of baking soda into the cup.
- Add a drop of dish soap and food colouring.
- Pour in vinegar and watch the eruption!
- Science: Mixing baking soda and vinegar creates carbon dioxide gas which causes the fizzy “lava”.
Cornstarch Slime (Oobleck)
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What you need:
- 1 cup cornstarch
- ½ cup water
- Food colouring (optional)
- A mixing bowl
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Steps:
- Pour cornstarch into the bowl.
- Slowly mix in the water.
- Stir until thick and gooey.
- Squeeze it quickly then let it drip!
- Science: Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid. It acts solid when squeezed and liquid when relaxed.
Dancing Raisins
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What you need:
- A clear glass
- Sparkling water or lemonade
- A handful of raisins
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Steps:
- Fill the glass with the fizzy drink.
- Drop the raisins into the glass.
- Watch them rise and fall like they’re dancing.
- Science: Carbon dioxide bubbles stick to the raisins and lift them up. When the bubbles pop, they sink again.
Plan a Family Movie Afternoon
A movie afternoon can feel like a special event with just a few small touches. Turn your living room into a home cinema by dimming the lights, closing the curtains, and preparing snacks.
To make it more fun for kids, you can buy cinema tickets and movie kits for a low cost or let them design a snack menu and tickets. Popcorn, homemade pizza toast, or fruit skewers make great affordable movie snacks.
You can also rotate who gets to choose the movie each time, giving every family member a chance to be the “cinema manager” for the day.
Organise an Indoor Treasure Hunt
Treasure hunts are exciting and can easily be adapted for children of different ages. Hide small clues around the house and create a trail that leads to a final prize.
For younger children, picture clues or simple directions like “look under the table” work well. Older kids might enjoy riddles or puzzles that challenge them to think. The prize doesn’t have to be expensive. Stickers, a small treat, or choosing the next family activity can be enough to make the hunt feel rewarding.
The best part about treasure hunts are that they can be adapted seasonally! Why not check out our Easter egg hunt guide with printable clues?!
Ultimate Easter egg hunt guide
Bake Something Simple Together
Baking with kids is a fantastic way to spend time together during the holidays. It teaches practical skills like measuring and mixing while also being a lot of fun.
Choose simple recipes that don’t require too many ingredients. Cupcakes, three-ingredient cookies, or homemade ice lollies are great options. Even making pizza toast for lunch can feel like a fun cooking activity.
Affordable Baking Ideas
- Bake simple fairy cakes or cupcakes using basic cupboard ingredients.
- Make banana bread using overripe bananas instead of throwing them away.
- Try flapjacks with oats, butter and golden syrup for a cheap and filling treat.
- Bake basic biscuits like shortbread or sugar cookies with just a few ingredients.
- Turn leftover ingredients into muffins or traybakes instead of letting them go to waste.
Let children take part in decorating or adding toppings. Although things might get messy, the experience and memories are well worth it. Our seasonal hub has all things baking- from St Patrick's day recipes to Father's day breakfast ideas and Easter baking, we have it all!
Create a Garden Olympics
If you have access to a garden or outdoor space, organising a mini “garden Olympics” can burn off energy and keep kids active.
Some easy game ideas include:
- Egg and spoon races
- Sack races using pillowcases
- Obstacle courses made from household items
- Bean bag toss competitions
You can keep score and even create simple medals or certificates for the winners.If the weather isn’t great, similar games can be adapted indoors. Balloon volleyball or sock basketball using a laundry basket can be just as fun. There are other low cost options for garden equipment!
Let Kids Run Their Own Restaurant
Role-play activities are fantastic for creativity and confidence. Turning your kitchen into a mini restaurant can be an exciting challenge for kids.
Children can design a menu, set the table, and take orders from parents or siblings. They can help prepare simple meals or snacks and then serve them just like in a real restaurant.
You might be surprised by how seriously kids take their roles as chefs, waiters, or restaurant managers.
Make a Holiday Scrapbook
Creating a scrapbook is a quieter activity that encourages reflection and creativity. Throughout the holidays, children can collect drawings, photos, stickers, or small mementos and add them to their scrapbook.
They can also write short descriptions of what they did each day or draw pictures of their favourite activities. By the end of the school break, the scrapbook becomes a lovely keepsake filled with memories.
Host a Family Talent Show
A family talent show is another fantastic way to keep kids entertained. Children can prepare performances such as singing, dancing, magic tricks, or comedy sketches.
Set up a small “stage” area in the living room and let each participant perform. Parents can act as judges or simply cheer and applaud each act.
Recording the performances on your phone can turn the talent show into a fun family memory to watch later. You could also get the kids to make scorecards, or even be the judges for Parents!
Tips for Keeping School Holidays Affordable
Keeping kids entertained during the holidays doesn’t have to mean spending lots of money. With a little planning, you can create exciting days at home without stretching your budget.
Some simple tips include:
- Use materials you already have around the house
- Plan themed activity days to add variety
- Rotate toys so they feel new and exciting again
- Encourage children to help plan activities
Often, the activities children remember most are the ones where they had fun with their family rather than the ones that cost the most.
Final Thoughts
School holidays are a wonderful opportunity to slow down, spend time together, and create lasting family memories. Affordable at-home activities can be just as exciting as expensive outings when creativity and imagination are involved. With a little planning and a lot of imagination, your home can become the perfect place for holiday adventures.
