Activities for Children During School Holiday
If you're a parent, you know this scene well.
The long school holiday is a chance for children to rest after a busy term, but it also brings a challenge many parents face: how do you keep children busy, happy, and learning without relying on screens all day?
The good news is that some of the best screen-free holiday activities for children are also the simplest.
Sometimes all it takes is a sketchbook, a pencil, and a little imagination.
Benefits of Drawing and Colouring for Children During School Holidays
Drawing, sketching, and colouring are more than just ways to pass the time.
When children create, they are developing important skills that support their learning and growth.
Creative activities help children:
Improve focus and concentration
Build confidence in their ideas
Strengthen problem-solving skills
Express thoughts and emotions
Develop patience and persistence
Grow their imagination
Drawing also supports many of the competencies encouraged by Kenya's Competency Based Curriculum, including creativity, communication, and critical thinking.
And unlike screen time, creative time leaves children with something they can hold in their hands and proudly show their family. At the end of creative time, your child isn't closing a screen and feeling empty. They're holding something they made.
Screen-Free Holiday Activities for Children in Kenya
Looking for simple indoor activities during the school holidays?
Encourage your child to spend time:
Drawing their favourite football player, World Cup fever is still with us.
Creating a comic strip
Designing their dream bedroom
Sketching animals they love
Drawing a family portrait
Inventing a superhero character
Creating a map of an imaginary town
Designing a future business idea
These activities cost very little but encourage creativity, curiosity, and independent thinking.
A simple family rule can also help:
For every 30 minutes of screen time, encourage 30 minutes of creative time.
The goal isn't perfect artwork.
The goal is helping children spend less time consuming and more time creating.
How to Keep Children Busy During the Long School Holiday
One challenge many parents face is keeping children engaged beyond the first few days of excitement.
That's where having dedicated creative tools can make a difference.
A sketchbook gives children a space to collect ideas, practise drawing, tell stories, and explore their imagination throughout the holiday.
Instead of constantly looking for the next activity, they always have a place to create.
Introducing the NPS Sketchbook Club Kit
At Nanyuki Paper Shop, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to explore their creativity.
That's why we created the NPS Sketchbook Club Kit.
The kit is designed to encourage creative play, drawing, sketching, and imagination during school holidays and beyond.
It's ideal for:
Children who love drawing
Parents looking for screen-free activities
Home learning and weekend projects
Building creative confidence
Supporting CBC-inspired learning at home
The Young Artist Creative Kit Essentials
A thoughtfully curated starter set designed to spark imagination and nurture young creative talents. Packed with quality paper, essential drawing tools, and everyday art supplies for young creators.
- ✨ Everything essential for 3 months of consistent creative practice
- ✏️ Subscription based, renew when you are ready
- 🎨 Perfect gift for emerging young artists
Let's Raise Little Creators
Screens will always be there.
But childhood imagination is a short and precious season.
This holiday, challenge your child to trade a little screen time for creative time.
You might be surprised by what they create.
Looking for a screen-free holiday activity your child will actually use?
Get in touch with Nanyuki Paper Shop to learn more about the NPS Sketchbook Club Kit and discover how a simple sketchbook can help your child spend less time consuming and more time creating.
Nanyuki Paper Shop creates artist-approved sketchbooks and creative resources for students, schools, artists, and families across Kenya.
