The Christmas holidays are a lovely break from school and activities for our little ones - for about a week!
The Christmas holidays are great. They are a lovely time to embrace being out of routine and a nice break from school and activities for our little ones - for about a week!
The boredom and cabin fever kick in as soon as the second-week hits though, and many of us mums find ourselves struggling to think of ways to keep them entertained!
Fear not, here are some great ideas of fun things to do with your little ones this Christmas break.
Take a nature walk
A nature walk is a good way to get kids out into the fresh air and to allow them to exert some of their built-up energy. A great excuse to get them off screens for a while too!
Visit a local park or nature trail where kids can't wander far or get lost easily (if you don't have an area in mind, look online for trails and parks near you). To keep kids focused, task them with a particular job during the walk -
- picking up sticks or pine cones for an art project
- spotting birds, squirrels, or other small animals
- looking for things starting with a specific letter (e.g. "trail" and "tree" for the letter "T")
Have a car boot sale
If your house is anything like mine, it will be bulging at the seams after Christmas. Get the kids to clear out their rooms and their toys and have a car boot sale. Pool all the money together and use it to pay for a treat for the whole family.
Visit the library
This is something I don’t do as often as I would like to with the little ones. In most libraries you can get more than books - you can get movies and music. Make a day out of it. Do some reading while you’re there instead of getting some books and heading home. Give your children a love of books — it is one of the best gifts you can give them.
Organise some playdates
You can be certain other parents are feeling the cabin fever set in too so plan some playdates and invite friends over. While the kids are spending time with their friends it will give you the opportunity to get some work done and perhaps even connect with other parents. Plus…the invite may be returned!
Have a “Chill Day”
There is no shame in doing nothing. With all that activity planned, you and your kids will also need some downtime. Make sure you plan some days where you just chill, watch some movies, read some books, and take it easy.
Cooking and baking
Plan a cooking or baking day. Involve the kids in the process from the beginning — let them chose from a selection of recipes that you have ingredients for. If the child can read, get them to read from the recipe book. Step by step, help them to work through the instructions. Try to avoid the temptation of doing it all yourself! (Guilty!)
Have a treasure hunt
Make a treasure map with clues to find some treasure you have hidden somewhere in the garden or in the house. It doesn’t have to be expensive or big — any little treat will be exciting when it is found after a search!
Laura Doyle, mum of 4. Kyle 9, Noa Belle 4, Briar 2 and Milla 12 months. Breastfeeder, co-sleeper, coffee drinker. Staying positive and inspired by the chaos of it all. Writer and blogger at www.lovelifeandlittleones.com.
