What to Do in the School Holidays at Home
The first few days of the school holidays have a particular rhythm. The lie-ins, the leisurely breakfasts, the sense that the week stretches ahead without a timetable. Then, somewhere around day four, a small voice announces that there is nothing to do.
This is a familiar moment in most households. The good news is that filling those long afternoons rarely requires anything elaborate. A handful of well-made games and toys, kept somewhere accessible, can carry a family through weeks of unstructured time.
If you are weighing up what to buy, it is worth knowing that toys and games sold in the UK must meet UKCA and CE safety testing standards, covering everything from small parts to the paints and finishes used. Reputable makers test to these standards as a matter of course, which means you can hand a set to a child without a second thought.
Why the School Holidays Feel So Long (And Why That's Actually an Opportunity)
The school holidays feel long because they genuinely are. Six weeks of summer, plus the shorter breaks scattered through the year, add up to a significant stretch of time with no fixed shape to it.
During term, the days arrange themselves. Lessons, breaks and bedtimes follow a pattern, and children know roughly what comes next. Remove that scaffolding and the hours can feel vast, both to them and to you.
Yet that emptiness is the point. Unscheduled time is where children learn to occupy themselves, to invent, to be bored and then to find their own way out of it. A child who has never had a dull afternoon has never had to use their imagination to escape one.
The temptation is to fill every gap, to line up activities like a cruise-ship itinerary. A more relaxed approach leaves room for the games that children return to on their own, without prompting.
This is where a cupboard of reliable things to do earns its keep. A box of dominoes, a deck of cards, a few of our traditional games within easy reach, and the question of what to do answers itself more often than not.
It helps to think of the holiday as a season rather than a series of days to be survived. Some afternoons will be busy and some will be slow, and the slow ones are not failures. If you want a few structured ideas for the busier days, our guide to 25 ways to turn your home into a staycation holiday offers plenty to draw on without leaving the house.
What Classic Games and Toys Actually Do for Children's Development
Classic games have survived for a reason. Behind the simple pleasure of playing, each one quietly rehearses a skill a child will use for life.
Take counting games. Snakes and Ladders began in ancient India as a game called Moksha Patam, designed to teach moral lessons about virtue and vice. Centuries later, it still teaches a young child to count squares, take turns and accept the roll of the dice with grace. Losing well is a skill, and board games are where most of us first learn it.
Strategy games stretch a different muscle. Chess asks a child to plan ahead, to imagine consequences, to hold several possibilities in mind at once. Jaques of London produced the first standardised set of Chess pieces, the Staunton pattern, in 1849, and that design is still the one used in tournaments today precisely because it lets the mind focus on the game rather than the pieces.
Physical toys build coordination. Skittles, quoits and skipping ropes develop balance and timing in ways no screen can replicate. Many of our wooden toys are made for exactly this kind of active, hands-on play.
Then there is language. Word games expand vocabulary almost by accident, and shared play builds the back-and-forth of conversation. The same instinct that makes a child want to win a game can make them want to learn, which is partly why we wrote about the reasons your kids should learn a foreign language.
Across our board games, the common thread is that development happens sideways, while a child is simply having fun.
How to Keep Kids Entertained at Home Without Screens or Stress
Screens are not the enemy, but they are rarely satisfying for long stretches. A child who has spent three hours on a tablet tends to emerge restless rather than rested, and the request for more is seldom met with much joy.
The alternative does not have to mean elaborate planning. The trick is to make the non-screen options the easy ones. If a jigsaw is already half-finished on the table and a box of our children toys sits within reach, they will often be chosen before anyone thinks to ask for a device.
Rotate what is on offer. Pack away half the toys for a fortnight, then bring them back out. The returning favourites feel almost new, and the ones left out keep their novelty.
Build a few gentle rituals. A card game after lunch, a round of something at the kitchen table before tea. Rituals remove the daily negotiation, because everyone already knows what happens next.
Get outside when you can. The UK's Chief Medical Officers recommend that children aged 5 to 18 get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day, and the garden is an easy place to find it. Even a small patch of grass will do for skittles or a treasure hunt.
The garden offers more than exercise, too. Growing something teaches patience, and hunting for minibeasts turns a flowerbed into an expedition. Our pieces on the benefits of gardening for kids and the best bug hunting kits for kids aged 4 to 8 are both good starting points for an afternoon out of doors.
12 Classic Games and Toys Worth Having in the House This Holiday
Some games earn their place in the cupboard simply by never going out of fashion. Here are twelve worth keeping in the house for the holidays.
Chess comes first, because it grows with the child. A five-year-old learns how the pieces move; a ten-year-old starts to plan three moves ahead. Our board games include sets built on the same Staunton pattern that has shaped tournament play since 1849.
Draughts is its gentler companion, quicker to learn and just as absorbing. Snakes and Ladders and Ludo follow close behind, both perfect for mixed ages because luck levels the playing field.
Dominoes and playing cards are the great all-rounders, offering dozens of games from a single box. Backgammon rewards a little more patience, and tends to hook older children once they grasp the strategy.
For active play, skittles and quoits bring the garden into the holiday, while a good skipping rope needs nothing but a bit of space. Table Tennis belongs here too; Jaques of London trademarked the Ping-Pong name in 1901, and a few bats and a net still turn any table into an afternoon's entertainment.
A proper jigsaw puzzle completes the list, ideal for the quieter, rainy days when everyone wants something calm to settle into.
You will find most of these across our traditional games and our wooden toys, and the beauty of the list is that it spans every mood. There is something for the competitive child, the thoughtful one, and the one who simply needs to run about.
Rainy afternoons also pair well with a good book, and our note on 5 Roald Dahl books your kids will love is a fine companion to the quieter games.
What to Look for When Buying Games and Toys for the School Holidays
When buying for the holidays, start with the obvious: safety. Look for the UKCA and CE marks, and check the age guidance on the box. These are not formalities; they tell you the toy has been tested for small parts, sharp edges and the finishes used.
Next, consider how long a game will last. Plastic toys often arrive bright and leave broken within the fortnight. Well-made wooden ones survive being dropped, trodden on and left in the garden overnight, which is why much of our range is built from solid timber rather than moulded plastic. You can see the difference across our wooden toys.
Think about age range, but think about it loosely. The best holiday games are the ones several children can play together, which means choosing things that a younger sibling can join even if they cannot yet win.
Consider replay value above novelty. A game that is thrilling once and dull thereafter is a poor investment of both money and cupboard space. The classics endure precisely because each round plays out differently.
Favour games that draw children in rather than isolate them. A board game at the table pulls a family together in a way a screen rarely does, and the conversation around the game often matters as much as the game itself.
Finally, buy from makers who stand behind what they sell. Jaques of London has been making games since 1795, longer than any other games and toys company in the world, and that longevity rests on things that last. Browse our traditional games and our children toys with those principles in mind, and the holidays tend to take care of themselves.
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Frequently Asked Questions About What To Do In The Holidays At Home With Kids
What can kids do at home during the school holidays when they're bored?
Classic games and toys are reliable antidotes to holiday boredom. Board games such as Chess, draughts, and Snakes and Ladders entertain children of all ages and require no screens. Outdoor garden games brought indoors — such as table tennis, skittles, or croquet on a fine day — add physical activity to the mix. The UK's Chief Medical Officers recommend children aged 5–18 get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily, so mixing active play with quieter games keeps the whole day balanced and enjoyable at home.
What are the best games to play at home with children of different ages?
Games that scale in complexity work best across mixed ages. Snakes and Ladders suits younger children, as its origins as the ancient Indian game Moksha Patam show it was designed to be immediately understood by all. Chess rewards older children and adults, particularly using the standardised Staunton pieces first produced by Jaques of London in 1849. Table tennis, trademarked by Jaques as Ping-Pong in 1901, suits a wide age range. Choosing games with clear rules and quick set-up means different ages can play together without frustration.
How do I keep my kids entertained for six weeks without spending a fortune?
Investing in a small number of durable, replayable classic games pays dividends across multiple school holidays and generations. A Chess set, a Snakes and Ladders board, a pack of cards, and a table tennis set cover hours of varied play without ongoing costs. Jaques of London, founded in 1795 and the world's oldest games and toys company, has built its reputation on well-made games that last for decades. Rotating games to keep them feeling fresh, and introducing simple tournaments with hand-written scoreboards, adds variety without additional spending.
What classic board games are good for primary school age children?
Snakes and Ladders is ideal for primary school children; originating in ancient India as Moksha Patam, it teaches turn-taking and number recognition with simple rules. Draughts develops early strategic thinking, while Ludo and dominoes are accessible for younger players. Chess, using the Staunton pattern pieces first standardised by Jaques of London in 1849, suits children from around seven upwards with adult guidance. These games build concentration, counting, and social skills through play, making them genuinely educational as well as entertaining for primary school age groups.
What age are children ready to play board games?
Most children are ready to play simple board games from around three to four years old, provided the game has straightforward rules and relies partly on chance. Snakes and Ladders, which originated as the ancient Indian game Moksha Patam, is a classic first board game requiring no reading ability. By five or six, children can manage more structured games involving memory and basic strategy. Chess, with its standardised Staunton pieces created by Jaques of London in 1849, is typically introduced from around six or seven, though many children begin younger with patient guidance.
Are traditional toys better for children than screen time?
Traditional toys and games offer children hands-on, social, and often physical engagement that screens do not replicate. Board games build concentration, turn-taking, and problem-solving; active games support physical health in line with the UK Chief Medical Officers' recommendation of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity daily for children aged 5–18. Jaques of London, the world's oldest games and toys company founded in 1795, has produced classics that have entertained children for generations. Traditional toys are not inherently superior to all screen use, but they provide genuine variety and valuable offline experiences.
What can a 5 year old do at home to keep busy in the holidays?
A five-year-old at home is well suited to simple board games, construction toys, and active indoor play. Snakes and Ladders — originally the ancient Indian moral game Moksha Patam — is particularly appropriate at this age, building number recognition and patience. Simple skittles, ring toss, or a child-sized table tennis set encourage the physical activity that UK Chief Medical Officers recommend children get daily. Rotating activities across morning and afternoon helps maintain interest. Classic toys from established makers tend to be well-proportioned for small hands and robust enough to withstand enthusiastic five-year-old play.
What games can the whole family play together at home?
Games with accessible rules and genuine competitiveness across ages make the best family choices. Snakes and Ladders, rooted in the ancient Indian game Moksha Patam, levels the playing field between adults and young children through its chance-based format. Table tennis — trademarked as Ping-Pong by Jaques of London in 1901 — suits mixed ages and doubles play. Chess, using Staunton-pattern pieces standardised by Jaques in 1849, works well when experienced players give handicaps. Card games, dominoes, and draughts round out a family games collection that needs no batteries and suits rainy afternoons or long summer evenings.
Why is unstructured play important for children in the school holidays?
Unstructured play allows children to develop creativity, resilience, and self-direction without adult-led outcomes. When children choose their own games, negotiate rules, and solve disputes independently, they practise social and cognitive skills that structured activities do not always provide. School holidays offer extended time for this kind of play, which is frequently squeezed out during term time. Having a good selection of classic games and toys — board games, outdoor sets, construction materials — gives children the tools to direct their own entertainment, making unstructured time productive rather than simply idle.
What toys are worth buying for indoor play during bad weather?
Durable, replayable games offer the best value for indoor rainy-day play. A quality Chess set — ideally with Staunton-pattern pieces, the design standardised by Jaques of London in 1849 — will last a lifetime and suits players from beginners to advanced. Snakes and Ladders, with its ancient Indian origins as Moksha Patam, remains a perennial choice for younger children. A compact table tennis set, a format trademarked as Ping-Pong by Jaques of London in 1901, can be set up on a dining table. Jaques of London, founded in 1795 as the world's oldest games and toys company, produces all of these in well-crafted editions.