Holidays are a great time to bond with children and let your inner child come out and play. However, it can also become stressful when kids begin to misbehave due to frustration and boredom. If you manage to put a little bit of planning into the holidays and prepare yourself with activities to keep the little ones away from mischief, you can have an excellent time. You must begin by planning each week in advance. When your kids know they have something to look forward to, they will be happier and relaxed. It helps to get the children involved in the planning. This way, they will complain less about the activities and will happily be a part of them. You can have a range of activities to do, right from the home to the garden and outdoors. Here are a few ideas you can choose from.
Story Stages
1. Create your own games
You can use your creativity and create your own games. Simply get colored cards, glue, epson pigment ink, scissors, and anything else that you need to make a fun game. You can create games like Pin The Tail on the Donkey, Hoopla, or Snakes and Ladders. It will keep the children occupied for a long time and they will be happy to help you create the game.
2. Cooking
You can set aside a baking or cooking day and involve the kids in the process. Let them help you right from the beginning and allow them to choose the recipes. You need to ensure that you have the ingredients for them. Let them read from the recipe book and help them to work through all the instructions.
3. Create a garden patch
You can set aside a small patch in the garden for your kids. Here you can plant the herbs, flowers, lettuce, or anything that can grow quickly. It will also give them the satisfaction of having produced something. Give them a spade and let them loose. Do not worry about the dirt, mud, or mess.
4. Go on a picnic
There is no need to go very far to go for a picnic. You can have a picnic in the garden and give them whatever you have in the fridge. Simply pack it in a nice container and eat it on a blanket on the grass. The atmosphere will change and your kids will love the experience.
5. Organize a treasure hunt
There is no joy like being a part of a treasure hunt and you can set one up for your kids. All you have to do is make a treasure map with different clues to find the treasure you have hidden in the garden. Even a small treat becomes exciting when your kids find it outdoors.
6. Start jamming
Pick up some musical instruments, anything you have at home, and get jamming. You may have to take an initiative and your kids will follow. Get them to sing and dance along. Do not go out to buy new instruments, you can just pick up things like tambourines, bongos, or shakers.
7. Paint
The nicest way to bring out creativity for your kids is through painting. You have to pick up large sheets of paper and a lot of paint. Use your hands and feet and have the time of your life! If you hate mess, you can prepare the area well using newspapers and keep water on hand to wash once you are finished.
8. Swim
If you live close to the sea, head to the beach. It will have a calming effect on kids and they will learn to spend time close to nature. It also uses a lot of their energy which means they will not be very active after they get home. You can also head to the pool if there is one nearby.
9. Nature walks
Plan a nature walk with a purpose. Head to the beach to collect shells and later make a shell castle. Head to the forest to seek different types of plants and bugs. You can also assign duties to them so they do not get bored very quickly. When they have something to do and look forward to, they will be excited about it.
10. Sketch
If your children like art and enjoy sketching, they can spend hours doing so. Grab the sketch pads and pencil and encourage them to draw what they see around them. It can be a lot of fun to witness how they draw.
These are just a few of the activities you can engage your kids in. Ensure your children never get bored by planning one of these activities every week. It will give them something to look forward to and will keep them busy during the holidays.
