Backyard fun starts here: outdoor games and activities for September school holidays

Ready to bring a little friendly competition to the holidays? Create a backyard mini Olympics with a mix of quick challenges that everyone can have a go at.

Set up different events around your outdoor space using balls and other backyard play toys. You could see who can throw a ball closest to a target, create a jumping challenge, time a short running race or test everyone’s balance. Keep the activities simple so kids of different ages and abilities can join the fun.

Make an afternoon of it by letting the kids create a name for the event and choose which games will be included. They can keep score, make their own certificates or simply celebrate every time someone completes a challenge.

The best part is that your mini Olympics can be different every time. Swap in a new event from our games and activities range or let the kids invent a challenge of their own.

Got a family that loves a little competition? Choose a few sports and create a tournament that runs across the school holidays.

Start with a backyard penalty shootout. Give everyone five shots and see how many goals they can score. On another day, swap the soccer ball for a basketball and challenge everyone to shoot from different spots around your outdoor space.

Then change things up again with a backyard cricket match or a mini tennis challenge.

Don’t have much room? No worries. Turn traditional sports into smaller skill challenges instead. See how many catches everyone can make without dropping the ball or create targets for throwing and kicking.

Keep a family scoreboard somewhere visible and add the results throughout the holidays. By the final weekend, you’ll be ready for the grand final.

Here’s one activity that’s never quite the same twice. Create an obstacle course using your backyard, driveway and a few everyday items, then challenge the kids to find their way from start to finish.

Add markers to weave around, a ball that needs to land inside a target and a section where kids have to jump, crawl or balance. If you’ve already got play equipment, find a fun way to make it part of the course too.

Once everyone knows the route, bring out a timer and see if they can complete it a little faster. Then hand the planning over to the kids. Let them rearrange the course, create new challenges and decide what everyone needs to do at each station.

It’s an easy way to give familiar outdoor toys a fresh purpose throughout the holidays. Just keep the course age appropriate, choose a clear and safe space, and provide suitable adult supervision.

If the kids would rather be on wheels, turn the driveway or another suitable riding space into a school holiday challenge course.

Set out markers with plenty of room between them and let kids practise steering around each one. Add a start and finish line, create different routes or challenge more confident riders to complete the course slowly without putting a foot down.

Before they get rolling, make sure the riding area suits their age and ability and that appropriate helmets and protective gear are being used. Follow product instructions and provide suitable adult supervision.

Want to keep the adventure going? Pick a safe local route and head out for a family ride together. Our bikes and accessories range can help get everyone ready to roll.

Want to make an ordinary night of the school holidays feel like an adventure? Take camping to the backyard.

Set up your tents, bring out the sleeping bags and settle in for an evening under the stars. Kids can help prepare the campsite, pack their favourite games and choose a few snacks for the evening.

Before bedtime, bring back some of the week’s favourite outdoor games, have a family picnic or spend some time looking at the night sky. A few camping accessories can help make your backyard base feel ready for adventure.

Ready, set, play

The September school holidays don’t need a complicated plan to be packed with fun. A backyard mini Olympics, family tournament, obstacle course or night under the stars can give kids something exciting to look forward to while making the most of spring days at home.

Try one activity, combine a few or let the kids create something completely new. Tomorrow, you can change the rules and start all over again.