School’s Out For Summer!

As crazy as the time leading up to Christmas break is, it’s easy to let the break slip away without having the fun and accomplishing the not so fun things that you’d planned. While not necessarily a “break” for parents, this is your holiday season too.

Simply keeping kids busy while you work at home may be one important goal, but use these ideas to get the most out of your Christmas break. Some are things we do every Christmas season; some are things we mean to get to all year but don’t, and some are things that just need to be done!

Decorate

No one is as enthusiastic about holiday decorating than kids! They throw themselves into it with an energy most adults just don’t have this time of year. And that’s what makes it so much fun. As kids get older, you may even put them in charge of decorating and strike it from your holiday to do list. There are many elegant decorating projects kids can do.

Put on a Talent Show

This is an activity with so many possibilities! And it’s great for all ages, including the grownups. If you’re working, the kids might put together a show and perform for you later. Or, the whole family could show off their talents for visiting guests – lip-syncing and dancing to a favourite song or just singing a few carols. A show can be as elaborate or as simple as you like. This might mean sets, costumes, an original script and live music.

Bake

From toddlers to teenagers, kids love the mixing and the measuring, but most of all, they love the treats at the end. As you teach kids to bake, scale holiday baking projects to your kids’ abilities and ages. Add activities to keep little kids engaged while you are doing more complicated baking tasks or simplify baking projects so that more experienced kid bakers can take the lead.

Make Gifts

Homemade gifts are a kid specialty. They love to make them; parents love to get them. But homemade gifts don’t have to be just limited to Mother’s Day or just for parents. There are many gifts kids can make – either with close adult supervision or on their own.

Don’t Miss Local Holiday Events

Drive through the lighting displays around town; go to firehouse train gardens; see a Christmas show at your local theatre; take advantage of holiday deals, discounts, and free events. There are countless special events this time of year and many of them only come around once a year, so don’t let the holiday break slip by without stepping out.

Go Shopping

Shopping! Haven’t I done enough shopping already?” you say. This time, though, instead of shopping for the kids, shop with the kids. If you can pull it together to shop with the kids before Christmas to let them pick out of gifts, I applaud you.

But for many, taking kids shopping at the after-Christmas sales is a better bet. Funny how kids who think shopping is torture, change their tune when they have gift cards or cash they received as presents to spend.

Watch Television Together

Keeping your kids from watching too much TV over Christmas break is always a challenge. But TV isn’t all bad if you watch together – especially today when all family members could be watching on separate devices! Choose something you want to watch – a sport like football (there’s plenty this time of year!), a cooking show, favourite holiday film or documentary and you use this as an opportunity to share your interests and knowledge with your kids.

Make these holidays as much about you as about your kids! You deserve it. Well done on surviving another 12 months! School’s out for summer, pop those champagne bottles and recharge those batteries!