It’s easy to slip into the busyness of the holiday season. Before we know it, the new year will arrive and all we will have are the memories of this wonderful time of year. It’s important to slow down and enjoy this time, especially while our children are still young, still curious, and still discovering the enchantment of the holidays. We’ve created an easy way for you to have fun with your children this winter.
Check out these 5 fun activities to try this year!
1. Ice Skating
During the colder months, it can be easy to get in the habit of staying indoors and getting cozy. It’s important, especially for kids, to stay active even during the holidays. Ice skating is not only a fun activity for the whole family, but it has amazing health benefits! Ice skating improves flexibility, balance, and posture as well as strength and endurance. Check out your town’s local ice-skating rink; it’s especially fun outdoors!
2. Holiday Light Gazing
Every town has that one neighborhood with excessive Christmas lights akin to “Christmas with the Kranks.” Gather your family and find that neighborhood to see which house has the best lights. There is something magical about gazing at all the Christmas lights after the sun goes down. Light gazing can create precious moments with your kids, and you can even make it a yearly tradition!
3. Wrapping Presents
Whether Santa visits your home or not, wrapping a few gifts with your children not only creates fond memories, but it teaches them a life skill. Cutting the wrapping paper, folding the edges, adding tape and peeling bows all help enhance fine motor skills, increasing your child’s overall coordination. This also teaches them the gift of giving. Wrapping presents together will be a time your children remember forever, while endorsing generosity in their lives.
4. Baking Christmas Cookies
Who doesn’t love a good Christmas cookie or two (or three)? Baking together is fun activity for the whole family. Baking from scratch teaches kids how to measure and mix, but it also helps strengthen their reading skills, math skills, motor skills and patience. And what’s not to love about creating fun shapes with cookie cutters? To further teach generosity, have your children box up the cookies and gift them to a neighbor or friend!
5. Making Ornaments
There is nothing more magical than decorating for the holidays. One way to add to the magic is by creating ornaments with your children each year. The best part about making ornaments with your kids is the memories created together that can last a lifetime! You get to watch your child’s imagination come to life. Check out your local craft store for supplies: construction paper, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, glitter, the possibilities are endless. Spark some magic in your home and get creating!
Whether your family goes all out or likes to take it slow, these activities are a great fit for anyone. What’s important is creating quality time with your children, and what better time than now? Have a happy holiday season!
