The weeks without school over the Holidays can be simultaneously fun and challenging for parents. While we’re stoked to have a break from the routine, keeping our kiddos active and engaged during the extended break can send any parent spiraling. From one mom to another, here are a few ideas and strategies to save your sanity this Holiday break.
While the Holidays are supposed to be relaxing and off-beat, maintaining some semblance of a structure helps our children feel secure. Create a daily routine that keeps free play time, structured activities, and time for rest in balance. Keeping a framework that allows for a semblance of structure while allowing for spontaneity.
Heading out to drive by the Christmas lights? Do your bedtime routine first and get those jammies on before you go so you can tuck them right into bed once you’re home.
If you’re anything like me, you love order at home, but through the Holidays when our littles are home day in and out, you kinda have to embrace the chaos. Set up an obstacle course with your couch cushions or nugget couch, organize an indoor treasure hunt, or turn up the music for a dance party.
If you have a gaming system, consider setting them up with active video games that get them moving. There are plenty of options that offer dance games, sports simulators, and interactive adventures that get them moving.
If it’s not too hazardous and icy out, don’t hesitate to bundle them up and take them out to play at the park. Zip up all the layers and go on a family hike, create a winter scavenger hunt, or kick off some backyard Olympics. Even in the winter, children need a solid hour of physical activity every day. Bonus is that plenty of physical activity will help them sleep well, too!
It’s quite normal for screen time to increase around the Holidays, but you can keep their screen time beneficial by embracing educational STEM or STEAM apps and enjoying fun shows as a family.
In between the busiest moments, it’s also absolutely ok to go off a schedule and allow for free-choice quiet time where they can read, draw or just chill. Moments of downtime are critical for all of us to process our experiences and recharge our energy.
Connect with your local library, children’s museums, or parks and recreation department for Holiday storytimes, workshops, and other local celebrations. These can also be a fantastic opportunity for play dates and meetups with friends–without the need to get the house ready for hosting.
Don’t forget to involve your kiddos in giving back during this Holiday season! Pick a child to gift to shop for from a giving tree or bring donations to a food bank together. These are valuable opportunities teach them core empathy and community spirit.
Don’t forget about your own care and well-being when putting all the focus on keeping your children active and engaged. It’s perfectly reasonable to schedule some quiet time to yourself while they’re enjoying their own independent activities. Or, even better, hire a sitter and go on a holi-date with your partner–or solo!
Last, but certainly not least, accept that perfect Holiday breaks don’t exist–and that’s 100% okay! The goal is to create a perfect blend of memories for your family and maintain your sanity along the way.
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