Every time the school holidays come around, parents and carers often feel a mix of relief and trepidation. Thereโs a welcome break from packing lunches and scrabbling to rush everyone out of the door in time for school, but thereโs also the daunting task of finding fun activities for kids of different ages to enjoy that donโt involve the all-too-tempting screens.
But did you know that Bunnings Warehouse could be the answer to all your prayers? Heading to your local store is a great way to get out of the house during the holidays as kids love the tiny trolleys and indoor play area, while adults can pick up a coffee from the the convenient cafe. Yet you may be surprised to learn that Bunnings also offers a huge array of fun crafts to do, both in store and later at home. Read on to find out all our tips of how Bunnings can help to make school holidays easier for you!
Bunnings Kidsโ Activities
We often let the kids have a play in the great fenced play area at our local Bunnings, as a treat for trudging up and down the aisles with us as we stock up on all our latest house or garden project essentials. But weโve never paid much attention before to the DIY Workshop area cleverly positioned next door. As it turns out, this magical place is home to free kidsโ DIY workshops, not only during the school holidays, but also EVERY weekend!
The workshops are FREE to join, and are for kids over five, accompanied by an adult. Please note that numbers are limited, so booking is recommended. You can contact your nearest store to find out what kidsโ activities are coming up and to book your spot.
Weekend Kidsโ DIY Workshops
Every Saturday and Sunday, kids can head along to take park in FREE craft projects, from making toolboxes and toy trucks to planter boxes and paintings. Each week has a different theme, with fun ideas inspired by special events, such as the dancing leprechauns my kids got to make in honour of St Patrickโs Day. The workshops are well organised and supervised by friendly and helpful staff. All you have to do is turn up, let your kids take part in making something fun, then take home their creations! Too easy!
School Holiday Workshops
Bunnings also hosts free Kidsโ DIY Workshops most days over the school holidays, and often offers free face painting for kids too. Activities could include woodworking, mosaics or recycled wall art, and are usually themed according to the time of year, such as Easter of Christmas. At our local store, kids can make anything from baskets and wreaths to slime and lava lamps these school holidays!
Kidsโ Story Time
Aside from awesome craft activities, the Bunnings DIY Workshop often offers kidsโ story time. You can take little kids along to listen to a reading of childrenโs classics or other seasonal stories. This event is also free.
Family Nights
In the run up to special seasonal events, Bunnings holds free Family Nights for some early evening family fun. You can expect all sorts of exciting activities, such as craft making, character appearances, jumping castle, face painting and yummy treats to enjoy. Make sure you check with your nearest store to find out what is happening around events such as Motherโs Day, Fatherโs Day, Easter and Christmas.
Craft,ย Kits and Gift Ideas
We often think of Bunnings just as a warehouse for hardware items for house and garden projects, but it actually also stocks lots of great items for kidsโ crafts, which are great for home projects or even birthday presents. There are lots of different price points depending on how creative you want to get, but in general, you will find the cost so much more affordable than at a commercial craft shop.
Here are some of the awesome things you can find at Bunnings to keep the kids entertained:
- Kidsโ gardening sets
- Kidsโ tool sets
- Lots of acrylic and water colour paints
- A wide range of paint brushes
- Canvases
- Kidsโ woodworking sets
- Mosaic kits and tiles
- Craft items like pipe cleaners and beads
- Lots of MDF foundational pieces for kids to paint and decorate, from frames to birdhouses
- DIY craft kits like make your own scarecrow, ceramic dinosaur or painted plate
- And much more!
Free DIY Videos for Kidsย Projects
One thing that we really love for during the holidays, especially those days when you just want to stay at home and enjoy some downtime, is the Bunnings Kidsโ DIY Videos. On the Bunnings website, you can find videos for a whole range of fun projects for kids to try out. There are activities for all ages to enjoy. Kids can make their own toys or games, get craft ideas for special occasions like Easter and Christmas, or take on woodwork or garden projects. Itโs a great way for them to try new things, get hands-on creating cool items and learn new skills along the way.
We like to watch the videos first, make a list of the items we need, then head to Bunnings to stock up. Back at home, the videos are clear and simple to follow, so kids can replay the tutorial and follow the steps to make their projects. Rather than just doing a craft kit, these videos make DIY into more of a creative process, it takes longer and the outcome is more satisfying for the child. All the kids get involved in the process, and there are options available for every age and all abilities and mess tolerances!
You can find all of the Kidsโ DIY Videos here.
These holidays, when youโre planning things to do, be sure to check out whatโs on offer at your local Bunnings!
You can find a whole range of awesome craft and fun ideas here to keep the kids entertained over the holidays.
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