School holiday tonics: Top 7 online activities

Make the most of a staycation these winter holidays with a range of online activities on offer for kids of all ages, thanks to State Library Victoria. Combining education and entertainment, here are our top picks to keep the winter blues at bay:

1. Piece it together. Puzzle-lovers can piece together some classic images from the Library’s collection with a selection of online jigsaw puzzles. Make it easier or harder by changing the number of pieces in the puzzle. Our favourites include Blinky Bill and Mrs Koala and Platypuses.

2. Get crafty with Crafternoons. Tune into these bite-sized video tutorials and learn how to make fun items from household materials. For example, kids can make their own alien spacecraft, and mini-nebula in a jar. Suitable for 3–12 year olds, their parents and carers.

3. Watch Mystery Box: 121-year-old chocolate. A glimpse into the Library’s realia collection, this video shows Collections Manager Toni Burton unboxing some surprising relics from the early 20th century, revealing several metal boxes the British Royal Family used to send gifts to servicemen. But what could be inside?

4. Take a virtual tour of The changing face of Victoria. The exhibition explores the spirit of activism and invention, and its impact on Victoria, through four everyday themes: water, workers’ rights, camping and coffee. Featuring more than 150 never-before-seen images, objects and artworks, it invites us to think about what’s next and how our past informs the future.

5. Learn magic with Deceptology: the science of magic. Join magician extraordinaire and Tricky Nick author Nicholas J Johnson to learn some magic tricks, and the science behind them! In these four videos, Nicholas demonstrates tricks like rope folding and card disappearing to show how and why we fall for illusions – each with a fun accompanying activity. Suitable for 9-12 year olds, these videos were made possible with the support of the Lewin Family Fund.

6. Listen to Story Talks with Boori Monty Pryor. Famed storyteller Boori Monty Pryor takes us on an imaginative journey: camping in Queensland, playing with frogs, and deep into mysterious mangroves where danger lurks. Each video ends with an engaging activity to inspire young writers. Suitable for ages 6–12, the Story Talks series is supported by Gandel Foundation.

7. Listen to Kirli Saunders Story Talks. Find out how to paint a portrait of our families with words, how to celebrate and care for Country and meet Kirli’s writing rabbit, Dustin, in this three-part video series. Each video ends with an engaging activity to inspire young writers. Suitable for ages 8-12, the Story Talks series is supported by Gandel Foundation.