Holiday tips with children: what are we going to do?

Holidaying with children is wonderful. No school, no sports clubs, no alarm clock. But by day two you’ll often hear: “What are we going to do today?” Kids get bored faster than you can say “ice cream”. And honestly? Parents want a holiday too. Not a full-time entertainer. That’s why you’ll find 30 holiday tips with children here: ideas for days out, at home, rainproof and low budget. Practical, easy to apply and suitable for different ages. And here’s the spoiler: being outdoors and spending time in nature is almost always the golden solution to holiday boredom.

The golden formula: 3 ingredients for a successful holiday day

Wondering what to do with children during the holidays without it turning into chaos? Use this simple formula:

1. Movement (preferably outdoors)
Children need to burn off energy. Running, climbing, cycling, water, sand.
Fresh air reduces stress and improves everyone’s mood.

2. A mini mission
Give the day a goal:
- Find 5 different leaves
- Create a picnic for under €5
- Help someone today
- Score 10 points with bike bingo
A mission instantly makes ordinary activities exciting.

3. A pause moment
Holiday also means rest.
- Afternoon movie
- Reading time
- Ice cream at a fixed time
- Evening walk as a small ritual
No inspiration? Choose one activity from each category.
Movement + mission + pause = successful day.

12 ideas for days out with children

Looking for days out with children during the holidays? These are easy, low-threshold favourites:

1. Forest scavenger hunt

Make your own list or download a woodland trail. Bonus: let them draw their own route.

2. Barefoot trail

Mud, grass, water. Guaranteed fun (and an extra load of laundry).

3. Picnic mission

Let the children decide the menu, set the budget and choose the location: park, beach or forest.

4. Nature playground

Much more exciting than a standard playground. More freedom, more adventure.

5. Pick-your-own garden or farm visit

Pick fruit, pet animals, see where milk comes from — educational without feeling like it.

6. Bike bingo

Create a bingo card with things you might spot along the way: bridge, cow, windmill, playground.

7. Lake or beach water day

Bring a net and buckets and you’re all set.

8. Evening walk with a torch

Suddenly the neighbourhood feels exciting.

9. Mini animal safari

Who spots a stork, sheep, horse or butterfly first?

10. Farm bingo

Create a card with tractor, hay bale, chicken, barn and boots.

11. Mud kitchen

Old pots, water and sand. Hours of fun.

12. “You’re the navigator!”

Let your child read the map or use Google Maps. They instantly feel grown-up.

These holiday activities combine movement, discovery and often very low costs.

10 at-home ideas with little preparation

Staying home for a day? There are still plenty of fun things to do with children during the holidays.

1. Home cinema

Make tickets, prepare popcorn, turn off the lights. Let the children announce the film.

2. Sidewalk chalk challenge

Create an obstacle course or organise mini Olympic Games in the street.

3. Garden water day

Sponge relay, cup course, water balloons.

4. Holiday journal crafting

Let children stick in photos or make drawings of each day.

5. Restaurant day

Children create the menu, set the table and serve. Bonus points for dressing up.

6. Build a den

Indoors with blankets or outside with branches.

7. Indoor treasure hunt

Hide small treats or challenges.

8. Photo bingo

Make a list of things they have to photograph.

9. Mini Olympic Games

Who jumps the furthest? Who balances the longest?

10. DIY or craft day

Using leftover wood or recycled materials.

Many of these holiday tips with children cost almost nothing — just a bit of creativity.

Rainproof: 6 activities for bad weather

What can you do with children during the holidays when it rains?

1. Library visit

Children’s corner + reading time = guaranteed success.

2. Indoor scavenger hunt or escape room

Create challenges with small locks or puzzles.

3. Mini exhibition at home

Let the children create an exhibition of their toys or crafts.

4. Kitchen lab

Bake pancakes with a topping bar.

5. Board game tournament

Create a scoreboard and play several rounds.

6. Nature crafts

Twigs, stones and leaves — turn them into art.

Rain isn’t a disaster, just a different kind of holiday day.

By age

Not every tip works for every age. Here’s how to adapt them:

0–3 years

Short, simple, repetition.

Mini mission: Find a red flower.

4–7 years

Imagination works brilliantly.

Mini mission: Today we are animal caretakers.

8–12 years

Independence and competition.

Mini mission: Organise the picnic yourself.

Teenagers

Freedom and responsibility.

Mini mission: Plan a full family day.

By giving small responsibilities, children feel important — and that helps prevent boredom. 

A holiday where you don’t have to invent anything

As fun as these ideas are, sometimes you simply don’t want to plan everything yourself.

That’s why many families choose a farm holiday with children.

On a farm, activities happen naturally:

Feeding animals

Collecting eggs

Helping the farmer

Building dens

Riding go-karts

Playing outside with new friends

Children stay busy outdoors all day.

And parents? Enjoy coffee in the sun.

At FarmCamps, you stay in a comfortable safari tent or lodge tent with your own bathroom and proper beds. So you enjoy outdoor living without giving up comfort.

👉 View our page about holidays with children  

👉 Discover all holidays in the Netherlands  

👉 Curious about a real children’s campsite experience?  

👉 Or prefer a weekend away with children?  

Sometimes the best solution to “What are we going to do?” is simply a place where it all happens naturally.

Frequently asked questions about holiday tips with children

What are fun free activities with children during the holidays?

Forest scavenger hunts, picnics, bike bingo, den building, sidewalk chalk and library visits are free and always a success.

What can you do with children during the holidays when it rains?

Indoor scavenger hunt, home cinema, board game tournament, kitchen lab or a mini exhibition at home.

What are fun days out with children in the Netherlands during the school holidays?

Nature playgrounds, farm visits, pick-your-own gardens, beach days, forest walks with scavenger hunts and water activities.

How do you prevent children from getting bored during the holidays?

Give each day a mini mission and create a balance between movement and rest. Let children help decide.

What is a good daily routine during the holidays with children?

Active morning, relaxing afternoon, something small and fun at the end of the day. Keep it simple.

Ready for a relaxed holiday?

You really don’t need to plan something big every day.

Choose one or two ideas per day and keep it light.

Want to truly relax this holiday?

Choose a place where activities naturally arise — among the animals, in nature, outdoors together.

👉 Discover all farm holidays with children at FarmCamps  

Because a holiday is only truly a holiday when everyone enjoys it.