Winter break is typically best spent traveling to see family and friends or celebrating with a fun Christmas family vacation. However, a trip away may not be in the works for your family this year. During the holidays, don’t despair when these uncertain times leave you with a house full of bored kids. There are plenty of ways to take full advantage of your break—you may just have to get a little creative!
Use these five original activities to keep both you and your children busy, sane, and accomplished this holiday season. Whether you’re working from home or not, these are activities you’ll surely want to carve out time to enjoy with your kids. No need to worry—spending the Christmas break at home can be productive, meaningful, and memorable for the whole family.
Decorate Your Home with All Things Jolly
There’s no better way to spruce up your home and occupy your kids’ time than with decorating. When your kids get to be a part of the decoration process, it’s almost guaranteed that they’ll get pumped up for the holidays. Who knows, it may end up becoming a Christmas tradition for you and your family. Plus, Christmas decorations don’t have to be expensive, and you can even spread the jolly into their bedrooms. For ideas on how to decorate your home, Christmas tree, and stockings, check out these simple Christmas arts and crafts for kids!Cook and Bake: The More the Merrier!
Cooking or baking is a great way to keep your kids entertained come Christmas time. This doesn’t mean you have to make gourmet meals, but you can show them how to make your favorite holiday dishes and desserts. Not only will this get them cooking at a young age, but it will also instill comfort and happiness with food and the holidays. It’s the perfect time to bond and share family recipes or stories while preparing something delicious for your family to enjoy. Of course, kids love making a mess and mixing all sorts of things together, but we’re sure their favorite part will be seeing the masterpiece they helped create. Look over these easy Christmas recipes for you and your kids to make:- Chocolate dipped candy canes or pretzels
- Homemade hot chocolate
- White chocolate–covered Chex mix and cereal
- Gingerbread cookies and houses
- Red and green mashed potatoes
- Candy cane shaped pizza
Wrap and Make Gifts Together
Gift-giving is so special, especially when it’s homemade and unique. Receiving a gift from a kid is even more heartfelt. Whether your kids want to make gifts for their friends, grandparents, cousins, or other family members, all you need is some construction paper, markers, crayons, and colored pencils. There’s not much else to it! They can even repurpose some old things laying around the house, such as picture frames or shoe boxes. If you bought gifts, you can have your kids help wrap them or even make custom wrapping paper.Participate in Local Christmas Activities and Events
Christmas-time snow calls for outdoor fun and adventures. Gather up your skis, snow tubes, and sleds for an action-packed day in the cold. End the night with a warm cup of hot cocoa and smores. Load your family in the car and drive around the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights and decorations. Drive to town to go pick out a Christmas tree together. Or, perhaps your town is hosting safe and socially distanced events for the community. Whatever the case, many of these activities are only around for the season, so don’t miss out!Watch Your Favorite Christmas Movies
Watching Christmas movies is the ultimate way to indulge in the holiday spirit without breaking the bank. If your kids have their favorite Christmas movies, pick out a few and watch them on the weekend while enjoying some of the freshly baked meals you made together. Or, you can share some of the Christmas movies you watched as a child. Luckily, there are tons of Christmas movies to choose from. Some of the best Christmas movies for you and your family to watch, both traditional and modern-day classics, include:- Home Alone
- A Christmas Story
- Elf
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas
- Frosty the Snowman
- The Polar Express
- The Nightmare Before Christmas