Looking for fun and affordable things to do with kids in Joburg during the school holidays? Keeping children entertained doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune on activities and attractions. Johannesburg has plenty of parks, outdoor spaces, markets and simple adventures that can make a school holiday memorable without stretching the family budget.
Whether you’re looking for somewhere to let the kids burn off energy, an activity that gets them away from their screens or an easy day out that won’t cost a lot, here are 10 affordable things to try.
1. Explore the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens
Pack a picnic and spend the day exploring the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens in Emmarentia. The gardens have plenty of open space for children to walk, run and explore, while parents can enjoy a change of scenery.
Bring a ball, snacks and a blanket and turn a simple visit into a full afternoon outdoors.
2. Have a picnic at Zoo Lake
Zoo Lake is an easy option for a family day outdoors. Pack lunch from home, find a spot on the grass and let the kids play and explore.
You can also take a walk around the lake and make a simple nature-spotting game out of the outing.
3. Discover Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
If you’re happy to spend a little on an outing, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden can make a great family day. Children can explore the gardens, look for birds and enjoy the open spaces.
Pack your own food to keep the overall cost down rather than buying lunch while you’re there.
4. Visit a local park or playground
You don’t need a major attraction to make a day exciting for children. Johannesburg has plenty of parks and playgrounds where kids can run, climb and play.
Choose a park you don’t normally visit, pack snacks and make exploring a new part of your neighbourhood part of the adventure.
5. Go on a family nature walk
Turn a simple walk into a treasure hunt. Before you leave, give the kids a list of things to spot: a yellow flower, a bird, a butterfly, an interesting leaf or something shaped like a circle.
It’s an easy way to get children outdoors and costs nothing beyond getting to your chosen walking spot.
6. Explore Johannesburg’s Street Art
Johannesburg is full of colourful murals and street art. Choose an area where you can safely explore on foot and turn the outing into an art hunt.
Ask the kids to choose their favourite mural, identify different colours or invent a story about one of the artworks they see.
7. Spend an afternoon at Melville’s 27 Boxes
Head to 27 Boxes in Melville to browse the shops, grab an affordable treat and explore the area. You don’t need to spend money at every stop, simply exploring somewhere different can be enough to make an afternoon feel like an outing.
8. Have a screen-free activity day at home
Sometimes the most affordable school-holiday activity is the one that doesn’t require leaving home.
Have a baking afternoon, build a blanket fort, create something from recycled boxes or organise a family board-game tournament. You can even let the children choose the activities and create their own holiday schedule.
9. Pack a picnic and explore a new part of Joburg
Choose a neighbourhood or park your family doesn’t usually visit and make a day of exploring it. Pack lunch from home, find somewhere green to stop and let the kids take the lead.
You could even give them a small budget for the day and let them decide how to spend it.
10. Create your own backyard adventure
You don’t need a big garden to create a fun things to do with kids in Joburg. Set up an obstacle course, organise a treasure hunt or have a mini sports day using things you already have at home.
For younger children, you could create a nature hunt or sensory activity using leaves, stones and other safe objects from the garden.
Making school holidays more affordable
You don’t need a packed itinerary of expensive attractions to keep children entertained during the school holidays. Some of the best things to do with kids in Joburg involve getting outside, exploring somewhere new or simply giving children the space to play.
Try mixing a few paid outings with free activities, picnics and days at home. It can keep the holidays interesting while making your budget stretch further.
And if you’re working during the school holidays, a Mom’s Helper can give you an extra pair of hands with the children while you get through your workday, so you don’t have to choose between getting your work done and keeping the kids occupied.
ALSO SEE: HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOUSE CLEAN DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
