Holiday activities for children: 15 ideas to keep them busy
Summer holidays with kids? 15 activity ideas – free colouring pages, quizzes and a weekly plan.
The summer holidays last for weeks on end, and children quickly get bored if they have nothing to do. Once again, it’s back to tablets, YouTube or endless „just one more game“. Instead of passive screen time, it’s worth having activity package – simple, cheap and works both indoors and outdoors.
In this article, you will find 15 ideas for keeping children entertained during the holidays: active games, creative projects, free printable colouring pages and interactive quizzes. You can do it all without expensive summer camps, and most of the activities can be prepared in just a few minutes.
Why plan your holidays in advance
Children can cope with a day off, but a long period without structure It often ends in arguments and endless scrolling. A short weekly plan (even just three points a day) is enough:
- the child knows what to expect and is less likely to be on their mobile,
- Parents don’t have to start from scratch every morning,
- take turns exercise, creativity and relaxation – both the brain and the body get what they need.
We discuss the selection of activities by age in more detail in the article How to choose a colouring book based on your child’s age – these principles also apply to games and quizzes.
Outdoor activities – when the sun is shining
1. Sports Day in the playground
Jumping over obstacles, a timed run, throwing a ball into a basket. The child designs their own „medals“ – coloured paper circles.
2. A picnic with activities
Bring a blanket, some snacks and a printed copy a colouring book featuring an animal. After their meal, they rest in the shade of the trees.
3. An urban „mystery“
A walk together: find 5 red objects, 3 dogs and 1 bicycle. Older children keep score – this helps to practise their attention.
4. Water and sand
A barbecue, a lake or a swimming pool – perfect after a swim an hour of silence with colouring books instead of a mobile phone wrapped in a towel.
5. Evening observation
A short story after sunset (see the article for tips) Recommendations for children’s fairy tales) and going to bed early – the holidays aren’t just about staying up late.
Activities at home – heatwaves, rain or tired parents
When the weather’s not great or you fancy a quieter afternoon, this combination works a treat creativity + a quick brain teaser:
6. Thematic box
One box: coloured pencils, scissors, glue, 5 printed pictures from categories. The child chooses the theme of the day – dinosaurs, cars or fairy tales.
7. Home Gallery
One coloured picture on a string in the hallway every day of the holidays. An „exhibition“ for the family at the end of the summer.
8. Kitchen workshop
Simple biscuits or fruit skewers – the child decorates them, the parent bakes them. 20 minutes after the meal online painting.
9. Building set + story
Build something out of LEGO or cardboard, and your child will come up with a story to go with the characters. Inspiration: Minecraft colouring book.
10. Quiet Hour
45 minutes without the TV after lunch – just books, jigsaw puzzles or colouring books. Tried and tested by parents, as mentioned in our article A rainy day at home with colouring books.
Colouring books – the cheapest holiday activity
Free printable colouring pages from colouringbookspredeti.eu They’re ideal for the whole holiday: you always have a new theme, your child practises their concentration, and you don’t need to buy anything else. We recommend switching between categories depending on your mood:
- Games – Minecraft, FIFA 2026, Super Mario (currently popular with football fans as well as 2026 World Championships fixtures),
- Fairy Tales – Frozen, Bluey, Paw Patrol,
- Dinosaurs – T-Rex, Diplodocus and others,
- Animals – suitable for all ages,
- Sport – football, ice hockey for young fans,
- Most frequently printed – tried-and-tested, popular designs.
Colouring ideas for the whole week
- Monday – animals: Print out 3 pictures; the child chooses the winner.
- Tuesday – fairy tales: Colour in the character and come up with a sequel to the story.
- Wednesday – online: give it a go painting in the browser no print.
- Thursday – competition: who can colour in a more detailed picture from more complex drawings.
- Friday – a present: a coloured-in picture for grandparents or a friend.
A comprehensive guide to printing, paper sizes and tips for parents: Free printable colouring pages for children – a guide.
Quizzes for children – fun that exercises the mind
It’s just the thing for colouring in and playing in the garden a short quiz – 10 to 20 minutes, three answer options, a light-hearted debrief. On our sister website Bedtime Stories – Quizzes You’ll find fun quizzes for children aged 5 and over, which are the perfect way to round off a summer’s afternoon:
- 2026 FIFA World Cup Quiz – 25 questions about the tournament, mascots and host countries,
- A football quiz for children – the ball, goals, the goal and football boots,
- Minecraft Quiz – Steve and the World of Blocks,
- Super Mario Quiz – for fans of the jumping plumber,
- Frozen Quiz – Elsa, Anna and the Ice Kingdom,
- Paw Patrol Quiz – Chase, Marshall and Skye,
- Bluey Quiz – a blue Australian dog and his family,
- Dinosaur Quiz – T-Rex and the Prehistoric World,
- Zootropolis Quiz – Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde,
- Quiz: The Most Famous Fairy Tales – 60 questions for a long, rainy afternoon.
Tip: After the quiz, let your child draw a character related to the topic – for example, after dinosaur quiz print T-Rex colouring book. It combines learning with creativity.
A sample week’s holiday programme (combination of activities)
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| After | Exercise in the garden | Colouring books – animals | Short Bluey quiz |
| Tue | A picnic in the park | Online painting | A fairy tale (tips here) |
| Wed | A Mystery in the City | Minecraft Quiz + construction set | Free play |
| Thu | Free programme | Colouring books – games | FIFA 2026 Quiz |
| Pi | Gallery – Exhibition of the Week | Baking + favourite themes | A film or a game to play together |
How to limit mobile and tablet use during the holidays
- Rules in advance – e.g. „1 hour of screen time after lunch, then a colouring book or a quiz“.
- Alternatives within easy reach – printed pictures in a box, rather than a frantic search.
- Time together – the first 10 minutes of the activity are done together; the child then carries on on their own.
- To praise someone’s efforts, not just the result – it works for both drawing and quizzes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much physical activity is enough each day?
For children aged 5–8, usually 2–3 sessions of 30–45 minutes each. In between, free play and meals. Don’t push for a full-day programme – the holidays are also meant to be about boredom, from which children often come up with their own games.
What if I don't have a printer?
Use online painting or quizzes on a tablet – still more engaging than a passive video. More at Frequently Asked Questions.
Are the colouring pages really free?
Yes – both the printouts and the online colouring activities on omalovankypredeti.eu are free of charge.
Conclusion
Holidays with the children They don’t necessarily mean expensive camps or being on your mobile all day. All you need is to have free printable colouring pages, a few outdoor movement games and occasionally a quiz for children from bedtime-stories.sk. Choose from categories, print it out with a single click and your first week together is sorted. If you want to go into more detail, read our a guide for parents or print something straight away from the most popular colouring books.