8 School Holiday Activities for Families and Teens

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By day three of any break, someone is bound to be bored. You need school holiday activities for families that work for every age in the house. Seven of the eight ideas below are cheap and easy to do at home, and the first is a group outing at Zero Latency VR, for when you want something unforgettable.

Key Takeaways

  • Give teens a project they run themselves, such as a family cook-off or a short film.

  • Match the idea to the weather: a water relay on a hot day, hot chocolate and a puzzle on a cold one.

  • Book a Zero Latency VR session for up to 8 players, with Jumanji VR arriving at every venue on 4 December

1. Zero Latency VR for Families and Teens

Pull on a wireless headset, take a step, and find yourself in another world. Inside a tennis-court-sized arena, you’ll run and duck while your kids appear around you as avatars you can talk to and team up with. Up to 8 players share one session, enough for family and friends.

Outbreak 2: Mall Mayhem drops your group into a zombie-infested shopping mall for high-energy cooperative survival.Sol Raiders sets two teams against each other for three rounds of bragging rights.Jumanji VR arrives at every venue on 4 December, in time for the December holidays, and pits you against prehistoric worlds and fiendish puzzles.

2. Seed Starting Station

A week off is a great time to grow something. Fill egg carton cups with potting mix and let each child choose a seed, such as beans or basil, and name their cup. Beans are quick to sprout, so there is something to check every morning.

Activity Checklist:

  • Poke a drainage hole in each cup.

  • Keep the tray on a sunny windowsill and water lightly.

  • Photograph every plant daily for a growth chart.

3. Kids’ Garage Sale

Turn outgrown toys and clothes into pocket money, and let the kids run the sale. Younger kids make the signs and price tags while teens guard the cash box. A week off leaves time to sort, price and sell.

Activity Checklist:

  • Price everything in round numbers so change is easy.

  • Keep a free box for anything left over.

  • Let the kids split the earnings or donate some.

5. Teen Cook-Off Night

Hand each teen a set budget and one rule: the meal has to feed the whole family. It’s one of the easier school holiday activities for teenagers to organise, since they plan, shop and cook it themselves. Everyone scores each dish out of ten, no mercy.

Activity Checklist:

  • Agree the budget and shopping day first.

  • Pick a theme such as tacos or breakfast for dinner.

  • Winner picks the next family movie.

6. Phone Film Challenge

Challenge teens to shoot a three-minute movie on a phone, using only what’s already in the house. Pick one prop that must star in every scene, such as a banana or a lamp, then screen the film for the family.

Activity Checklist:

  • Write a one-page script before filming starts.

  • Edit with a free app such as iMovie or CapCut.

  • Serve popcorn at the premiere.

7. Hot Chocolate Taste Test

Of all winter break activities, this one needs the least prep: a kettle and one shopping trip. Make four kinds of hot chocolate, such as classic, dark, peppermint and salted caramel, and pile on the marshmallows. Score each cup and the highest total wins.

Activity Checklist:

  • Cover the labels so everyone tastes blind.

  • Add toppings such as cinnamon.

  • Let the winner name and mix a house blend.

8. 1,000-Piece Puzzle Marathon

Clear the dining table, tip out a 1,000-piece puzzle and leave it there for the whole break. Everyone adds pieces on the way past, and the last one gets a drumroll. Let a teen pick the picture: a world map or a space photo.

Activity Checklist:

  • Sort edge pieces first, then build the border.

  • Use a board so the puzzle can move.

  • Tally who places the most pieces.

Book Zero Latency VR for Your Next Break

When the school holiday activities for families need something bigger, choose your nearestZero Latency VR venue, pick a day everyone is free andbook your session online.