School holidays are more than just a break from the classroom. For primary school aged children, the holidays are a chance to be active, get creative, and learn new things. School holiday programs are a wonderful way to help children do these things.
At the Y (YMCA), our school holiday programs combine supervised fun with purposeful play. In this article, we share some of the holiday activities that we offer. Find out how we keep children entertained, learning and thriving, even when school’s out!
Interested in a specific activity? Jump straight to it:
- STEM activities
- Sports and active play
- Creative arts and craft activities
- Excursions and field trips
What do primary school aged children from Prep to Grade 6 need during the school holidays?
Primary school aged children are in a critical phase of development. They need:
- Daily physical movement for motor skill refinement.
- Creative challenges to build confidence and self-expression.
- Social experiences that teach cooperation and empathy.
Simply filling the day with screen time means these developmental needs might not be met.
Structured holiday programs that mix active play, hands-on learning and group activities give children both the stimulation and the social connection they need. This helps them head back to school feeling refreshed, rather than restless.
At the Y, our holiday programs include a range of fun activities that support primary school children’s development and suit various interests children have. In fact, our programs are designed around the feedback we get from the children themselves, so they are truly child-led.
What STEM activities can children do in the school holidays?
STEM school holiday activities give children a hands-on introduction to skills like coding, engineering, scientific inquiry and logical thinking. These skills underpin a lot of careers in the modern world. Your child could be inspired to become a scientist, engineer or astronaut!
The Y school holiday programs incorporate STEM across themed challenge days and standalone sessions:
- Coding games and digital literacy: Using age-appropriate platforms and unplugged coding games, we teach sequencing and logical thinking.
- Science experiments: Erupting volcanoes, slime-making and density towers demonstrate real scientific principles such as chemical reactions, buoyancy and states of matter using everyday kitchen materials.
- Robotics challenges: We use introductory robotics kits where small groups program simple robots to navigate obstacle courses. This builds problem-solving and teamwork skills.
- Engineering design projects: Building spaghetti-and-marshmallow towers, testing paper bridges and constructing cardboard catapults teaches children how to plan, build, test and improve.
- STEM themed days: We offer full-day programs structured around a central challenge, such as "Build a Space Station" or "Ocean Scientists". These challenges combine multiple STEM disciplines into one activity.
These activities are designed to remove the intimidation often associated with STEM subjects. Children who engage in hands-on STEM play during the holidays develop stronger problem-solving confidence and a more positive association with science and technology by the time they return to school.
What sports and active play opportunities exist in children’s holiday programs?
Supervised sport and active play during school holidays are essential for children's physical health, coordination and social development. Structured group activities teach cooperative skills that classrooms cannot always replicate.
We build physical activity into our holiday programs through:
- Group sports: Children can play soccer, basketball and volleyball in a non-competitive, skills-focused format. Every child is welcome at the Y, including beginners and sport-mad children.
- Obstacle courses: These activities test agility, balance and courage. We ensure the course is scaled appropriately for the age group.
- Relay races and team games: These classic activities build speed and coordination. More importantly, they teach children how to cheer for teammates and handle results graciously.
- Dance-offs and rhythm activities: Our high-energy dance sessions combine sport and creative arts. They build cardiovascular fitness alongside rhythm and self-expression.
- Modified and inclusive games: We adapt rules and equipment to ensure children of all abilities and fitness levels can take part and feel a sense of achievement.
Children who engage in supervised physical play in mixed-age groups develop communication skills, conflict resolution abilities and a sense of belonging. For children aged five to seven especially, these early experiences lay the foundation for a lifetime of physical activity.
What creative arts and crafts activities are available for children in the holidays?
Creative arts and crafts are among the most developmentally rich activities children can do during the school holidays. These activities build fine motor skills, spatial reasoning and imaginative thinking alongside hands-on fun.
Our holiday programs regularly include activities such as:
- Painting and drawing: From watercolour landscapes to acrylic canvas art, children explore colour mixing and composition.
- Collage and mixed media: Combining paper, fabric and found materials to create layered artworks that build creative decision-making.
- Tie-dye: A popular activity that introduces basic chemistry concepts in an accessible format.
- Sculpture and 3D making: Using clay, cardboard and recycled materials to construct three-dimensional forms, sharpening spatial awareness.
- Themed craft days: Superhero costume-making, miniature garden building and seasonal decoration days allow children to get creative in different ways.
For younger children aged five to seven, we adapt activities to suit their shorter attention spans. Older children aged eight to 12 work on more complex, multi-step projects that introduce planning and persistence.
Do Y School Holiday Programs include excursions and field trips?
Yes! Our holiday programs include structured excursions to local attractions and cultural venues. These activities give children real-world experiences that build confidence, curiosity and independence beyond the program site.
Excursions offered through the Y holiday programs may include:
- Museums and science centres: Children can explore, discover and engage with exhibits on natural history, technology and culture.
- Wildlife encounters and nature experiences: We often visit zoos, wildlife sanctuaries or local nature reserves to connect children with the natural world.
- Active entertainment venues: Timezone, laser tag and indoor climbing centres make physical activity even more exciting.
- Local and cultural attractions: Visiting community landmarks, galleries and heritage sites helps give children a sense of place and identity.
All YMCA-run excursions are supervised by qualified staff, include appropriate risk management protocols and are structured to maximise both safety and engagement.
These excursions also support children’s development. They allow children to experience the world beyond their immediate environment, develop broader horizons and gain a more confident sense of self by the time they return to school.
Find a Y school holiday program near you
We run holiday programs for children from Prep to Grade 6 across Victoria. Join us for a holiday full of purposeful activities. Whether your child enjoys creative arts, STEM challenges, active sport or real-world excursions, we have an activity to suit them.
Plus, all our programs are delivered by qualified staff in a safe, inclusive and fun environment. Parents choosing us for the school holidays can also access the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for eligible program days, including excursion days. This can reduce your family’s out-of-pocket costs. You can check your CCS eligibility through Services Australia.
Find your nearest Y holiday program and secure your child's place today!
