What do holidays mean to you? Cookies? Fun? Flying kites?
Children unanimously love vacations because they are not fettered by assignments or tests. They are free to indulge in what they like and do not have to plan and live by a schedule. While this sounds all rosy, it is only extra work for parents when their children are around at home. They need to constantly look for ways to ensure that the young ones are up to no mischief. Here are 10 creative activities that you can engage your children with:
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Create and learn
The easiest way to keep children occupied is to give them a pencil, a bunch of sketch pens, paper and glue and let them draw what their hearts desire. Apart from that, you can give them colouring books or origami sheets to work on. These activities divert their attention towards the task and hence they are likely to be occupied with them for a larger part of the day.
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Tasty adventures
It is quite surprising how much children love to spend time making food. You can introduce them to age-appropriate kitchen experiments. Get them the required ingredients, explain the process and be around to assist them. They will learn to translate recipe instructions into real life, measure quantities precisely and also become more aware of food safety and associated precautions. Another option would be to let them attempt dishes from multiple cuisines - this will broaden their perspectives and increase their appreciation for other cultures.
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Cultural journeys
Take your children to local museums, art galleries, workshops and landmarks. Let them explore these environments and come up with interesting questions. This will provide them with an opportunity to think critically and expand their understanding across diverse fields. You can also let them go on educational road trips exploring heritage sites and interactive science museums along the route. At each place of significance, you can let them explore the places and tell them fun facts and stories associated with the place. They will enjoy the trip even more!
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Gardening and outdoor fun
Holidays are the best time for your children to develop a green thumb. You can choose a corner of the balcony or the garden and help them in sowing the seeds of their choice. They will gain the joy of reaping the fruits of their labour and a deeper understanding of how and what plants need to grow well.
Apart from the above option, you can use the garden for bird watching or stargazing. Buy a pair of binoculars and instruct them on how to observe various birds. When it comes to gazing at stars, you can describe the ideas of constellations, planets and celestial events and allow them to observe and discuss with you. A third option would be to use the area for a treasure hunt game, where you can hide their favourite items in different corners of the garden and let them find the gifts.
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Volunteer and give back
Teach children about their privilege and allow them to volunteer at an orphanage or charity event. This will make them gain awareness of different aspects of life and will make them more grateful and well-rounded. You can also assist them in creating customized gifts for underprivileged children and elders during the holiday season - children will not only stay engaged with tasks but will also be contributing to a good cause.
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Fort building fun
Give the extra blankets and pillows to your children. They will add some chairs to the mix and construct forts right inside the house. You can add a few toys, snacks and play a movie for them to watch. Alternatively, encourage them to use the space for quiet activities like reading their favourite books or playing games together. This will keep them entertained and spark their imagination while creating wonderful memories.
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Game On!
Board games are meant to be played for hours together. Young ones can play popular board games like Snakes and Ladders, Ludo, or Business. These games challenge young minds to think strategically, plan their moves, and adapt to changing scenarios over multiple rounds. Playing board games also enhances their social skills as they interact, compete, and sometimes cooperate with family or friends. The added advantage here is that it helps family members to bond well.
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Read and write away
The second option concerns reading and writing. You can foster a love for either or both by picking interesting books and instructing them to write a synopsis of the plot and characters. A third approach would be to make them work on puzzles and brain teasers that will refine their logical skills and boost their memory.
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Science with a holiday twist
Holidays are the best time to turn your home into a science lab. Introduce children to interesting experiments such as magical candles, snowy slime or lemonade rockets. Additionally, you can guide them on the chemistry behind colours of a rangoli, pH and associated concepts. These experiments not only help them learn practically but also provide them with a healthy dose of fun!
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Movie marathon twist
Set up the usual movie night and add the twist wherein you ask the children to come up with their film, with any theme of their choice. Additionally, you can give them prompts and ask them to write a script and dialogues, assemble costumes and perform the scenes. Document the fun with your phone camera, for it can be useful for another movie night when you want an extra dose of nostalgia.
Children are hard to manage, more so during the holiday season, when they are always present at home. Do not attempt to fight or argue with them, instead think of how you can engage them. The next time you're stuck with your petulant child, take a deep breath and remember that you have plenty of options to engage them.
Are you ready for the holiday season?
