3 Ways to Keep Kids Busy During Holiday Breaks

Holiday breaks. The bane of every parent’s existence. You start the break with idyllic images in your head: You’ll snuggle and read stories, make hot chocolate, go for walks in the crisp air and do lots of craft. That quickly devolves into survival mode – you’re just trying to get through the break without losing your mind. While you can’t plan for every contingency during holiday break, you can start with a plan in mind. Having a few activities to fall back on can stave off boredom and keep your kids engaged and happy. We’re here to help! Here are five affordable ideas to keep your kids busy during holiday breaks:

1.Creative Coloring. When kids are 2 years old, a box of crayons and some paper can keep them busy for hours. But as they grow, they may need a few more creative ideas for how to use those crayons to stay busy. Kids love being able to use crayons on surfaces that are usually off-limits. Crayola makes some crayons specifically for coloring on windows. Grab a pack of these, and let kids decorate the windows for the holidays.
2.Indoor Games. Probably the worst part of the holiday season is that it may be too cold to play outside. And you probably don’t have a gym like your kid’s school does where they can release their pent-up energy. Luckily, with some creativity and basic supplies, you can create your own indoor gross motor games to burn off that extra energy.
3.Arts and Crafts. Before the holiday break starts, plan some crafts for your kids to do during the break. Then, hit your local craft store sans kids, and pick up the supplies you need. Stick supplies for each craft into a gallon-sized bag, and write the name of the craft and any necessary instructions on it with a marker. This may seem over the top, but when your kids are in the throes of boredom two days into break, you’ll be glad you have an activity to pull out and run with. Kids love to make things to give to others, and if you have a lot of people on your list, you can keep them busy all break long making DIY gifts for the holidays. Hand-painted ornaments are always a great option, and these handprint ones are especially cute. Grab some canvas aprons, and let the kids decorate them with fabric paint as gifts. Older kids can also customize canvas without much supervision.Have you got any ideas for holiday activity with your kids? Click Snapmade for more handicraft.