Boredom busters at Christmas time
Christmas is a most enjoyable time for both kids and grown ups. It is a time when almost everyone has a long holiday; a chance for you to meet your loved ones. But how do you occupy your time together with fun activities? Below are some suggestions that you could use to improve the quality of the time you spend with your kids.
Go for a movie together. So your kids have been raving of the new comedy in town and you never had the time to check it out within the year? Let them enjoy the movie with you now that you are free. Take a snack and let them pick their choice. It will be a memorable time that they will thank you for.
Decorate the Christmas tree together. Encourage the children to pick a branch or two and adorn it on their own. Provide the lights, the bells, the decorations and the music. Leave it to them to decide what to put where and it will turn out to be an adventure.
Bake cookies or mandazis and allow kids to decorate while preparing. Give them ideas and let them explore. However, do not let them near the oven or fireplace as it may cause an accident.
Let them design their own Christmas greeting cards. You could help in purchasing the manila paper and drawing tools. On the other hand, you could cut out the old greeting cards or fancy pictures and stick them on the manila papers, then colour them.
Help out in a social cause as a family unit such as donating food, encouraging them to give the clothes that no longer fit or those they have not worn for a long period.
Bring out the artist in them. Let them draw or paint pictures with Christmas themes and display the pictures where friends and visiting relatives can see. It will build their self confidence when they are appreciated.
Indulge in a simple sight seeing stroll and hear out their expressed ideas concerning what they see. If they ask to stop in a park, then do it. After all, the rest of the days you are always in a hurry to get home and you could make use of that time to see the developments in your surrounding.
If they are involved in church activities, encourage them to rehearse the Christmas carol and the Bible verses. This will help them learn fast and be able to stand up together with their peers without hesitation. It will also build their morale.
Place the photos you have taken during the year in newly bought albums. While placing them, the pictures will help you point out details of the captured moment. It may be a funny pose or something to enjoy together.
Drive with your children around the estate and in town telling your childhood times. In a way this makes them relate with you better knowing that you were at their stage at one time.
Go for a picnic. Prepare food for a group and ask other families to join you preferably those who have your children’s age mates. Then get music and encourage them to bond and play together.
You may also join in for a ball game if you are in an open space. Or you can have a bonding session for getting to know your relatives and your ancestry. A story telling session over snacks or takeaway packed lunch could also suffice.
Let the kids hang decor around the house. Purchase decorations and ask the children to help put them up. Ensure that they stand on firm bases and reward their efforts after the work is all done.
Do some gardening. An outdoor activity would do well for kids if it is not strenuous. You could weed out the small flower garden or plant fragrance plants around the house. Make sure that every one of their efforts is praised for best results.
Compose your own songs and poetry and recite them together. Allow provision for creativity from every child. This should be fun if it is a success. Let the kids sing for guests at your home or while you are out with family or friends for get-togethers.
Bring out the artist in them. Let them draw or paint pictures with Christmas themes and display the pictures where friends and visiting relatives can see.
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