Holiday Hacks – 5 Fun Activities To Keep The Kids Occupied When You Need A Break

Holiday Hacks – 5 Fun Activities To Keep The Kids Occupied When You Need A Break

The holidays can be a great time to reconnect with your family, but it can also be a stressful time. Especially, when children get bored and misbehave. Rather than worry about how you’ll survive the time, try planning some activities that will keep the youngsters entertained and busy. Planning will give the kids something to look forward to and will encourage them to behave to be able to participate in the festivities. 

Go through the list below and find an activity or two you think your kids will enjoy. Make a point of planning these activities ahead of time so you also have something to look forward to – a much-needed break. Holiday hacks – 5 fun activities to keep the kids occupied when you need a break.

1. Go Swimming

Almost everyone loves to swim, but if your kids don’t know how yet, enrol them in some kids swimming lessons. You’ll accomplish a few important things with this activity: 

• It will keep the kids busy and give you a break.
• Your kids will learn a valuable skill they’ll use throughout their lives, and
• The exercise will relax and calm your kids and help them sleep better. 

2. Go Camping

You don’t have to go camping in the literal sense. Instead, set up a tent in the backyard and give the kids a few essentials like a flashlight, a picnic lunch, and a blanket. There’s a good chance you won’t see them again for several hours. 

If your children are old enough, you may even allow them to sleep in the tent overnight. For younger children, set up a small tent indoors and let them sleep inside it for more camping fun. 

3. Have an Arts and Crafts Day

Kids love to create things, so an arts and crafts day is sure to keep them happy and busy for a long time. Prepping for this day is important as you’ll need a lot of supplies to pull it off. Head to your local dollar store and stock up on all sorts of crafty supplies like fingerpaint, markers, glue sticks, coloured paper, etc. Be sure to pick up lots of sparkly things like gems and sequins, too. When the day arrives, designate an area of tables and chairs where the kids can create to their hearts’ content while you sit back and enjoy watching their imaginations unfold. 

4. Get Back to Nature

Kids are naturally curious, so take them on a nature walk that stimulates their minds and gets their bodies moving. If you live near a beach, challenge your kids to look for beautiful shells and other items they can use in their artwork. Alternately, if you head into the woods, have them seek out specific insects, plants, or trees to keep them from getting bored too quickly. 

Getting out like this to learn about nature and enjoy it helps kids gain respect for the planet and it gives you a chance to relax and enjoy the great outdoors, too. 

5. Schedule Play Dates

While this activity requires you to watch other parents’ children from time to time, it also gets your kids out of the house to give you a break, too. Get in touch with other parents to schedule play dates with their children. Take turns dropping off and picking up the kids to make it convenient for everyone. It’s a sure bet that other parents are looking forward to the free time, too. 

If you’re looking for a way for the kids to have fun while giving you a much-needed break during the holidays at the same time, try a few of the activities listed above.