4 minutes
The school year has just ended, and it is time to change the routine established almost ten months ago. Now the question arises: “What should we do with our children during the holidays?”
The holidays are the perfect time to enjoy being with family. Here are the keys to enjoying them with your children.
After a demanding school yearand long months of work, it is a relief to spend a few days resting, strengthening bonds with loved ones and making the most of our time with them.
Parents who normally spend some time at home say they have to work wonders to keep their children entertained. For working parents, adjusting their workday so children are looked after at all times creates additional pressure.
But it does not all have to be that way. Here is a series of tips to help you enjoy your children's holidays too.
Find a balance
The first step is to balance your activities. We know that for many parents working full time, finding alternative childcare arrangements adds another layer of stress.
Most people try to do some work at home or finish overdue household tasks while looking after their children, which ultimately is not very relaxing.
That is why you need to get organized and set aside time for each activity. You can use tools such as: Trello, Evernote or Microsoft To Do
Find time for yourself
A little peace and quiet can work wonders for your health, so try to make time for yourself during the holidays. “Teaming up” with a friend or neighbor who also has children can work exceptionally well.
Keep them busy
Parents are not the only ones who must adjust to new routines during the holidays. Children also need an adjustment period.
There is usually plenty of local information about leisure activities for the youngest family members. You can even look for ideas on family-oriented websites.
If you choose an organized activity, make sure you are satisfied with the level of supervision and safety provided for children.
Here are some ideas for worthwhile activities, especially when it is raining or you cannot devote a whole day to an outing:
- 👑 Treasure hunt: Hide small gifts throughout the house. This game suits most ages if you adjust how difficult the hiding places are to find.
- 🍎 Bite the apple: Tie an apple to a string and hang it from the top of any doorway in the house. Give the hanging apple a gentle push and let children take turns trying to bite it without using their hands.
- 🚴 Old favorites: You can always turn to other popular family activities, such as cycling, flying kites, or simply going to a park.
Fun and healthy food
Sometimes simply changing the routine, such as the snacks or foods you give your children, is enough to create a holiday feeling and sense of fun. Here are some suggestions for healthy, enjoyable foods:
- 🍿 Popcorn: Popcorn is a very fun snack for children, very inexpensive for parents, and very healthy for everyone.
- 🥤 Natural smoothies: Blending bananas or other fruit with milk can make a delicious snack. Add honey, vanilla essence, and plain or flavored yogurt for delicious variations.
- 🍕 Homemade pizzas: Although it can get a little messy—especially with very young cooks—it can be an excellent way to cook and have fun making dinner. You can buy pizza bases, tomato sauce, melting cheese, and countless possible toppings for children to combine as they please, even making faces with them.
The important thing is to plan holidays that include outdoor activities, sports, art, cooking, and more. Here are some ideas you can put into practice:
Ideas for enjoying the holidays with your children
Most importantly, remember that family holidays are meant to be spent together and enjoyed.