Other than holiday get-togethers, what kinds of things do you do?
We will probably see a movie. Maybe go bowling. I could use some more ideas, though.
Oops, I really was referring to Winter Break. Thanksgiving break goes by in a flash. The boys always have a lot of fun, but they do have a need to burn off energy, and the weather here has been pretty cold and rainy. We definitely do outdoor activities whenever possible. We're looking forward to a good snowfall, because that means sledding and snowmobiling!
My biggest challenge is finding ways for them to be active and not destroy the house in the process :-)
Thank you for the suggestions!
We made a big cardboard box fort and have been coloring it. Go for walks/go to the playground. A movie at home. Catch up on sleep. My husband and son love to wash the cars together. Just good ol quality time really. We try not to do too much.
Why do you have to "do" stuff? We always used this weekend to decorate the tree, get a few black Friday deals, write out the Christmas cards and then just hang at home. Kids don't need to be entertained and on the go 24/7 they need some just down time to relax. Play a board game, do the laundry and just be... home
Horse drawn sleigh ride, tobogganing, ice skating, ice tubing, zoo, museum, tree festival, drive thru light display, trampoline park, church, skiing, snowshoeing, mini-golf, laser tag, indoor rock climbing...we have more activities we want to do than we ever have the time for!
Make cookies for neighbors.
Catch up on unfinished projects, like that Lego idea they had, or writing some thank-you notes, or writing in a journal or diary that's been neglected.
Weed out clothes they've outgrown, toys they no longer play with or that are broken, and trash what needs to be trashed and donate what is still usable. Make every kid fill one box of clothes to donate and one bag those socks that no longer have toes or heels in them, and one box of toys to give away and one trash bag of toys that are missing most of their parts. Then go together to Goodwill and drop off the stuff to donate.
If there's a grandparent or elderly relative in the family, start a project for them, especially if they live far away. Wrap small gifts that the person can open throughout the year, on the first of the month, like a nice soap, or a really special tea in a nice tin, or a box of stationery, or a little candy treat if they don't have diet restrictions, or a pretty handkerchief, a book in a large print, etc. Send them a box with 12 little boxes inside, and little cheerful notes. That could be a fun project to do together.
Take time to just relax, set out sleeping bags and pillows on the floor, turn off all the electronics, and have a reading day, when everyone gets to just rest and refresh. You too!
Make a simple picnic and eat it in the living room or the back yard or take it to a park.
Make birdfeeders for the winter. Spread peanut butter on pine cones and roll them in seeds and nuts. Tie a string through the top and hang them from your trees in your yard.
Kiddo's been home all week (so far) with a bad cold. Reading, video games, movies, walks in the sunshine (because we have it!), playing games. He's past the worst of it, but other than tomorrow's gathering, we'll still lay low so he'll be ready for school on Monday.
We also started a project: a DIY advent calendar made with things we've found from home. Repurposed calendar sheets, lots of snowflake cutting, making envelopes for me to stuff with suggested activities, treats, wishes, etc. LOTS of glitter has been used. I'm curious to see how it will turn out, and it's kept us busy!
Beaver Canoe - you have great ideas. Will note some of those!
We do hockey tournaments - three of them to be exact. It will be vegging in between going to the rink. But we love it. Kids play recreational so its' all about seeing families you like and cheering kids on. I love anything where they are not sitting around on electronics, so for me, it's great and we don't have to think of how to entertain them. Little ones come with us and play with the younger siblings of players.
In between we have an outdoor rink. Have fire pit with Adirondack chairs around it - parents can sit for a beer when drop off/pick up kids, strung tacky Christmas lights all through trees so kids will play until night time. Have a sled run if we're lucky with snow.
Movies, vegging, board games, and I got Dance game for the xbox, play with new toys, have friends over, etc. I don't drive so we stick close to home. Go visit family for New Years.
Here - swimming and trampolining are big indoor activities.
Parks, beach, hiking, dog park, movies, roller/ice skating, going into the city to see all the Christmas lights, skiing if there's snow.
we used to plan a few fun things, like the TSO concert or other holiday events, drive around to look at lights, and plan a couple of mega-movie-marathons with friends and lots of food.
but for the most part i don't think you need to do much in the way of planning and scheduling. the kids (and you!) can use the down time, and at some point kids have got to figure out how to entertain themselves, don't they?
mine spent a lot of time outside just doing what they always do (bikes, forts, play ball, elaborate pretend games), or going to the ski slopes when they got older, but also plenty of quiet time with books and videos. and yeah, video games. so long as they're busy doing lots of things, i think some gaming over the winter break is just fine.
:) khairete
S.
I'm thinking eating a lot and maybe some movies.
We're doing archery at the range.
Saturday we will probably get our tree and start decorating. Maybe go to a movie. Go to the local festival of trees. My daughter did some scrapbooking when I was cleaning to make way for our new couch to be delivered. We will probably watch the Macy's parade because we aren't leaving for my BIL's house until 2:00. Lots of just hanging out together.
google your town and ''things to do with kids'' and then pick from there, try to plan one thing each day you have free, these can be doing things like baking, playing board games, reading every picture book you own, or places to go
there are many websites that are dedicated to things to do with kids, or things to do while traveling, so think like a tourist and do touristy things
bowling roller skating, chuck e cheese, bounce house.. gymnastics place.. macdonalds play area. movie...
but this year.. my son will go to soccer camp for 4 days...10-3 and my daughter will go to drama camp for 4 days -- they will enjoy these activities .. they wont argue all day.. and they just might learn something..
Updated
bowling roller skating, chuck e cheese, bounce house.. gymnastics place.. macdonalds play area. movie...
but this year.. my son will go to soccer camp for 4 days...10-3 and my daughter will go to drama camp for 4 days -- they will enjoy these activities .. they wont argue all day.. and they just might learn something..
Updated
bowling roller skating, chuck e cheese, bounce house.. gymnastics place.. macdonalds play area. movie...
but this year.. my son will go to soccer camp for 4 days...10-3 and my daughter will go to drama camp for 4 days -- they will enjoy these activities .. they wont argue all day.. and they just might learn something..
We set up playdates and do these types of things: bowling, meet ups at the park, lunch, outdoor malls,
crafts at the local stores, library, roller skating, matinee movies, paint ceramics, rent movies make
Thanksgiving crafts, go carts, mini golf.
I'm giving my daughter an OMSI membership. Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. We will take in activities a couple of days. They have a lie room planned for babies and young children.
The name doesn't tell you how wonderful this place is. I suggest you look for museums that offer activities for kids. We have a Children's Museum. When the older kids were in the primary grades they loved going there. Lots of hands on activities.
And the usual bowling and swimming. The Community Centers plan activities for all ages. My grandson wants to play basketball at one of them. We drive through Peacock Lane. The homeowners have to agree to decorate every year.
My daughter usually plans several things and end up staying home. The 2 and 4 yo don't care if we do something. The 12 and 15 yo also like to stay home, watch movies, surf the net, read, do art work. I'd like to play board games. Older 2 aren't interested and parents are too busy to play.
Growing up, we would have Monopoly marithons and work for days on a jig saw puzzle.
We take a lot of walks throughout different neighborhoods in our city, play Tennis, go hiking... in fact, today we are taking a hike... they have many Bay Trails that are flat, so if it's too wet, those are cemented and don't get all muddied up... We keep it simple but fun..
We get outside each day to get some fresh air and exercise...this might be outside ice skating, a walk, a hike, skiing, sledding, shooting some hoops, taking a bike ride or roller blading (depending on the weather), and walking the dog daily. We like to play board games, watch movies, go to a trampoline park one day. We like to pick a museum to go to. We go swimming at the rec. center a few times. We invite over friends for playdates and our kids get invited over to other's houses. We try to go hear music...such as a christmas concert or other. We try to go see a theater production from our community theater...such as the Nutcracker. If it is rainy our local rec center has kids activities, rock climbing, a pool, and an ice skating rink. If you look in the paper or online at what events are going on near you you will probably come up with lots of ideas. Have fun!
