10 Things to Do during School Holidays

Summer has finally arrived, and school is coming to an end... Time to disconnect from your everyday life, shake up your routine, and slow down. Low on ideas after a chaotic school year? Here are 10 activities to do with your kids while on vacation!

Outdoor Activities

Go Fruit and vegetables Picking

In the summer, some farms open their doors to the public, allowing you to pick seasonal fruits and vegetables at the peak of the season. Harvesting is a fun way to spend time outside as a family while learning about how fruits and vegetables grow, the harvest, the job of a market gardener, and more. Strawberries, zucchini, tomatoes, melons... Your basket will be full. Now, time to go back home and cook with your little ones!

Inspire Your Kids with an Eco-Action Day

Vacations can be an opportunity to participate in eco-citizen initiatives such as cleaning up beaches, forests, and riverbanks. Whether near your home or at your vacation spot, you will easily find a site needing a cleanup.  

Try turning the litter clean-up into a game! Increase your children’s awareness of the impact of human activity on the world around them, all while taking pride in their actions. 

Go on an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt

A day in the forest or the countryside is a great opportunity to play Cast Away with your children. There are so many things to explore: listening to and identifying the sounds around us (birds, frogs, crickets...), learning the names of trees or insects... 

Pack a nice picnic and binoculars and set out to find animal tracks and other treasures. End the day with a quiet time—lying on the grass, contemplating the sky, and inventing stories shaped by the clouds.

Movie Night in the Open Air

Many neighborhoods offer outdoor movie nights or festivals during the summer. Some are even free; just bring your chairs, blankets, or snacks. Movies usually start at dusk, which delights kids who enjoy staying up later than usual with their parents. If there is no such thing near your home or vacation spot, set up a TV (or computer screen) on your patio or backyard. And enjoy an evening of movies under the stars! 

Keep it Cool?

When it's really hot out, cool off by spraying yourself with a garden hose and take breaks to enjoy homemade popsicles! All you have to do is mix in a cup: some water and fruit juice and a few pieces of fresh fruit, like raspberries. Put it in the freezer and insert a popsicle stick when it starts to freeze. For more variety—and to accommodate all tastes—feel free to use different fruits and juices.

Creative Family Activities (indoor or outdoor, depending on the weather and your preferences!)

Host a Party

The summer is a perfect time to throw a party, whether with your family, friends or for your special someone! The idea is to get the kids involved from A to Z: shopping, cooking, music, decorating, makeup, and even cleaning up after the party! The theme is up to you. 

Pyjama party, half-birthday party, tropical party, or a red carpet theme... Be creative!

Craft Your Own Vacation Souvenirs

Whether by the sea, by the campfire, or in the mountains, find crafts to develop your children's creativity. Pick up seashells to stick on a picture frame; collect sand in a jar that you will decorate with stickers; collect flowers and leaves to make a pretty herbarium; pick up rocks (or pebbles) and paint them in various colors. Let your children create their souvenirs—they will be even happier to tell their grandparents or friends about their vacation when they return to school.

Put Up a Play

Write the script together, describe the characters, design the set, the costumes, the props... You could make puppets using wooden spoons. This activity can be done in one day (if it rains?) or several... before putting on a show for family or friends! No need to come up with elaborate stories or decorations. Children love to keep it simple and use their imagination!

Make an "Idea Box"

If you are running out of inspiration or your kids are having trouble agreeing on the activities for the day, get your "idea box" out. You can make one with the kids at the beginning of the summer. Put lots of colored pieces of paper in a big glass jar or a bowl with all sorts of easy-to-do activities written on them: coloring, dressing up, watching a movie, doing a puzzle, playing hide-and-seek, reading 3 books, playing cards, drawing a rainbow, picking up leaves, making a necklace, playing the "Yes or No" game, making a cake, playing with Legos, and so on...

Plan Cultural Visits—for Children and Adults Alike

Visits to museums, churches, or old medieval ruins may seem boring for kids (sometimes even adults!), but it's a time of discovery that develops their curiosity and teaches them to be open to the world. Some museums are free of charge, some offer special tours for children, and if you promise to get them ice cream at the end of the visit, they will be all the more enthusiastic! 

Also, don't hesitate to visit places such as tourist offices, town halls, libraries, and media centers to learn about all their summer activities!

Summer vacation is an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with your family. You can complete this list, add new ideas, or do the same activity more than once. There are no set rules; you're on vacation! 😉