30 Days of School Holiday Therapy Activities — Summer Edition (Australia)

School holidays are a great time to relax, explore, and connect — but they’re also full of opportunities for meaningful learning and therapy through play. Here are 30 activity ideas tailored to warm weather, helping children strengthen physical, emotional, and communication skills while having fun!

1. Backyard Obstacle Course 🌿

Use pool noodles, buckets, and hula hoops to make an outdoor obstacle course! Great for coordination, planning, and gross motor skills.

2. Water Balloon Target Throw 🎯

Practice hand–eye coordination by throwing water balloons at targets or buckets. Add counting and colour naming for speech goals.

3. Ice Block Rescue 🧊

Freeze small toys in containers of water and have kids ‘rescue’ them using spray bottles or toy hammers. Perfect for fine motor and problem-solving.

4. Beach Treasure Hunt 🏖️

Search for shells, driftwood, and smooth stones. Describe textures, colours, and shapes for language enrichment.

5. Chalk Drawing on Pavement 🎨

Encourage creativity and fine motor control by drawing with chalk. Write words, trace shapes, or make hopscotch paths.

6. Backyard Car Wash 🚗

Wash bikes or toy cars with sponges and buckets. Strengthens hands and provides calming sensory input.

7. DIY Ice Painting 🎨🧊

Freeze water with a few drops of paint or food colouring and use as icy ‘brushes’ to paint on paper outside.

8. Picnic Story Time 🧺

Bring books or picture cards to the park for a picnic story session. Great for comprehension and expressive language.

9. Beach Ball Balance 🌈

Try balancing a beach ball on different body parts — a fun way to work on motor planning and body awareness.

10. Nature Sensory Walk 🍃

Go for a short bushwalk or garden stroll. Encourage children to describe what they see, smell, and hear.

11. Sponge Toss Game 💦

Throw wet sponges into buckets or at chalk targets. Builds hand strength and coordination while keeping cool.

12. Frozen Fruit Smoothie Making 🍓

Have kids help measure, pour, and blend. Builds sequencing, following directions, and kitchen safety awareness.

13. Sandcastle Building 🏰

Encourage cooperation and creativity. Talk through steps for sequencing and problem-solving.

14. Backyard Camping ⛺

Pitch a tent or make a cubby! Practice storytelling, teamwork, and pretend play with a summer twist.

15. Spray Bottle Alphabet Game 🔤

Write letters on the pavement and call one out — kids spray the correct letter. Great for literacy and motor control.

16. Beach Yoga 🧘‍♀️

Practice gentle stretches or yoga poses on the sand — a perfect way to build balance and body awareness.

17. Homemade Lemonade Stand 🍋

Encourage communication, counting, and money handling through a pretend or real lemonade stand.

18. Ice Cube Sorting 🧊

Sort coloured ice cubes by shade or size. Boosts sensory tolerance and early categorisation skills.

19. Outdoor Scavenger Hunt 🔍

Make a checklist of natural items — leaves, sticks, flowers — and see how many can be found.

20. Cloud Watching ☁️

Lie on the grass and describe what the clouds look like — great for relaxation and imagination.

21. Nature Weaving 🌾

Use a cardboard loom or old frame with string to weave in grass, flowers, and leaves. Excellent fine motor control activity.

22. Mini Sports Day 🏅

Create a mini sports event — races, ball toss, or hurdles. Work on coordination, following rules, and sportsmanship.

23. Water Sensory Bin 💧

Fill tubs with water, cups, and toys for scooping and pouring. Perfect for calming sensory play on hot days.

24. Beach Word Hunt 🌊

Find or write words in the sand. Say, spell, and read them aloud for speech and literacy goals.

25. Summer Cooking Together 🍉

Make fruit skewers, sandwiches, or wraps. Great for sequencing, kitchen skills, and food exposure.

26. Recycled Craft Creations ♻️

Use recycled bottles, boxes, and lids for open-ended crafts. Builds creativity and problem-solving.

27. Family Talent Show 🎤

Encourage expressive language and confidence by performing songs, dances, or jokes for the family.

28. DIY Water Slide 💦

Lay out a tarp, add water and a touch of soap for safe supervised fun! Builds strength and sensory confidence.

29. Mindful Drawing Indoors 🌈

If it’s too hot, stay in air-conditioning and do quiet art with relaxing music. Great for regulation and focus.

30. Summer Reflection Journal ☀️

Write or draw about the best parts of the holidays. Builds reflection, gratitude, and handwriting practice.