Winter Break is finally here!
Though many moments we cherish celebrating holidays together with family and friends, it can also be taxing on us moms and dads who have to entertain kids for weeks on end! What should you do with the kids when the newness of their Holiday toys wears off? Check out some of my ideas below to spark some creativity and pass the time in a fun way!
Xo,
Lizzie
Go on a scavenger Hunt!
Allow kids to make up their own scavenger hunt using the template below. Download the template and have children write or draw the things they want to look for, and then have them go on the scavenger hunt! You can also have a sibling create a scavenger hunt for another and purposefully hide items around the house to make the game even more fun!
Have a spa day at home!
Take turns painting nails, doing each other’s hair, or giving each other massages. You can even cut cucumbers for kids’ eyes and make it “fun.” Serve healthy “juices” and relax with soothing music! It’s a great way to get the grooming tasks out of the way in a fun environment (especially for the little ones).
Make Musical Instruments
Get creative and use items around your house to make musical instruments, then play songs together as a family. Fill water bottles with beads to make a percussion sound, or make a drum out of an oatmeal can!
Head to Tinybeans to see some cute ways to do this. https://tinybeans.com/homemade-instruments/slide/13
Build a fort and have family story time inside
Use your furniture, old sheets, and blankets to make a huge fort inside your home! Then take turns reading and telling stories inside the fort. Use blankets, sleeping bags and toys to make it more exciting, too!
Bake something fun!
Use this as a time to teach your kids basic baking skills. Make cookies or muffins or other fun holiday baked kids, and allow kids to “decorate” their own.
Here are some fun recipes to inspire your creativity:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/christinebyrne/holiday-treats-to-make-with-your-kids
Have a Playdate!
Playdates entertain children for hours! It’s a great way for you to get some work done while your kid socializes. Just pick the child for the playdate carefully. Make sure you don’t invite another child that will invite drama or trouble to your home.
Make a Snowman Craft Puppet
We love this one from iheartcraftythings.com. Buy the bags and allow kids to cut out their own shapes and put on their own eyeballs, too! They can also make fun scarves and sweaters to decorate also.
https://iheartcraftythings.com/paper-bag-snowman-puppet.html
Explore your hometown
This is a great opportunity to go to your local museums or game centers or to try out that new bowling alley or restaurant you have been meaning to try!
Play “school”
Do a role switch and have your kids pretend to be the teacher while you pretend to be the student and ask them to teach you what they have learned in school. It’s a great way to keep their newly learned concepts front of mind!
Accomplish that goal!
Whether you are potty training, learning to ride a bike, or learning to play an instrument, having a break means more time for consistent learning. Set a goal for kids to achieve before they return to school and reward them for doing so!
