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    Date of publication 26/09/2025

    Holidays

    Fun activities for kids during the holidays

    Enjoying a vacation with the whole family is very rewarding and creates long-lasting memories for everyone. Keeping the kids entertained and upbeat may seem like a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be an obligation—as these tips show. At Iberostar, we want to make it easier for you (and your wallet): discover the hotels where kids stay free on our official website.

    <h2>Make an effort to break the routine</h2> <p>Breaking out of the comfort zone is not only good for grown-ups, it can stimulate children&rsquo;s minds and create lasting memories and exhilarating experiences. All year long at school, your kids are drilled and molded to conform to routines. Change it up with something different and watch their faces light up.</p> <p>SHAWN MOKSVOLD</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

    Break the routine

    Stepping out of your comfort zone isn’t just good for adults—it also stimulates children’s minds, filling them with unforgettable experiences. After spending the whole year stuck in school, changing their habits with something different is a breath of fresh air that brings joy and smiles and, in a way, even lets them feel their age again.

    <h2>Sports can be the key</h2> <p>Play a game, practice a team sport, or <strong>challenge the physical fitness of the whole family.</strong> Few activities are more effective in bringing parents and children together to get out of the rut. Sports like tennis teach the value of teamwork, develop mental strength and bring the family together. A little friendly competition goes a long way, and why not exercise a little while building on those important family dynamics?<strong> </strong></p> <p>SHAWN MOKSVOLD&nbsp;</p>

    Sports are key

    Play, set up impromptu matches, and put both kids’ and adults’ fitness to the test. These three pillars are fundamental—not only to exercise the body, but also to bring families closer together with original plans. Disciplines like tennis, basketball, or soccer help strengthen both the mind and family bonds. Even a small competition that lasts throughout the vacation can become a healthy habit and a fun way to create new family dynamics.

    <h2>Take advantage of your surroundings</h2> <p>If you&rsquo;re on a coastal vacation, use the beaches, swimming pools and play areas to get wet and cool down at the same time. <strong>Sit down in the sand and make sand castles,</strong> sculptures, or write messages in the sand, all together as a family. If you&rsquo;re on a mountain holiday, <strong>take hikes together,</strong> finding and identifying the flora and fauna of the surrounding countryside. <strong> </strong></p> <p>SHAWN MOKSVOLD&nbsp;</p>

    Make the most of your surroundings

    If you’re on the coast, use the beaches, pools, and play areas to keep little ones cool and entertained at the same time. Building sandcastles, making sculptures, or writing messages in the sand together is one of the most engaging options. If you’re on a mountain vacation, go on hikes together, discover the local wildlife and flora, and reconnect much more with the countryside, which feels increasingly distant.

    <h2>Visit the right museums</h2> <p>Some museums aren&rsquo;t exactly suited for children. As much as you may find Baroque sculpture fascinating, the kids might not be so stimulated. Find exhibitions that cater to kids and adults alike, and visit museums adapted to children so they can approach learning in a fun way. <strong>Try natural history museums and educational approaches to media like film, comics and music. </strong></p> <p>SHAWN MOKSVOLD&nbsp;</p>

    Get museums right

    No, not all museums are designed with kids in mind. As much as you love baroque sculptures, that passion doesn’t have to be shared by the little ones. Look for exhibitions you’ll both enjoy and that are interactive so everyone stays engaged. Need a hint? Natural history museums are usually tailored to both audiences.

    a group of people riding bikes on a beach

    Family creativity

    Writing together, playing board games, or keeping a family vacation journal are activities that combine mental stimulation with teamwork. Plus, children’s minds become familiar with their own emotions and those of others, which helps them develop social and cognitive skills.

    <h2>Enjoy the open air</h2> <p>Make <strong>picnics</strong> and have meals in the great outdoors and take in the open air together as a family. <strong>Get the children involved with the food preparation</strong> and packing and then afterward, play a few tried and true family games, like <strong>&ldquo;clap and catch,&rdquo; &ldquo;treasure hunt&rdquo; and &ldquo;two truths and one lie&rdquo;</strong> to bring the family even closer.</p> <p>SHAWN MOKSVOLD&nbsp;</p>

    Enjoy the outdoors

    Good weather makes it easy to organize outdoor picnics and enjoy the setting as a family. But food isn’t just the end reward—get the kids involved in the preparation and, after the picnic, suggest games like a treasure hunt that get everyone running and thinking in equal measure.

    <h2>Take advantage of your hotel&rsquo;s children&rsquo;s entertainment</h2> <p>Encourage your kids to <strong>play with others</strong>, all the while strengthening their social skills and creating lasting memories of your vacation as a family. Find ways to help them break the ice and <strong>guide them through the often difficult process of making new friends.&nbsp;</strong>In all our<a href="https://www.iberostar.com/en/family-hotels"> family hotels</a>, you will find plenty of activities for children that will help them to be entertained and happy during their vacations.</p> <p>SHAWN MOKSVOLD&nbsp;</p>

    Make the most of the hotel entertainment

    These increasingly professional and specialized services help children make friends, start socializing, and make decisions as a team. And of course, they build friendships that can last—guided by staff who know how to assign each child a role in the activities so no one feels left out. What’s more, these experiences sit outside their usual social routines and encourage them to have fun in a different way. At all our family hotels, you’ll find plenty of kids’ activities to keep them entertained and happy throughout their vacation.

    <h2>Role-play with your kids</h2> <p><strong>Play fantasy and invent fictional characters together. </strong> Pirates are a classic make believe theme that never fails, especially on vacation. Don&rsquo;t hold back&mdash;put on the make up, get the props and wear the costumes. Your kids won&rsquo;t forget such a fun experience of pretend adventure, especially in a new, unexplored environment.</p> <p>SHAWN MOKSVOLD&nbsp;</p>

    Role-play with your kids

    Play pretend and invent fictional characters together. Pirates are a classic pretend-play theme that never fails, especially on vacation. Don’t hold back—put on the makeup, grab the props, and wear the costumes. Your kids won’t forget such a fun make-believe adventure, especially in a new, unexplored setting.

    <h2>Teach them new skills like as fishing, swimming, or surfing</h2> <p>Nothing breaks up the routine of a normal day like <strong>learning a challenging new activity.</strong> Some sports, like fishing, bring everyone closer to nature. Others, such as surfing, are notoriously difficult to master. But no matter, try it as a family and everyone can laugh and experience the trial and error together.<strong> </strong></p> <p>SHAWN MOKSVOLD</p>

    Learn to swim, fish, or surf

    Nothing breaks the routine of a normal day like learning a new activity. Some sports, like fishing, bring everyone closer to nature. Others, like surfing, take more time—but what matters isn’t the destination, it’s the journey, so the simple act of learning together is an experience in itself.