Put the screens aside: with school out of the way, the Christmas break is the perfect time for kids to play, make crafts, and explore the natural world around them. Here are some fun activity ideas to help you keep your kids active, outdoors, and creative this holiday season!
Why buy wrapping paper when you can make your own? Give your kids a canvas of blank newsprint and let them color away with their favorite finger paints, crayons, and colored pencils. Ask them to conjure up their own Christmas patterns, or simply let their imaginations run rampant onto the page; either way, this activity is sure to inspire hours of creative, festive fun!
The plants may not be growing this time of year, but there’s still a world of birds waiting to be explored just beyond our doorsteps. Take a trip to your local nature park to see what kinds you can find. Don’t know how to identify them? Ask the kids to research and draw common birds in your area the day before, so you have a handy guide when exploring.
The plants may not be growing this time of year, but there’s still a world of birds waiting to be explored just beyond our doorsteps. Take a trip to your local nature park to see what kinds you can find. Don’t know how to identify them? Ask the kids to research and draw common birds in your area the day before, so you have a handy guide when exploring.
Hide trinkets in your backyard or nearby park for the kids to discover. Get them started with a riddle to the first prize and hide clues with each treasure to lead them to the next, step-by-step. Candy canes, bells, ornaments, and cards are just a few ideas that make for great buried treasure!
Get your kids working on their acting chops while putting a holiday twist on this classic game! Make up your own cue cards with familiar Christmas carols, Christmas movie titles, Christmas mythical characters, or common holiday activities, like making hot cocoa or decorating a tree. Split everyone up into teams, or play as one big group, and let the fun begin!
Homemade Christmas ornaments fill your tree with unique character and memories you can revisit year after year. Try making the classic paper snowflakes, popsicle stick reindeer, glued string balls, or salt dough cookies. Cinnamon stick bundles, shower-ring wreaths, and acorn balls are a few more ideas. You’d be surprised at what you can make with felt, glue, string, glitter, and natural materials from your backyard. As with everything else on this list, let your kids get creative!
Awaken your kids’ animal senses with a scent-smelling activity. Place fragrant holiday objects in small mason jars and seal them with a lid. One person puts on a blindfold and attempts to guess what’s in each jar based on the smell. Try using candy canes, gingerbread, sugar cookies, cedar boughs, fir tree needles, pine cones, dark chocolate, or even Santa’s socks. It’s a great way to boost your child’s tree identification skills and have a few laughs in the process.
Here’s an activity that flexes your kids’ architectural and culinary skills all at once! Ask them to dream up their favorite winter wonderland or elves’ village, and help them bring their vision to life using gingerbread and icing. Lastly, let them accessorize their festive treats using candy canes, shredded coconut, jellybeans, and other candies. Your kiddos will have almost as much fun making their gingerbread houses as they will eating them!
Shovel your neighbors’ walks, clean up litter in your neighborhood, give Christmas cards to strangers at the mall, or bake cookies to distribute to the less fortunate. These small acts of kindness can go a long way in awakening altruism in your kids, helping them better connect to the true spirit of Christmas.
These holiday activities for kids are just a starting point to help your family have fun over the break. Remember that your children’s imagination is the biggest resource for ideas and that, with just a bit of guidance and help getting started, they can come up with ways to keep the whole family entertained all winter long. If you’re in need of any supplies or extra holiday inspiration, feel free to visit our garden centers in Lothian, Alexandria, and Belle Haven today!
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