School Holiday Activities — Keeping Kids Engaged During Winter Break

Reading time: 6 minutes

July school holidays in Perth can be a beautiful thing — cosy mornings, the smell of rain on the grass, and two whole weeks of no school run. But if you've got toddlers and preschoolers at home, the reality can also look a lot like: "I'm bored" (even though they have 847 toys), endless screen negotiations, and a house that looks like a tornado passed through by 10am.

Whether your child is home from daycare or you've got older siblings off school and everyone's under one roof, this guide is packed with winter school holiday activities that genuinely engage young children — indoors and out. No expensive outings required (though we've included some Perth-specific suggestions too).

Indoor Activities for Rainy Days

Perth's winter means rain, and while it's nowhere near as relentless as Melbourne's, there will be days when you need a solid indoor plan. These activities are tried and tested by parents and early childhood educators alike.

1. Indoor Obstacle Course

Move the furniture, lay out cushions, drape a blanket over chairs for a tunnel, and create a simple obstacle course. Crawl under, climb over, balance along a line of tape on the floor, and jump off a (low) step. Toddlers will do this on repeat for an impressive amount of time.

2. Sensory Bins

Fill a shallow tub with:

• Dried pasta and scoops
• Coloured rice with hidden small toys
• Water beads (supervised only — not for children who mouth objects)
• Shaving cream on a tray for drawing
• Cloud dough (8 cups flour + 1 cup oil)

Sensory play is the backbone of early learning. It develops fine motor skills, language, and cognitive processing — and it looks like "just playing," which means it's working.

3. Build a Blanket Fort

Every generation of children loves a blanket fort, and for good reason. Drape sheets over furniture, add cushions and pillows inside, bring in a torch, some books, and a snack. You've just created the coziest reading nook in Woodbridge.

4. Kitchen Adventures

Cooking with toddlers is messy, slow, and completely worthwhile. Winter-friendly ideas:

• Pancakes (they can pour, stir, and flip with help)
• Vegetable soup (washing, tearing, and dropping veggies into the pot)
• Homemade playdough (a recipe that doubles as an activity)
• Biscuit decorating (bake plain biscuits and let them go wild with icing and sprinkles)

5. Art Station

Set up a permanent art station for the holidays — a table covered in plastic, with paper, crayons, washable markers, paint, glue, scissors (child-safe), and recycled materials. Leave it available all day so children can create whenever inspiration strikes.

At Sonas Woodbridge, our Arts Studio operates on this same principle — an always-available creative space where children can explore at their own pace.

6. Dramatic Play

Toddlers and preschoolers are natural actors. Set up simple dramatic play scenarios:

• Vet clinic — soft toy animals, bandages, a toy stethoscope
• Café — play food, a notepad, an apron
• Post office — envelopes, stamps (stickers), a "mailbox" (a shoebox with a slot)
• Construction site — hard hat, toy tools, blocks

Dramatic play develops language, social skills, empathy, and creativity. It's some of the most valuable play a child can do.

7. Dance Party

When all else fails, clear the living room, put on some music, and dance. The Wiggles, Bluey soundtrack, or just your favourite playlist. Dancing builds gross motor skills, coordination, and mood — for everyone in the family.

Outdoor Activities for Brave Families

Perth winters are mild by Australian standards. Most days are perfectly fine for outdoor play with the right clothing. And children who play outside in winter develop resilience, immunity, and a love of all seasons.

8. Puddle Stomping

Put on the gumboots and go. Puddle jumping is one of childhood's great pleasures. Measure which puddle is deepest. Watch the ripples. Talk about where rain comes from.

9. Nature Scavenger Hunt

Create a simple picture list of things to find:

• A brown leaf
• Something soft
• A feather
• A round stone
• A flower
• Something that makes noise

Walk your neighbourhood or visit a local park. Children love the thrill of the search.

10. Mud Kitchen

If you have a backyard, set up a mud kitchen with old pots, pans, spoons, and muffin tins. Add water (rain provides this for free in winter) and let children "cook." Mud play is a sensory goldmine and there's growing research supporting its benefits for immune health and wellbeing.

11. Bird Watching

Perth is home to incredible birdlife. Set up a simple bird feeder in your garden (a plate with seed) and watch who visits. Black cockatoos, rainbow lorikeets, magpies, and willie wagtails are common in the Woodbridge area. Borrow a bird identification book from the Midland Library and start a tally.

12. Winter Garden Planting

July is the perfect time in Perth to plant:

• Peas
• Broad beans
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Strawberries (for spring harvesting)

Give your child their own pot or patch and let them dig, plant, and water. Revisit their garden every day to watch for growth.

Perth-Specific Winter Holiday Outings

When you do want to get out of the house, Perth has plenty of options that are toddler-friendly and winter-appropriate:

• Scitech — Interactive science exhibits designed for young children. Perfect for a rainy day. Located in West Perth.
• WA Museum Boola Bardip — Free entry, with a dedicated children's area. The kids love the dinosaurs and the whale skeleton.
• Perth Zoo — Animals are often more active on cool, overcast days. Wrap up warm and take your time.
• Whiteman Park — The train, the camel rides, and the playground are all year-round. Pack a thermos of hot chocolate.
• Midland Library — Free storytime sessions, a huge children's section, and warmth. Never underestimate the joy of a library visit.
• The Maze at Bullsbrook — Mini golf, the maze, and the cafe. Great for slightly older toddlers and preschoolers.
• Indoor Play Centres — Lollipop's Midland and Chipmunks are popular options when you need guaranteed dry, active play.

Balancing Structure and Free Time

The temptation during holidays is to fill every moment with activities. Resist it. Children need unstructured time — time to be bored, to invent, to daydream. Some of the most creative play happens when there's nothing planned.

A good holiday rhythm for toddlers and preschoolers:

• Morning — One planned activity (a craft, an outing, a cooking session)
• Late morning — Free play (inside or outside)
• After lunch — Quiet time (rest, stories, puzzle, gentle play)
• Afternoon — Another short activity or free play
• Evening — Calm wind-down, early dinner, bath, books, bed

Keeping sleep routines as consistent as possible during the holidays helps everyone — including the adults.

How Sonas Woodbridge Supports Holiday Care

Sonas Woodbridge continues to operate during school holiday periods (Monday to Friday, 6:30am-6pm), providing a consistent, enriching environment for children who attend. During holidays, our program leans into special projects and extended activities that take advantage of the more relaxed pace:

• Extended Art Projects in The Arts Studio — large-scale paintings, clay work, and collaborative murals.
• STEM Challenges in The STEM Studio — building challenges, water experiments, and construction projects.
• Winter Garden Activities — planting, composting, and observing seasonal changes.
• Cosy Storytime in The Zen — longer reading sessions with hot chocolate and blankets.
• Family Grouping Fun — mixed-age activities where older children mentor and play with younger ones.

For families who need care during the holidays, we're here. For families enjoying time at home together, we hope these ideas help fill the days with joy.

Key Takeaways

• Balance planned activities with unstructured free time — boredom breeds creativity.
• Invest in a few sensory bins, art supplies, and dramatic play props for rainy days.
• Get outside even in winter — Perth's weather is mild, and outdoor play builds resilience.
• Perth has plenty of affordable, toddler-friendly winter outings.
• Keep sleep routines consistent through the holiday period.
• Don't feel pressured to fill every moment. Some of the best holiday memories come from doing nothing together.

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Ready to see play-based learning in action? Book a tour at Sonas Woodbridge or call us on (08) 6184 6055.