September School Holiday Activities for Kids

Sunday, 5 September 2021

Looking for fun ways to entertain the kids these school holidays? Council has a number of great activities for children of all ages happening across the holidays from Monday 20 September to Friday 1 October.

There are craft activities, colouring in competitions, trivia, cooking workshops, yoga sessions, creative writing and lots more. Best of all, they’re all free to take part in! 

Mobile Playvan Online 

mobile playvan

The Playvan team has moved online via Zoom. Join us to sing, dance, read and play! All are welcome but the sessions are most suitable for children aged 2 to 5 years old.

When: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10am 

Where: Via ZoomTo register:

Email or call the Playvan team on 0419 976 917

Bushcare Colouring in Competition

competition colour fb 1

This exciting nature themed activity will help to inspire kids to get outside in the front or backyard and plant a native garden. Take part for your chance to win a $25 gift voucher for Muru Mittigar Native Nursery! 

Find out more: https://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/waste-environment/environment/bushland/things-to-do#quick-link-4

Wildlife Wednesday Photo Competition

brushtail possum

Do you love taking photos of the animals and world around you? Take a photo of animals or flora in your backyard or local reserve and enter our competition to win one of 14 x $25 gift vouchers for Mother Earth native nursery and 1 of 3 ‘The Australian Native Garden’ books by Angus Stewart and A.B. Bishop!

Find out more: https://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/waste-environment/environment/bushland/things-to-do

Binz Adventures Guide

binz adventure

Council’s Binz Adventures is an education and activity guide for children aged 3 to 10 years old. The guide includes easy-to-read stories explaining the important role each bin from Penrith’s 3-bin service plays, some tips and tricks on how you can teach your children to sort, and fun cost-effective activities you can complete together.

Download the guide for free at penrith.city/binzadventures.

Shakespeare Time Traveller Passport Competition

Hear ye, Hear ye! All ye people, 5 to 14 years old! Join the Shakespeare Time Travellers Quest and participate in online and onsite activities for your chance to win one of five wonderful prize packs thanks to Critical Stages Touring, The Listies and Allen & Unwin Books. Download the Shakespeare Time Traveller’s Passport today and get started!

Find out more: https://penrithcity.spydus.com/cgi-bin/spydus.exe/MSGTRNGEN/WPAC/kidsblog

Ripples’ Virtual Children’s Activities

Ripples will present a series of virtual free children’s activities for the school holidays. Join the team from the comfort of your home as they play games, make crafts and present cooking workshops including scones and Mars bar slice. The series will run every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1pm from Monday 20 September to Friday 1 October. Find out more and join a session here: https://www.ripplesnsw.com.au/virtual-children-s-activities

We Create Penrith

artist credit sarah mitchel

Photo and artist credit: Sarah Mitchel

While we may be in lockdown, our imaginations don’t need to be – free your creative spirit! Get creative at home and display your artwork in your front garden, balcony, driveway or front window, so that your neighbours can enjoy it. Take a photo or video of your artwork and share it to social media with the hashtag #Wecreatepenrith before Sunday 3 October. You might also like to include a message to the community about what inspired you to create the artwork, what you enjoyed about the process or what it means to you. The five most creative posts will each win a $100 voucher! For inspiration, check out some of the #wecreatepenrith artworks on Facebook and Instagram created by Kingswood TAFE students. Find out more: penrith.city/wecreatepenrith.

The Middle Years Mentoring Science Lab

Have you ever wanted to paint by exploding a lemon? Make a volcano erupt? Create a lava lamp? If the answer is yes, then join us for this morning of awesome experimental fun! Please note, adult supervision is required. 

When: 10am to 11.30am on Monday 20 September 

Where: Via Zoom 

To register: Contact Program Coordinator, Melanie Beattie, on 0419 824 783 or

The Great Trivia Show Down

Test your brain and see how many questions you can answer. There’s something for everyone in this fully interactive quiz show. Get your friends to join and see if you can outsmart them! Please note, adult supervision is required. 

When: 1:00pm to 2:30pm on Tuesday 21 September

Where: Via Zoom 

To register: Contact Program Coordinator, Melanie Beattie, on 0419 824 783 or

This program is funded by the Department of Social Services. 

How to Make an Insect Hotel

dragonfly backyard

Curious about the types of insects that live in your backyard? Learn how to make an insect hotel out of the materials you may have stored away in the garage. Make your garden a haven for insects with these easy and fun insect hotels. 

When: 3.30pm to 4pm on Wednesday 22 September

Where: Via Zoom

Find out more and register: https://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/upcoming-events/what-s-in-your-backyard-webinar-how-to-make-an-insect-hotel

Pre-School Story Yoga with Suzanne Ellis 

preschool story yoga

Pre-schoolers can enjoy an exciting story adventure all whilst doing yoga. In a half hour session, children's yoga specialist, Suzanne Ellis will guide pre-schoolers with simple yoga moves and poses while they enjoy the experience of acting out a story, learning, moving and having fun! Suitable for ages 2 to 5 years and their adult carer.

When: 

  • 10am to 10.30am on Friday 24 September
  • 10am to 10.30am on Friday 1 October

Where: Via Zoom

To register: https://preschoolstoryyoga.eventbrite.com.au

What you’ll need: wear comfortable loose clothing. Adult supervision is recommended for the session or adults are welcome to participate with their young ones. A yoga mat is not essential.  

Cooking with the Middle Years Mentoring Team

cooking with children

Join us and learn to cook some amazing and tasty dishes including, chicken and zucchini nuggets and easy chocolate fudge. Please note, adult supervision is required. 

When: 10am to 11:30am on Monday 27 September

Where: Via Zoom 

To register: Contact Program Coordinator, Melanie Beattie, on 0419 824 783 or

This program is funded by the Department of Social Services.

Circus Comedy Show Plus Juggling with Corey Pickett 

comedy circus juggling corey pickett

Be thrilled by a 20-minute, high energy, cartoon-esque physical comedy and circus stunt show set to a jazzy electro swing soundtrack by international performer Corey Pickett! Then, grab your juggling socks and try out his playful workshop that teaches you the fundamentals and gets everyone juggling. Suitable for ages 6 to 15 years. 

When: 10.30am to 11.10am on Monday 27 September

Where: Via Zoom

To register: https://coreyscomedycircus.eventbrite.com.au 

What you’ll need: 3 x pairs of socks to use as juggling balls.   

Teen Creative Writing with James Roy 

teen creative writing

Join James Roy, award-winning author and writer of more than 30 great books, for an exciting creative writing workshop. James shares great writing tips and techniques that will help you develop your creative writing skills, colourful characters and catchy story-lines. Suitable for students in Grades 8, 9 and 10. 

When: 2.30pm to 3.30pm on Tuesday 28 September

Where: Via Zoom

To register: https://teenswritingjamesroy.eventbrite.com.au

What you’ll need: Writing paper and a pen.

Kids Creative Writing with James Roy 

primary child writing

Jump into a creative writing workshop with award-winning author James Roy. James will guide you with fun creative writing activities to help you develop your writing ideas and transform them into creative, engaging stories. Suitable for students in Grade 5, 6 and 7. 

When: 4pm to 5pm on Thursday 30 September 

Where: Via Zoom

To register: https://kidswritingjamesroy.eventbrite.com.au

What you’ll need: Writing paper and a pen.

Take a Break Teen Yoga with Suzanne Ellis  

yoga teens

Feeling some study stress or just need to relax? Clear the mind and enjoy an hour of yoga. It may be just what you need! Suzanne Ellis guides teens in yoga poses that will help you to get out of your head, connect to your body and feel relaxed, destressed and balanced during lockdown. Suitable for ages 13 to 17 years.

When: 11am to 12pm on Friday 1 October

Where: Via Zoom

To register: https://takeabreakteenyoga.eventbrite.com.au

What you’ll need: Wear comfortable loose clothing. A yoga mat is not essential for the session.

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Sunday, 5 September 2021.