Looking for fun and affordable things to do with kids in Cape Town during the school holidays? Keeping children entertained doesn’t have to mean spending hundreds of rands on activities and attractions. Cape Town has plenty of beaches, parks, outdoor spaces and simple adventures that are either free or cost very little.
Whether you have energetic kids who need to burn off some energy, curious children who love exploring or you’re simply trying to keep the holiday budget under control, here are 10 affordable ideas to try.
1. Explore Green Point Park
Green Point Park is a great option for a family day out without an entrance fee. Bring a picnic, let the kids explore the play areas and make a day of the gardens. Pack a ball, frisbee or a few outdoor games to keep everyone busy.
2. Spend the day at the beach
You don’t need an expensive beach club or activity package to have a good day at the coast. Pack some snacks, sunscreen, towels and a few beach toys and head to one of Cape Town’s many beaches.
Muizenberg, Fish Hoek and Camps Bay can all make for a fun family outing, depending on where you’re based.
3. Have a picnic in Company’s Garden
Pack lunch from home and spend a few hours exploring Company’s Garden. The gardens provide plenty of space to walk around, sit under the trees and let children explore. You can turn the visit into a mini nature hunt by asking kids to spot different birds, trees and plants.
4. Walk the Sea Point Promenade
The Sea Point Promenade is ideal for an afternoon when the kids need to get outside and burn off some energy. Take a walk, stop at the playgrounds and finish with a picnic or an affordable ice cream.
5. Go on a DIY Scavenger Hunt
You don’t have to leave home to create an adventure. Make a list of things for your children to find around the house, garden or neighbourhood. Look for a red flower, something shaped like a triangle, a bird, something older than they are or something beginning with a particular letter.
It’s simple, costs nothing and can easily keep younger children occupied.
6. Explore Woodstock’s Street Art
Turn a walk through Woodstock into an outdoor art adventure. Give children a challenge to find their favourite mural, spot different colours or create their own story about one of the artworks.
It’s a different way to explore the city without paying for an attraction.
7. Visit the Bo-Kaap
Take the kids for a walk through the colourful streets of the Bo-Kaap and turn it into a photography or observation game. How many different colours can they find? Which house is their favourite? Can they spot interesting doors, windows or patterns?
You can combine it with a packed lunch to keep the outing inexpensive.
8. Find a new playground
Make the playground itself the destination. Choose a park in another part of Cape Town that your children haven’t visited before, pack snacks and spend the afternoon there.
It can be surprisingly exciting for children to explore somewhere completely new, even when the activity itself is free.
9. Have a screen-free activity day at home
Not every school-holiday activity needs to involve going somewhere. Pick a theme for the day and build activities around it. Have a baking competition, make cardboard creations, build a blanket fort or set up an obstacle course in the garden.
Let the kids choose the theme and take charge of some of the activities.
10. Go on a family nature walk
Find a family-friendly walking route near you and turn it into an adventure. Give the kids a checklist of things to spot, such as birds, flowers, insects, interesting rocks or different types of trees.
Take water and snacks from home and make the walk as long or short as suits your family.
Making school holidays more affordable
Keeping children entertained over the school holidays doesn’t have to mean booking a paid activity every day. Some of the best things to do with kids in Cape Town cost nothing at all.
Mix bigger outings with free activities, days at home and simple adventures around your neighbourhood. You’ll keep the kids busy without putting unnecessary pressure on the family budget.
And if you’re working during the school holidays, a Mom’s Helper can also give you an extra pair of hands with the children while you get through your workday.
ALSO SEE: EASY SCHOOL HOLIDAY MEAL IDEAS FOR BUSY PARENTS
