Holiday Break Activity Ideas for the whole family to Enjoy!
1. Read together!
Instead of turning the TV on first thing in the morning, grab your coffee and a book and sit on the couch and read together.
This counts if they are old enough to read to themselves, you are still sitting together and reading. Which is good bonding and good for brain development.
2. Go on a scavenger hunt, 4 activities in 1.
Grab a piece of paper and a pen and create a neighborhood/park/hike scavenger hunt.
For example: 5 green items, 4 brown, 3 yellow, 2 inflatable decorations.
You can bring a basket to collect the items, take or draw pictures of the items, or write descriptions, whichever method your child chooses to document what they find. When you get home, have the kids create something with the items you brought back. Write a story about the items or draw a picture that includes the items.
*If the weather is bad, create an indoor scavenger hunt.
3. Connect with another parent and trade play dates.
One day the kids are at one house, then next they are at the other.
One day you will have a quiet house to get things done or can run errands kid free. The day you host the playdate, it might be loud, but I find when friends are over, kids entertain themselves either outside or with their toys. You will have time to get things done for a second day in a row!
4. Puzzles!
Clear off the dining room table or pull out a card table and have a puzzle out for the week.
Puzzles are good for the mind, they are calming and rewarding when completed.
5. Go outside!
Walks, bike rides, parks, scooter rides, chalk, just get the kids outside!
6. Visit your local Library.
You might be surprised how long your kids want to stay at the library.
There is typically an outside area where you can bring a snack and enjoy some time outside before or after going in.
Check the calendar because the library usually offers activities too.
Don’t be in a rush to check out books and leave. Find a cozy spot and read some of the books the kids picked out.
7. Family movie night.
Trade daytime screentime for a fun filled family movie night.
Pop the popcorn, grab the junk food, and cuddle up on the couch for a movie.
8. Holiday cooking and baking.
Let your kids help with the cooking and baking.
While this will make the process slower and definitely a lot messier, it will also create amazing holiday memories.
9. Cardboard box activities.
Keep those boxes, big and small, for some impromptu crafting.
Pull out the boxes, scissors, scrap paper, packing tape, markers, colors, whatever you can find and let the kids go.
Have them create Santa’s village with roads (packing tape) and buildings (boxes).
10. Write, draw and color.
Have your kids create their own books. Give them a theme or let them explore on their own.
Download activity sheets from MamaBearBooks.com. Choose from over 30 activity sheets from ‘Draw your own Story’, ‘Write your own Story’ , to coloring Bulldozers and Excavators, Happy Horses and Peaceful PIgs and many more!
Download activity sheets for all age groups . Download here
Remember, this is the only Christmas you will have with your kids at this age. Make the most of it. Let the house be messy and have fun!
Most importantly know that you are doing a GREAT job, your kids are lucky to have you, and you are a beautiful human.
Thank you for sharing some of your time with me. I am glad you are here! Ashley Wall M.Ed., Co-founder and CEO MamaBear Books
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