The winter school break at home doesn’t have to mean boredom and lazing around. It’s a time when you can do plenty of interesting things and learn new skills. How do you spend the winter break in the comfort of your own home without being stuck with bored children? Here are ten ideas for a successful winter break at home with your child.
Let’s get started! A list of ten ideas for the winter break at home!
- Reading together
- Trying out recipes and cooking with the kids
- Some time at home, some time out
- Playing board games together
- Family charades
- Winter break in the countryside
- Home cinema
- Let’s build a “den”!
- Karaoke contest
- Exploring the neighbourhood
Reading together
You could set up a family book club in which you set each other reading challenges. The winter break is the perfect time to catch up on reading. To raise the bar, the whole family could agree to read 5 books of your choice during the break and then discuss them together over tea and a nice dessert. The children will surely appreciate the creativity and take up the challenge, and you’ll catch up on your own reading backlog too.
How about cooking together and trying out recipes?
Nothing brings people together like cooking! So why not get the kids involved and have the whole family try out new recipes every day? It’s not just great fun but a learning experience too – you can pick dishes from all over the world and get to know the customs of other cultures along the way.
For those looking for something a bit wilder, we recommend trying recipes such as colourful ice cream with sprinkles, spicy pizza or sweet spaghetti. Let your imagination run free – maybe together you’ll come up with a brand-new family recipe.
Some time at home, some time out
If you don’t want to spend the whole winter break at home, check out the local activities taking place in your area at this time. There’s bound to be an ice rink where you can go together and throw yourselves into the fun of winter sports. And if that’s not for you, a family trip to the cinema or theatre is another good idea – during the winter break there’s certainly no shortage of interesting programmes for the whole family to choose from.
Board games – the answer to everything!
It’s worth dusting off the board game shelf and getting the children involved in playing together. There are surely board games in your home that you’d happily play with the kids. And if there aren’t any, go to the shop together and look for some interesting games. It’s also worth checking the available rankings of the best board games of recent years. You could even invent your own game – it will certainly take up a lot of time and let you develop your creative skills.
Family charades
It’s a timeless game that still delights adults too. And you really don’t need much for it! A few large sheets of paper, a stand or easel to put them on, and some markers will do. Split into teams and guess the clues presented by your opponents – remember, they can only act them out or draw them. No talking!
Winter break in the countryside
The countryside itself offers plenty of attractions. Above all, there are captivating views and the chance to plan walks lasting hours. Admittedly, we don’t know whether there will be snow at the time, but it’s worth stocking up on winter gear now and taking it with you to the countryside so the children can play together in the snow if it falls.
Every village is sure to have a community hall or another centre where residents get together. There (with the permission of the village head) you can organise a party for all the children and adults. Preparing decorations together and planning the fun will surely appeal to the children, and it will guarantee plenty of entertainment for the residents too.
Remember your little one’s safety – it’s worth equipping your child with reflectors.
A film screening in your home cinema
Set up a space in your home to look like a cinema. Create a dimly lit atmosphere, draw the curtains and pick a few films for a family movie marathon. Plan the snacks and what you’ll want to watch in advance. The children will certainly be happy to watch films together, even if it happens in the comfort of your own home.
You can also let the children choose the snacks for the film. Let them surprise you with their creativity!
Building a “den”
Do you remember your own childhood? Back then, kids very often built dens where they would spend many hours playing, having fun with various games, and sometimes just reading books or comics. Tell your children about this custom and help them build their own den out of blankets, pillows and chairs. They’re sure to love having such an unusual space where they can do whatever comes into their heads.
Karaoke contest
Before you put this idea into practice, you’d better warn the neighbours, because it can get really loud! You don’t need any special equipment to organise karaoke at home – a computer, speakers and an internet connection are enough. An ordinary deodorant can serve as the microphone, and costumes… well, that’s up to you. You can make up the rules of the game yourselves – we guarantee there will be plenty of excitement!
Exploring the neighbourhood with the kids
Are you sure you know your neighbourhood well? Maybe the winter break is the time to explore it? Plan a trip around the local area with your children to get to know it better, or to look at familiar streets from a different perspective. We’re convinced you’ll discover something new!
Winter break at home – spend it creatively as a family!
The winter break doesn’t have to be boring. You can plan every day, even if you’re staying at home and not heading off on a longer trip. What matters is spending this time as a family and not giving in to boredom… although even that isn’t always a bad thing!
If you work from home, check out our 6 ways to organise your time when working from home
