The seasons are changing, and winter is much closer than you might have expected. It seems like yesterday that the kids all went back to school, but you’re already having to think about your Christmas plans!
Keeping your children occupied is the least of your household Christmas concerns, but still important; what winter activities should you plan for the upcoming winter weeks, to keep your children active and occupied?
Winter Crafternoons
Getting crafty is one of the more fun creative activities you can undertake with your kids – and the winter holidays are perfect for breaking out the poster paints and glitter glue. You could host a number of ‘crafternoons’, in which you and your children explore a new craft or project. This way, your kids can engage with new materials and disciplines while getting a little fun and messy in the process.
One week, you could each make your own felt Christmas stocking – giving you the opportunity to teach your kids basic sewing. Another week, you could make paper snowflakes as part of a larger pop-out Christmas diorama, demonstrating papercraft and letting your kids run wild with the glitter and sequins in the process. The only limit is the strength of your vacuum cleaner…
Learning an Instrument
Of course, the free time in the run-up to Christmas could also be used to develop skills and hobbies in a more meaningful way. Learning an instrument is a fantastic way to bond with your children while helping them cultivate their own interests.
The costs associated with introducing your child to an instrument are relatively minimal. The biggest up-front cost would be the instrument itself, whether a violin, flute, or drum kit – and that cost can be protected by taking out music instrument insurance. The real cost comes in the form of tutelage, but by having one tutor teach all of you at the same time you can save money and bond together.
Nature Walks and Grotto Visits
While the temptation can be strong to coop yourselves inside for the worst of the cold weather, there can be a lot of value in planning some winter excursions in spite of the cold. Though the trees will have largely shed their leaves, there is still a lot of stunning beauty to be found in your local nature reserves and parks. All the better if you can find some reindeer to watch from a distance!
A family trip to a Christmas grotto experience is also a strong idea for a day out together; the experience can be a fantastic memory for your children, and a brilliant distraction for an easy weekend afternoon.
Cosy Film Night
Of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using the weather as an excuse to get extremely cosy indoors. Why not take it to the next level with a winter-themed family film night? You could gather all the blankets in the house, buy up some wintry snacks and station yourselves in front of the TV for a marathon movie night of yours and your children’s favourite Christmas films. You might need to wait until they fall asleep before you play Die Hard, though.
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