The holiday season and colder weather are here, and both pose the challenge of engaging antsy children while avoiding endless screen time. This time of year is the perfect opportunity to spark creativity, build resilience, and encourage outdoor play despite the cold! Here are some ideas to slow down and enjoy a leisurely Christmas Break with less screen time. 

1. Winter Nature Walks + Scavenger Hunt

Bundle up in cozy winter layers and head outside for a nature walk. You can look for animal tracks, observe how trees change during the cold months, or search for evergreen plants. It might take some cajoling to head out into the cold weather, but once you get out there, you might be surprised how long your child is willing to spend. They are used to long recesses outside at school! Take it a step further and create a winter-themed scavenger hunt for your children– pinecones, icicles, a red bird, or a specific type of leaf. 

2. Create Winter Art

Bring some of the outdoors inside by creating winter-themed artwork. Kids can collect fallen branches, pinecones, or other natural materials to make wreaths, nature collages, or ornaments. Painting snowflakes on windows or crafting snow globes from mason jars are also fun and festive projects that can keep little hands busy for hours.

3. Have a “No-Screen” Challenge

With the holidays bringing a break from school and routines, consider setting a challenge to go without screens for a full week. Board games, books, puzzles, art, creating music– all these options look far less glamorous when the TV is an easy option, so remove the path of least resistance! When boredom sets in, you might be surprised by what your son or daughter finds to do.  

4. Build a Bird Feeder

Using materials like peanut butter, bird seed, and a pinecone, you can create homemade bird feeders that attract local wildlife. Hang them outside near a window and watch together as birds come to visit. You could take it a step further and keep a notebook near the window to keep a count of how many friends stop by. 

5. Read by the Fire

Create a cozy indoor reading nook by the fireplace (or with blankets and pillows) and settle down with a good book. It might make a wonderful early Christmas present! If you’re looking for book suggestions, Read Aloud Revival is a great resource for classic book suggestions for all ages. 

A Dominion mom recently shared a story about her son. He is not allowed on screens during the week, and one day after school, she found him sitting with his hymn book of past hymns of the month, asking Alexa to play them so he could sing along. What a sweet example of what can happen when our children have a screen-free space and time! 

If you’re looking for more inspiration, check out 1000 Hours Outside and Let Grow, two organizations dedicated to fostering outdoor play and independent learning. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and we will see you in the New Year!