A cup of hot chocolate, your favourite book and a warm blanket? Are these on your checklist for a comfortable holiday evening?
Holidays are equivalent to comfort for most of us, if not all. It is the only time we get to spend more hours with our family, pursue our favourite hobbies and relax by catching up on lost sleep. With respect to bonding with family, here are some fun and educational activities that all members can enjoy together:
1. Cook-o-clock
Cooking gives enough opportunity for all family members to talk and work together and thereby, bond with each other. Activities like baking and cooking complex dishes will refine mathematical skills like addition, subtraction, ratios and fractions. It is even more helpful for young ones, as they will be able to enhance their skills practically. This will not only help in strengthening their basics but will also teach them culinary skills. Isn’t it good to gain two benefits with the same activity?
2. Explore the roots of tradition
Holidays are accompanied by festivals, which have history and traditions attached to them. Hence, it is the right time to explore them as a family by setting aside some time for the same. It will give you some quality time to spend with the family. Your children will also feel enriched by the knowledge they gain from tracing the past.
3. Explore crafting and scrapbooking
Creating DIY decorations is a great way to engage the entire family in preparing for an upcoming celebration. Split tasks like cutting, pasting and drawing among different members and come up with homemade festoons and other decorations. They aid in saving money because these items would be priced much higher in the market. Another option is scrapbooking, where everyone can document experiences from the latest family trip or work on crafting the family tree. This will allow family members to discover more about their family and ancestors and will facilitate better bonding between each other.
4. Take a trip down memory lane
Organize a movie night with a caveat - the movie to be played will be a family video or a set of videos from various occasions. Bring some snacks, hot chocolate and comforters, switch off the lights and relive the nostalgia. You can make your children aware of many relatives that they may not be familiar with. Education isn't limited to books or extracurricular classes, it is also about understanding and connecting with family. Building stronger bonds and learning about each other's lives is just as important as academics.
5. Dive into holiday books
You are never too old to start reading books. Take your family to the library and help everyone select their favourite books. Have a book night where everyone can spend an hour and exclusively focus on reading. Post that, all can take turns presenting a synopsis of the pages they read. This will give a chance for the family members to bond, help each other and ask doubts, whenever required. Children will also learn how to summarize, a skill that will come in handy as they pursue higher education.
These tips are versatile, therefore, you can use them for children and adults alike. Strike a balance between the educational and fun aspects, especially with children - they are more likely to lose interest if the task is not exciting. Savour every moment of holidays with your family and make cherished memories for life. Learn more, enjoy more.
