Deep breaths mums and dads — the winter school holidays are fast approaching and if you’re anything like me, you’ll feel the dread setting in! Unlike the summer holidays where you can mooch your days away at the beach, the playground or the pool… the winter holidays require a lot more planning and creativity, and let’s face it — it’s hard work!
Don’t despair though friends — I’m here to help and have created a comprehensive list of all the INSIDE activities you can do with your kids in Adelaide these winter holidays. From artsy to active and everything in between, I’ve got you covered! So when the weather is wet, wild and simply uninviting, and there are only so many movie days your little ones will tolerate before the cabin fever sets in — I want you to have this list saved and ready to refer to. It might just save your sanity! (I’ll still be counting down the hours to wine o’clock on the daily though).
Urth Clay Studio – Kids Holiday Pottery Sessions
Get those hands dirty in the best possible way — with CLAY! Book in with your child for a fun bonding activity, or enrol them into a ‘drop-and-go’ school holiday workshop where they’ll have 2.5 hours of creative fun while you have some much needed time to yourself. They’ll come home with a unique piece of pottery to treasure forever (and you’ll have a fancy, um, ‘creation’ for your mantle piece)!
Image credit :: Urth Clay Studio
Little Picassos School Holiday & Artcamp
Do you have an artsy little Picasso on your hands? Book the kids into one of Little Picassos’ many school holiday workshops and let their creativity run wild. They’ll build their confidence with some new artistic techniques… and you’ll keep the paint off of your furniture!
Image credit :: Little Picassos
Free Clay & Crafts – Northpark Shopping Centre
Northpark Shopping Centre will be offering a variety of FREE clay and paint craft activities these holidays. Held daily from 10am – 12pm outside Brumby’s & Priceline Pharmacy, the sessions are as follows:
- July 17th – Clay Critters & Monsters
- July 18th – Clay Balloon Bowls
- July 19th – Make your own fairy/dino garden
- July 20th – Figurine Painting
- July 21st – Paint Pouring on canvas
What a great way to spend some time on a rainy day.
Sneaker Painting Workshop – Westfield Marion
Join Artist Iman Elmawey at one of her painting workshops to design and paint your dream Air Jordans or Nike Dunks on canvas. In addition to the creative process, the workshops feature facilitated discussions on mental health supported by headspace Marion and the City of Marion.
Sessions are limited and cost $15 per person. (Recommended for ages 13 and up).
Lego lovers — listen up! How does a day of Lego building, Robotics, Coding and STEM sound? The Bricks4Kids Holiday Workshops will have you challenging yourself, getting creative and making a tonne of like-minded friends.
Image credit :: Bricks 4 Kidz
Coding — it’s a new concept to an old fossil like me, but apparently the clever kids of this generation are learning to master it whilst still in nappies (well, not quite, but you get my gist).
Code Camp has had upwards of 100,000 kids attend camps across 350 schools in Australia. After the 3 or 4 day camp, students will have their own app to show family and friends and can further their coding skills at home through the Code Camp World online platform for kids.
Whether you have a MasterChef in the making or just a little one who simply loves to bake, book the kids into a Scoffed cooking class these holidays and allow them to expand their culinary skills. Not only will they come home with a new recipe — but your kitchen at home will stay clean and tidy. Praise be! They have classes for all abilities from ages five and up.
Theatre Bugs School Holiday Programs
Theatre Bugs offers a range of school holiday programs suited for ages 5 to 14 years. At the end of the one week program, students perform their production to family and friends. What a great way to meet new friends, build confidence and have fun! Annnnnnd ACTION!
Image credit :: Theatre Bugs
Why not take the opportunity to improve your kid’s skills in their sport of choice these holidays. International Sports Camps Australia run coaching clinics for a variety of sports for children of all skill levels aged between 5-15. Experienced coaches and elite level players provide a structured program over three days improving skills, fitness and confidence. Best of all, it’s a drop and go activity! Sayonara, kids!
Sports offered include:
- Basketball
- Football
- Netball
- Soccer
Get your kids off the couch and enrol them in circus school these holidays (because we all know they’re acting like a sideshow at home anyway)! With half or full day sessions available, this is an activity that will have them clowning around and releasing all the pent up energy (that they’d otherwise take out on each other). Suitable for ages 5-12.
Virtual Reality Experience and Escape Rooms
With a huge range of single and multiplayer Virtual Reality games and experiences, the kids will be able to experience the full impact of worlds like no other. Whether it’s ‘walking the plank’ off the edge of a skyscraper, blasting robots or exploring planet earth — their senses will be tantalised with an experience here. If you’re up for the challenge, why not combine your VR experience with one of their Escape Room Adventures… you’ll basically be the star of your own video game!
Big Market Adventures for Little Foodies
Big Market Adventures for Little Foodies is back at the Market these school holidays! Immerse your kids in the Central Market’s bustling atmosphere and let them experience the produce first hand. All activities are free or low cost and include the popular Market Trail and Little Market Chefs, plus free cupcake decorating and Lego workshops. Check out their website for more details.
If you have young children and haven’t been to Imagination Kidz — you’re doing yourself a major parenting disservice! Aimed at kids up to the age of 10, an outing to this haven for children will allow you a coffee in peace and an uninterrupted chin wag with friends. With friendly staff, a clean environment and quality play equipment — it’s the perfect ‘set and forget’ spot to take the kids when it’s cold and wet outside. (Don’t ACTUALLY forget them though… that might not go down well)!
Image credit :: Imagination Kidz Play Cafe
Wibit Giant Floating Obstacle Course – SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre
Just because it’s Winter, doesn’t mean swimming is out of the question. This giant obstacle course is made up of different modules for balancing, climbing, jumping and sliding. If you fall off… you’ll fall into the heated pool below. This one is a tonne of fun and is guaranteed to wear the kids out!
A favourite activity for all ages — why not enrol the kids in one of the Holiday Camps offered at Bounce. Whether they are aspiring freestyle trampolinists or want to get a taste of the exciting world of Ninja, Parkour or Freerunning, Bounce Holiday Camps are a super fun, engaging and healthy activity to keep them entertained. If you don’t want to commit to the Camps — simply book in for a casual session. Grab a coffee and relax with a book while the kids bounce themselves to exhaustion!
Image credit :: Bounce Inc
Footy fans, this one’s for you. Imagine a giant training facility that doubles as a play centre where the theme is just as the name suggests — AFL to the MAX! Not just for the footy skilled, at AFL Max you’ll find trampolines, inflatables, rock climbing walls, an interactive gaming zone and a test and tackle area. If you’re really clever, you’ll book the kids in for a session while there’s a live footy game on and watch it in peace on the big screen while the kids are loving themselves sick within the facilities. And a hot tip: there’s also a fully licensed café. Cheers to that!
What’s a ‘Barcade’ you ask? Picture a burger bar joining forces with an arcade — sounds pretty cool, right?! At Flipside you’ll find American food, craft drinks and the ultimate arcade & pinball experience. Order yourself something yummy from their menu and then relive the 90’s through your kids by playing classics like NBA JAM, Street Fighter 2 and Mortal Kombat!
Haigh’s Chocolate Factory Tour
Does the mere sight of the word ‘Haigh’s’ have your pupils dilating? Does walking into one of their retail stores and taking that first big sniff send happy endorphins rushing through your body? Just me…?! Regardless, I’m going to suggest you take your kids for a tour of Adelaide’s iconic Haigh’s Chocolate Factory. They’ll be mesmerised watching the chocolatiers handcraft Haigh’s exceptional range of chocolates with their very own eyes!
Melba’s Chocolates & Confectionery
Speaking of sweets — another crowd favourite is Adelaide’s renowned Melba’s Chocolate Factory. Bundle the kids in the car and take a picturesque winter drive up to Woodside. Explore the factory at your own leisure and watch them prepare all their delicious treats. Not only do they make chocolate, but also a range of other delights such as hard boiled lollies, liquorice, fudge, nougat and marshmallows. Oompa Loompa Doompity Doo!
Each year throughout July, Illuminate Adelaide celebrates late nights, bright lights and big adventures. Bringing together the best in art, music, technology and invention — Illuminate turns Adelaide’s streetscapes and iconic locations into a beacon of light and invites you to shake off the winter blues and venture out. With both free and ticketed events available, this is something that the whole family can enjoy. Take a look at the program to see which events are indoors (if the weather is not cooperating).
Image credit :: Tyr Liang
Over the two weeks of July’s school holidays, Glenelg’s Colley Reserve will be buzzing with ticketed shows, fun workshops, and undercover spaces where you can eat, drink and gather with friends and family. Be entertained by the circus, burlesque, magic and family shows, all in a heated big-top tent. There will also be ticketed workshops for adults and children as well as market stalls and acoustic live music. It’s giving Fringe vibes – but make it winter!
Dr. Suess’s The Cat in the Hat – Live on Stage
Two bored kids. One rainy day. And one crazy cat wearing a red-striped hat. Let the Cat in The Hat interrupt your rainy afternoon and entertain your ‘Thing ‘1 and ‘Thing 2’ in a way that only Dr Seuss knows how — with colour, adventure and a whole lot of fun! This mesmerising stage show is performing on Sunday 23 July at Norwood Concert Hall.
Image credit :: Dr Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat Australia
Freestyle Kings – Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Have you got a frustrated adrenaline junkie at home? Someone whose eyes light up at the sound of a loud engine or the thought of a dangerous stunt? Grab some tickets to see the world’s best motocross riders live at the Entertainment Centre. The kids will be on the edge of their seats watching the experts perform front flips, backflips and other heart stopping stunts, all to the beat of an epic soundtrack and supported by fire artists.
