As the school holidays roll in, it’s a great chance to put devices aside and spark creativity, connection and learning through screen-free fun!
From puzzles and art to nature and strategy, we've pulled together these holiday ideas for school-aged kids from roughly 5 to 15 years old. At Biome, we love to offer ways to entice kids off devices and onto wholesome activities that put them in touch with nature and discovery.
Ages 5–7: Exploring, Creating & Early Learning
What appeals:
At this age, kids are building foundational skills — reading, recognising words, colours, shapes. They love tactile, sensory play, messy crafts, colouring, simple board or card games, and books with pictures and stories. Activities that mix creativity + movement + discovery work well (e.g. treasure hunts, nature walks, craft mornings, story time).
Activity ideas:
- Crafting with non-toxic art supplies, crayons and paints; colouring & drawing
- Simple board or card games for two or more players (“your turn / my turn”)
- Nature hunts: collecting leaves, flowers, rocks then pressing, painting or journaling about them
- Storybooks & environmental/animal picture books to read together
- Puzzles (fewer pieces) to build patience and motor skills
Biome products:
Sustainable toys for kids in early Primary School, around 5-7 years old.
Bandicute Sight Words — helps with early reading.
Djeco Yahtzee Junior Game — board game with simple rules, good for family or play dates.
Your Wild Books Wild Activity Book Nature Inspired For Kids 4-7 yrs
Kinfolk Pantry playdough and cookie cutters - get the kids into some school holiday baking with these Australian made cutters.
Ages 8–10: Curiosity, Nature, & Skill Building
What appeals:
Kids in this group want more independence and interesting challenges. They are ready for more complex crafts, strategy games, deeper nature exploration, science projects. They also enjoy environmental storytelling, books with themes, more detailed puzzles, team games, DIY projects.
Activity ideas:
- Outdoor experiments (e.g. volcanoes, nature-based art, pressing flowers)
- Nature play activities
- Journaling / nature crafts; print making or leaf/flower art
- Strategy & logic games, board games with rules to learn
- Bigger jigsaws or puzzles with more pieces
- Reading books that explore environment, animal biology, sustainability
Biome products
Here are some items from Biome for screen free play in Australia that suit children around 8-10 years old, middle Primary.
Your Wild Books Quiz Card Game
Honeysticks Beeswax Crayons - the same crayons above are useful — as kids 8–10 can begin to use multiple colours, mix media, draw outdoors, etc.
Wild Imagination: Nature Play Activities for Kids (NEW Edition) – many outdoor and indoor projects, including wood whittling, pocket press, fabric printing.
Origami - paper folding activity that is lightweight and ideal for travelling
Children’s Environmental Books
Fun for all the the family with this Australian-written Family Road Trip Games book
Plastic free board games like Twisty
Tenderleaf Botanical Flower Press
Ages 11–12: Logic, Strategy & Deeper Projects
What appeals:
Tweens enjoy more sophisticated challenges: puzzles with many pieces, complex board or strategy games, science & craft kits that require patience, books that explore ideas (nature, environment, culture), DIY projects, maybe even ways to contribute (e.g. gardening, environmental projects).
Activity Ideas:
- Multi-step craft or science projects (e.g. build & test, experiment kits)
- Strategy games (board/card) that require planning, logic
- Activities to bring engagement to bush walks, coast walks, walks in nature
- Long puzzles (300+ pieces) or themed puzzles (animals, landmarks)
- Reading more advanced non-fiction environmental or wilderness books; perhaps books about culture / history
- Journaling or creative writing, possibly with environmental or nature themes
Biome products:
Games and activities for tweens around 11-12 years old to keep them occupied and off screens.
Planet Finska 5 Wooden Puzzles in One Tricky Box – challenging puzzles that can be carried, good for problem-solving.
Twigg Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles (e.g. 202, 309, 389 piece versions) — challenge patience & vision.
Logic puzzles from Djeco - includes solo/solitaire type games, good travel size
Planet Finska Reversal Travel Wooden Game or Travel Ludo — small compact size, good for trips / staying focused.
Lists for Curious Kids and other books
Your Wild Books Guided Nature Journal - made in Australia, these books encourage school holiday nature play with an Australian relevance
Ages 13–15: Challenge, Independence & Purpose
What appeals:
Teens at this age often want more autonomy. They enjoy projects they can complete over several days, complex puzzles, leadership or mentorship roles (e.g. helping younger siblings), activism or environmental work, more mature books (nature, culture, identity), mixed media arts, design, etc. Also, strategy games and fun competition work well.
Activity Ideas:
- Big jigsaws or multi-part puzzles (500+ pieces)
- DIY science/art hybrids: build models, craft furniture or home décor, up-cycle materials
- Reading non-fiction or eco-fiction, maybe books exploring sustainability, climate, ethical design
- Game nights with strategy / logic games, maybe tournament style
- Nature-based projects: gardening, citizen science, environmental cleanups, photography
Biome products:
Eco friendly school holiday activities for teens aged 13 to 15 years.
Trivia games with general knowledge and Australiana - trivia questions written for Australiana
The ocean and beach are a big part of school holidays in Australia. A WAW body surfing handplane help the kids get active on the waves.
Finska - brilliant outdooor throwing and counting game that can be played on the beach, park, in the backyard.
Twigg large puzzles — long-term puzzle work over the holidays.
Strategy or logic games (wooden and travel-friendly) for thinking & competition - Djeco and Finska
Journalling and quality drawing supplies — for sketching, design, illustration. We love these guided drawing and art books to develop skills: 365 Days of Drawing and 365 Days of Art in Nature.
Quiz and memory games — good for social evenings or travel.
Environmental / sustainability books aimed at older kids — Biome has non-fiction + environmental themes, including about Australian nature.
Be sure to also check out our guide to Free & Eco Friendly Activities for Kids Holidays
Related reads at Biome
The School Holiday Natural Care Kit
The Best Sustainable Toys For Every Age Child
More Green Time, Less Screen Time With Your Wild Books
