- Help children write a list of their favourite active/movement activities like basketball, trampoline, bike riding or dancing, and restful activities which might include reading, drawing, LEGO, listening to music or making a cubby.
- Download the free Digital Balance Challenge from the Cyber Safety Project – it’s a two-week calendar of ideas that includes some screen time but has plenty of other activities from designing your own fitness circuit to making play dough, writing a letter and creating an obstacle course in the garden.
- Visit your local library, choose some books and read for fun. A recent study of 350 teachers across Australia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe found 89 per cent of teachers felt teenagers no longer read for fun because they are too distracted by social media.
- Look at local council websites to discover free activities in your area. In Melbourne, go to What's On Melbourne for a list of school holiday events and activities. Visit the Firelight Festival at Docklands with fire pits, light shows and pop-up food stalls, enjoy a talk about dinosaurs at City Library, or stop by Federation Square and be part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Fan Festival.
- Wrap up warm and experience the sights and sounds of the Winter Night Market at Queen Victoria Market, or join in a free outdoor seek and find adventure around the Fitzroy Gardens. Children can also burn off some excess energy at the nature inspired Risk Playground on the corner of Southbank Boulevard and Kavanagh Street, Southbank.
- Children can learn more about film and TV at ACMI that offers school holiday workshops and interactive programs for all ages. This holiday, children can take part in a Goddess Costume Design Workshop inspired by the current Goddess: Power, Glamour, Rebellion exhibition.
- Visit one of the many Museums around Melbourne for a truly informative experience. The National Gallery of Victoria is a place for everyone and warmly welcomes children, teenagers and families. NGV Kids exhibitions and programs reflect the Gallery’s commitment to providing creative experiences for young people and their families.
