Keeping kids entertained during the winter break is always a challenge. Are you a nanny looking for fun and engaging activities to do with the kids this winter break? Look no further. Here is a list of 10 things for kids to do during the winter break.
Bake gingerbread cookies and build a house
Build a gingerbread house. Gingerbread cookies are the best cookies to bake during the festive period. Their amazing smell makes you want to cosy up with a loved one and a blanket. Building a gingerbread house is fun and is a great activity to do with children. Why not try this great recipe to get you started.
Have a fashion show and a photoshoot
Kids love to dress up and show off. Ask your models to dress up in their favourite costumes and do a catwalk show. You can use your phone to take pictures and go for funny, serious and wild poses to impress. Encourage them to showcase a talent or a trick they can do. Great fun for the whole family without spending a penny.
Film time
Make film night special with an extra special hot chocolate drink and a snack bar with different types of popcorn and sweets. Encourage your children to pick their favourite snacks to add to the bar. Wear the cosiest pyjamas and cosy up with a cuddly blanket in front of the TV. Pick a film from a Christmas classic like Miracle on 34th Street and The Polar Express to a popular fantasy like Harry Potter or Lord of The Rings.
Get crafty
Children love getting crafty. There are so many possibilities, from painting to drawing, scrapbooking or paper crafts. These can keep them busy for hours. You can just gather all the materials and give them the option to choose what they want to do. Making slime, making friendship bracelets to give to each other or even paper snowflakes and decorating their room with them.
Learn something new
Learning something new is always a good thing. Take your family to the museum or zoo, this is not just a fun activity to do but educational as well. There a many types of museums around the country, and depending on your family’s interests you can find art museums, history museums or science museums. The zoo is a great place to learn about different animals and birds but also about anatomy.
Play a board game or do a puzzle
Board games and puzzles are always great activities for children. A Monopoly or Scrabble marathon, a tournament of card games or a massive 5000 pieces puzzle are just a few of the games you can enjoy.
Grab snacks and beverages and get stuck into some great fun. Just be careful not to hold a grudge for losing to a family member. This is one of the great things to do for kids during the winter break.
Storytime
Kids love stories. Let your kids pick their favourite books and read them together. You can make reading fun by choosing a keyword from the beginning of the book and performing an activity every time it is read out loud. It can be anything like touching your toes ten times, doing jumping jacks, or making a silly face. You can make it even more fun by building a fort from blankets and reading in the dark with a torch. Why not pick a book that has a film as well, you can read the book first and then watch the film. Encourage your kids to spot the differences between the two.
Make a Scrapbook
Scrapbooks are a great way to enjoy again experiences from the past. Search your phone and computer for photos from holidays and activities that you’ve done together. Ask your kids to pick photos and print them to create an amazing memory scrapbook. You can decorate it with ribbons, stickers and colourful washi tape. Work on a family scrapbook or get your kids to make one of their own.
Create a time capsule
Making a time capsule is a great activity to do with your kids. Fill a glass bottle or jar with mementoes from this year and bury it in the garden. If you don’t have a garden you can hide it in your house, under the bed or in the back of a wardrobe. Make a tradition to do it every year and your kids will love going searching for them around the house or digging them up from the ground.
Animal puppet show
Puppet shows are fun. Your kids can make the animal stick figures like racoons and foxes or bears and mice. You don’t need an elaborate setup. Standing behind the sofa or table will do the trick. Encourage them to come up with a story and let them impress you with their creativity.
Did you find the 10 things for kids to do during the winter break helpful? Or do you feel you might still need a helping hand? We can help! Polo & Tweed can find great temporary or long-term childcare for you. If you are a nanny looking for a new job, at Polo and Tweed, we do our best to match our lovely nannies with our great families, so please do not hesitate to contact us today and we would love to help.