The festive holidays are soon round the corner and it can always feel stressful to think about how you’re going to keep your little ones entertained. Fortunately, there are many ways you can keep them busy and here are just 8 of them:
8 Ways to Keep your Kids Busy
- Host a movie night/sleepover – Get into your pj’s and watch a number of Christmas movies together. You can even invite their friends or some cousins over to join in on the fun! Make loads of popcorn and snacks for them to eat throughout the movies.
- Read a book aloud together – This can be an educational way for you to spend time together. Snuggle up on the sofa and take it in turns to read a chapter each from your child’s favourite book.
- Create holiday cards and ornaments – Creating things together can be a creative and fun way for your child to let out their expressive side. Whatever they create can even be used as homemade gifts for friends or family members.
- Build a fort – This can be done by using blankets, tables and chairs, right in your living room! Help your child create this fort and then spend some time in it together. You can use it to camp for the night and watch movies together.
- Learn a new skill together – This can range from learning how to knit to even a musical instrument. It can give you the quality time needed together as well as learn something new for yourself and your child.
- Create a puppet show or play – Help your child write a script or even improvise a whole play together. Then, you can even perform it on Christmas day for all your family to see. Your child can direct, choose the costumes and assign roles. This will help them learn how to take charge of a situation when needed. For the younger ones, making puppets out of craft supplies and then acting out a story would be a fun way for them to bond with you.
- Bake some holiday goodies together – This will help teach your children their way around the kitchen as well as make goodies for you to enjoy together. You can even bake gingerbread houses and then decorate them for the whole family to indulge in on Christmas day.
- Create a treasure hunt – This can be done both indoors or outdoors and it will entertain your kids for hours!
Plan your holiday season in advance and see when it would be best to carry out some or even all of the activities above. They will surely be a fun way for your children to enjoy the holidays while also allowing them to bond with you!
Mandy Brincat is a Gestalt psychotherapist who enjoys working therapeutically with adults on various issues, such as general mental health and wellbeing. She also has experience working with children with anxiety and day to day stressful problems, and on relational issues with couples.
If you think that you can benefit from professional support on this issue you can reach out here.
Mandy Brincat is a Gestalt psychotherapist who enjoys working therapeutically with adults on various issues. These include general mental health and wellbeing. She also has experience working with anxiety, victims of domestic violence and eating disorders.
References
- Chimaobi, C. (n.d.). 20 Pocket-Friendly Ways to Keep Children Occupied During School Holidays. Twinkl. https://www.twinkl.com.mt/blog/20-pocket-friendly-ways-to-keep-children-occupied-during-school-holidays
- How to Keep Kids Busy During Holidays: Activities, Games, Things to Do. (2019, December 24). Educational Apps for Kids: Math, English, STEM | Pre-k to 3d Grade. https://kidsacademy.mobi/storytime/how-to-keep-kids-busy/
- 25 Ways to Keep Your Kids Entertained Over Holiday Break | Seventh Generation. (2013, December 5). Seventh Generation. https://www.seventhgeneration.com/blog/25-ways-keep-your-kids-entertained-over-holiday-break