Cost Effective & Free Children’s Activities for the School Holidays
School holidays are fast approaching, and if you’re not going away it can be a very long (and expensive) holiday for you and the kids. To help you out, we’ve researched free children activities or activities that cost less than R100 to keep the family entertained.
Cost Effective & Free Children’s Activities: Educational
CAPE TOWN SCIENCE CENTRE
The Science Centre is filled with mind-boggling interactive displays, world-class exhibitions and exciting activities and events, and during the holidays they have three holiday clubs. Test your creativity and dexterity at the Tinkering and Sports Workshop, where kids make DIY sports equipment. Or, enjoy some parent and child play in the First Explorers Zone, a fun interactive area which stimulates gross motor skills. And if your kid fancies themselves a scientist, they can experiment at The Busketeers workshop.
See the full Cape Town Science Centre Holiday Program here.
Location: 370B Observatory Main Road
Price: R55
IZIKO PLANETARIUM & DIGITAL DOME
Last year saw the unveiling of the new Iziko Planetarium & Digital Dome; it offers perspective-3D edu-tainment and a unique experience unlike anything local audiences have ever encountered before. The new space is a place of creative learning and is no longer only focused on astronomy but on an unlimited array of subjects and genres, with content for audiences of all ages and interests.
Location: 25 Queen Victoria St, Cape Town
Price: R30 kids under 19 and pensioners, R60 for adults
iziko.org.za (Photo Credit: Iziko Museums Of SA/Nigel Pamplin)
ATTEND A PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Enlighten young minds on the ways of the State with a visit and tour to Parliament. And, if you have a curious mind, why not sit in on one of the plenary debates that take place in the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces
Location: 120 Plein Str, Cape Town
Price: Tours and debate-watching is free
NORVAL FOUNDATION
Norval Foundation Gallery has recently opened in Steenberg and offers incredible exhibitions. While the art may be for an older crowd, there is an amazing sculpture garden with kid’s play area that is awesome for exploring.
Location: 1 Ou Kaapse Rd, 5 Steenberg Rd, Tokai
Cost: Free for under 18’s, R 140 adults, free for everyone on Mondays
ZEITZ MOCAA
For creative minds visit the much accoladed Zeitz MOCAA museum at the new Silo district of the Waterfront. Some of the art may be too much for younger kids but the building interior is so awesome. Also, the rooftop sculpture garden offers a great view over the city.
Coming soon: Afrisam Children Art Tour
To complement the Centre for Art Education, the AfriSam Children’s Tour has been designed for children aged between 6 and 18, as well as their families. Similar to the adult’s art tour, the educational tour will take a close look at the museum’s seminal artworks and installations to ensure that children get a true understanding of the Zeitz MOCAA collection, the various aspects that go into art making, and the conceptualisation that informs the art process.
For more information email.
Location: V & A Waterfront, Silo District, S Arm
Cost: Free on Wednesdays for South African citizens, kids under 18 enter for free
THE BOOK LOUNGE
The Book Lounge is known for their highly-curated range of adult and children books and they have a dedicated children’s’ bookseller! They know how much kids love to be read to, so every Saturday at 11h00 is story time. It’s recommended for children between 3 – 8 but all kids are welcome.
Location: 71 Roeland Str, Cape Town
Cost: Free
CAPE TOWN CENTRAL LIBRARY
Cape Town Central library’s usual storytime are on Monday’s but they will be offering the following school holiday programme:
Monday 25 June at 10h00 – make music shakers with Margaux
Wednesday 27 June at 10h30 – get creative with Nomalungi and craft a rabbit toilet paper toll.
Friday 29 June at 12h30 – get down at the dance workshop hosted by Heal the Hood
For more info call 021 444 0983
Location: Old Drill Hall, Cnr Parade and Darling Str
Cost: Free
Outdoors
INTAKA ISLAND
Intaka Island is an award-winning 16-hectare wetland and bird sanctuary. For young photography enthusiasts, the island is a haven with 177 species of indigenous fynbos and 120 bird species to picture. The bird hides and boat rides are the perfect reason to get away from those screens.
Location: 1 Century City Drive, Century City, Cape Town
Cost: Free
BIKE RIDE ALONG THE PROMENADE
Take the kids and their bikes and head down to the promenade and enjoy this pristine stretch of heaven from Granger Bay all the way to Bakoven. Not only can you take in the views of the Atlantic and Lions Head but there are loads of cheap activities along the way. There are several play areas and kids jungle gyms along the prom, as well as an easy putt-putt course and loads of cafés, restaurants and food huts to feed you. Got no bikes? You can also opt to hire bikes relatively inexpensively from Up Cycles.
Location: Sea Point, Cape Town
Cost: Free if you bring your own bikes, R70 and hour if you hire.
FEED THE SQUIRRELS AT COMPANY GARDENS
The Company Gardens must boast some of the friendliest birds and squirrels around, so don’t come empty handed and you might be lucky enough to feed one. Look out for the nut sellers who sell raw peanuts for the squirrels for R5 a bag. The gardens are also a great place to picnic or just to walk through and take in the gorgeous surroundings. While you’re in the area you can visit the South African National Gallery (Kids under 5 enter for free, kids under 18 pay R15 and adults pay R30), which showcases not only South African art but British, Dutch, French and Flemish.
Location: 15 Queen Victoria Str
Cost: Free
TRY A LITTLE DIY
Teach your kids to find some fun right at home! With a little imagination turn old goods into something new exciting. See our full list of Weekend Projects to get stuck into. This Teepee is a holiday fort of note!
Also, check out our roundup of parks and playgrounds to visit with your kids.
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