The school term for 2025 is drawing to an end soon. The year-end school holidays will commence on Dec 19 for Group A states (Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu) and Dec 20 for Group B states (all other states and Federal Territories).

Next year will see students going back to school on Jan 10/11, as Malaysia returns to pre-pandemic scheduling in 2026.

In between, parents would have three weeks to fill with exciting activities for their kids. Admittedly, it is easy for kids to get bored, no matter how thrilling the itinerary you’ve got laid out. Luckily, there are always new things popping up or upgrades done to existing places that can offer new experiences.

If you need some ideas to get your planning started, here are several suggestions of places and activities. Most of these are centred in the Klang Valley, but there are a few in other states as well.

Learn STEM at National Science Centre

Boost your children’s interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as well as innovation and art at the National Science Centre (NSC). Following its seven-month renovation this year, the science museum in Kuala Lumpur finally reopened in October.

Kids can embark on educational explorations both indoors and outdoors. The outdoor area includes a Prehistoric Park, a herbal garden, and a water plaza that teaches kids about kinetic energy.

The indoor area features aquariums for freshwater fish and marine life, Galeri Eureka that encourages innovative and creative thinking, and Kid’s World, an interactive zone for primary schoolers. There are other galleries and exhibitions too, all meant to familiarise children with STEM and more.

At the virtual exhibition, Obskura XR, small kids and teens alike would love the ethereal atmosphere. Utilising Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), some of the activities available here are the VR-supported e-sport, a voice-activated “magical landscape”, and wall climbing – with an AR twist to it.

Obskura XR, which requires a separate payment for entry, is open on the same days as NSC. That will be Saturday to Thursday (closed on Friday), from 9am to 5pm. Entrance fees start from RM3. But if your kids are under six (or three for Obskura XR), they can enter for free.

The exhibits at Galeri PETRONAS change every few months. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

Admire art at Galeri PETRONAS

Let your children find the inspiration to embrace their artistic side at Galeri PETRONAS.

Located on Level 3 of Suria KLCC, the contemporary art gallery reopened in June this year after four years of closure since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Open from 10am daily, except on Mondays and public holidays, admission to the gallery is free. You can spend time here until 6pm (Tuesday to Friday) or 6.30pm (Saturday and Sunday).

Upping the ante is the fact that the exhibitions here tend to change every few months. So, there is always something new to discover and marvel at during each visit.

The latest exhibition is What Song Do You Hear When You See This Painting – running until April 26, 2026.

With artworks ranging from sculptures to paintings by 12 artists, grown-ups and kids alike can find plenty to admire at this exhibition, which is described as “a social experiment of art and music”.

Since you’re already at KLCC, why not stop by its first ever outdoor skating rink as well? It is also the first outdoor skating rink in the country, as recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records.

You can have a cool family outing here, ice skating round the 25-tall Christmas tree while the majestic twin towers serve as backdrop.

To register, head to Esplanade KLCC, look for the Festive Skating Experience Registration Booth, and select your preferred 30-minute paid session. The earliest starts at 11am, and the last session ends at 10pm. The Festive Skating Experience is available until Dec 25.

Camp overnight at Zoo Negara

For the animal lovers in your family, you might have already carved out time for them to go visit their “fur-tastic” friends at Zoo Negara.

Most likely the visit is during the day, as the zoo in Ampang, Selangor is open daily from 9am to 5pm. But did you know that you can give your kids a nighttime experience at the zoo too?

The Zoo Camp is a two-day, one-night programme that offers you and your kids the chance to explore the zoo after dark.

On the first day of the camp, participants will be involved in setting up the provided tents at the zoo’s Dataran Dato’ Ismail Hutson.

When darkness falls, it is time for everyone to take part in the night walk. Armed with a night vision monocular, you will be guided around the zoo to see what the nocturnal animals – like tigers and tapirs – are up to when the rest of the place is asleep.

The next day, after dismantling your tents, the day will continue with an activity called “Bear Treats & Nature Play” and a multi-animal performance at the Show Amphitheatre.

Note that Zoo Camp is a group activity that requires a minimum of 20 participants. Go ahead and make this a fun gathering with friends and family, which will turn this into an even more memorable experience for your little ones.

Swim and slide at Monkeys Splash Zone

No animals to be found here, but your kids can certainly have fun monkeying around in this expansive water park in Sungai Long, Selangor.

Open from 10am to 8pm daily (except Monday), Monkeys Splash Zone is Malaysia’s first covered water park. With a roof over your heads, you wouldn’t need to worry about the weather being too sunny or too rainy to enjoy a nice pool day.

There are a few themed play zones in the water. There is one called the Giggling Geyser, a slide that guarantees giggles (could be from excitement, could be nerves). There’s also the Whacky Wave Pool for those who prefer a beach vibe.

With the name Whirlpool Whirl, Zoomie Glide & Double Dash, this slide promises plenty of twists and turns for thrill seekers.

Meanwhile, Lost in Amazon is a water playground that has a slide, a twirly chute and a giant water-pouring bucket.

Tiny tots who can’t be quite so adventurous yet can still have a great time at Kiddie Cove, a shallower area with a cute animal theme.

You can turn this into a staycation too. As the water park is part of the Monkeys Canopy Resort, you can book an overnight stay so the kids can have fun to their hearts’ content.

The next day they can explore the resort’s other attractions, which include the dinosaur park, karting circuit, indoor extreme park and indoor “enchanted forest”.

Raja Tun Uda Library offers a calm environment perfect for reading. — Raja Tun Uda Library/Facebook

Read more at Raja Tun Uda Library

After all the stimulating adventures they’ve had, your kids could use a more relaxed environment to wind down in. What’s more relaxing than a quiet library with a lakeside view?

Raja Tun Uda Library in Shah Alam, Selangor is a six-storey building with a modern facade. It carries a “library in a park” concept, beautifully surrounded by lush greenery and located right by a tranquil lake.

With the tagline “My second home”, it aims to provide an atmosphere so comfortable and convivial that visiting it feels like coming home.

Kids may not sit still reading books for too long (or let’s face it, many may not even feel inclined to read). Allow them some breaks in between to check out the different activities offered on each level.

For example, the lower ground level has an area called Makerspace. It encourages kids to make things with their own hands and creativity, hence the name.

On the Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Selangor website, you can find a form to register for the school holiday programme at Makerspace. Based on their interest, your kids can opt for activities that involve 3D printers, drone, robotic or Lego.

Kids are also allowed to borrow laptop or desktop through the programme.

On the ground floor is the dedicated area for children under the age of 10. Facilities here include the Cyber Zone, the Activity Stage and the Reading Tree, where kids can enjoy reading under a “tree”.

Explore nature at Borneo Empurau Farm & Resort

Touted as Sarawak’s largest ecotourism centre, the Borneo Empurau Farm & Resort in Serian certainly has plenty to offer.

You can book a stay here to let your kids be closer to nature during the holidays. Your lodging choices will be either rooms or houses. For the latter, you can opt to stay in a long house for a more cultural experience.

Just in time for Christmas, another type of accommodation available here are camping tents. This is not a permanent feature, however, as it is only for the Borneo Wonderland Camp 1.0 that’s happening on Dec 24-25.

The Christmas-themed camping experience promises activities like gift exchange, fun fair, live band, car boot sale, and even hot air balloon rides.

Among the regular activities that kids can do at the resort are splashing around in the mini water theme park and getting to know different birds and animals at the Aviary Park and Animal Park. Kids can also learn about agriculture at the BE Farm.

Prior to expanding as a resort in 2024, the place was previously known only as Borneo Empurau Farm, founded in 2015.

Empurau, or tor tambroides in English, is a species of mahseer fish that is native to South-East Asia. Empurau found in Sarawak are particularly prized because its flesh has a fruity note to it, thanks to its diet of native fruits like dabai and engkabang.

Known as one of the most expensive fish in Malaysia, the price for empurau can reach as high as RM1,000 per kilogram.

Penang Bird Park recently introduced an indoor exhibit called the Reptile House. — Handout

Pose with reptiles at Penang Bird Park

Penang Bird Park, located in Seberang Jaya, is another great place to take your little ones to. Don’t be fooled by its name, as the park has more than just avians.

There are primates and reptiles here too, and for the latter, the population has just grown bigger. That’s because the park has recently introduced its Reptile House.

As the name states, Reptile House is where animals like snakes and lizards can be found. Some of the animals housed here are Rhinoceros Iguana, Sailfin Dragon, Golden Python, Crocodile Skink, Bearded Dragon, Emperor Scorpion, Sulcata Baby Tortoises, Leopard Gecko and Dumpy Tree Frog.

If you think that’s a lot, you should see the exhibition in person. Your kids would definitely enjoy gawking at each of the slippery, scaly creatures.

To celebrate the grand opening of the Reptile House, the park is giving guests the chance to closely interact with select animals. This enriches your kids’ sensory journey as they get to gently touch animals like Ball Python, Blue-tongued Skink, and Lutino Iguana. There are also guinea pigs for those who prefer fluffy fur rather than textured skin.

They can also snap photos with these animals, making the visit all the more memorable.

As this is a special event, it would take place only until this Dec 31. Pre-book your tickets on the Penang Bird Park official website to get a special discount.

Discover Terengganu with Bas Kite

Take a break from driving and take the bus instead. Specifically, the Bas Kite in Kuala Terengganu, which brings visitors around to tourist destinations in Terengganu’s capital.

Not only are the buses comfortably air conditioned, they also come with interesting features. The exterior borrows design elements from the state’s traditional houses: its roof and arched windows bear intricate panelling often found on such houses.

The interior is decorated with batik, songket and wood carvings, further highlighting Terengganu’s heritage.

No two buses look alike, so kids can have fun admiring the different designs. These features can be a good conversation starter to pique their interest in learning about the culture and traditions in Terengganu.

At the very least, it is certainly a novelty to take a public bus that is uniquely different from the typical buses.

To take the bus, head to the Kuala Terengganu City Council (MBKT) Bus Terminal. The tourist route, which begins at this terminal, includes places like Dataran Shahbandar, Pasar Payang and the Kuala Terengganu Drawbridge.

At certain spots, like the drawbridge, you can request for the driver to make a momentary stop to allow you to take pictures.

The bus will circle back to the MBKT Bus Terminal after completing its route.