The weather is cooling down, Christmas decorations are starting to appear, and kids are looking forward to winter break. Do you know what that means?
The holiday season is almost here, and it’s time to start thinking about how to keep your children occupied.
While you want your kids to relax and enjoy themselves, you don’t want them to turn into couch potatoes. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to keep your kids entertained.
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Don’t Be (Too) Afraid of Screen Time
Contrary to popular belief, there’s nothing wrong with letting your kids spend some time with technology during their winter break. This is especially true if you purchase a kid-friendly device like a kids phone. Such gadgets don’t have internet, games, or social media, so you don’t have to worry about your children accessing inappropriate content. Yet your kids can still text or call friends and family members, listen to music, and snap holiday photos.
There are many misconceptions surrounding phones and whether or not kids should have access to them. The truth is, you can’t keep kids away from technology forever. What you can do is take steps to keep them safe and help them adopt healthy habits. Instead of letting your children have free range with their phone this winter break, limit the amount of time they spend with it. The goal is to help your kids see technology as a tool rather than a crutch.
Cook With Your Kids
Chances are, you’ll be doing a good amount of cooking this holiday season. Whether you’re hosting a family dinner or bringing dessert to your work party, have your kids help you in the kitchen. Cooking is a great way to inspire creativity. It’s also a life skill your kids are going to need, so why not start teaching them now?
Regardless of your child’s age, it’s a good idea to start with a simple recipe. You should also choose something your kids will enjoy eating to ensure their enthusiasm. If you need ideas, you can find tons of festive Christmas recipes online. While these aren’t necessarily recipes your children could put together on their own, they should be easy if you lend a helping hand.
Remember, you don’t have to make something complicated or extravagant. What matters most is that your kids enjoy themselves — while learning an important life skill.
Volunteer
For some kids, the holiday season is simply about getting gifts and enjoying good food. While those can be part of the celebrations, it’s important children don’t lose sight of what’s really important. The holidays are about connecting with people, expressing gratitude for everything you have, and showing others generosity.
To help instill these values into your kids, consider volunteering over winter break. Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean you have to dig a well or build a school. A simple way to give back is to have your kids go through their toys and clothes and donate what they no longer use. Or you could spend the day at a soup kitchen feeding the homeless or volunteer at a dog shelter.
There are several ways you can help your kids pay it forward while also keeping them busy during winter break. Something as simple as helping an elderly person with their groceries or delivering holiday cookies to neighbors can spread the spirit of the season.
Spend Time Outdoors
While there’s nothing wrong with your kids playing video games for a few hours, you don’t want them to sit inside all day. Playing outside is important. For one, it helps kids develop their problem-solving skills and promotes creativity. Spending time outside also provides vitamin D and encourages kids to exercise so they can maintain good health.
Instead of letting your children sit on the couch all winter break, have them bundle up and play outside. Depending on where you live, your kids could spend the day building snowmen or having a snowball fight. Ice skating, sledding, and hockey are also great sports options for the cooler months. If you live in a place without snow, winter can be a good time to go hiking or bike around town.
There are so many benefits of spending time outdoors in nature. Make sure you and your kids reap those benefits during the winter, even if that means wearing a few more layers.
Take a Vacation
Believe it or not, one of the best times to travel is during the winter. This is mainly because winter is considered “off peak” for many destinations. Not only are prices cheaper compared to summer, but there are also fewer people. You and your family can spend the day sightseeing or walking through a museum without fighting your way through crowds.
Another benefit to traveling when your kids are on winter break is it offers an escape. This is especially true if you live somewhere with harsh winters. True, winter is peak season in tropical locations, but wouldn’t it be nice to visit somewhere sunny and warm for a bit? Even if it’s only for a few days, a quick getaway could be just what your family needs.
Not that you have to travel far to have a good time. A road trip of a few hours could get you to a city that is new to you. Make a list of its attractions and take in as many as you care to. It doesn’t much matter where you travel as long as it allows your family to make memories together.
The first few days of winter break are magical. It’s day three when the energy dies down and children utter those dreaded words, “I’m bored.” Thankfully, the tips above can keep you from having to hear that phrase for a week or two. By keeping your kids busy, you can ensure they’ll have fun all break long.
