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Screen-Free Activities for Kids to Enjoy Over the Holidays.

Kids are home, the holidays are upon us, and the temptation to turn onto screens for entertainment is great. But with just a little creativity, you can make this holiday season one to remember by introducing screen-free activities that get kids engaged, active, and most importantly, having fun without a tablet or TV in sight! Here are some of the best hands-on activities to keep kids entertained and learning while making lasting family memories.

1. Scavenger Hunt Adventure

Children love the adventure of a good hunt, and in this respect, a scavenger hunt is one of the best ways to keep them running and exploring. You can put together a hunt that moves them through the house, across the backyard, or even out over a nearby park. Craft clues that lead them around to various places, where each spot can hold a small prize or another clue until they reach the final reward!

Tip: To make it educational, include themes. For instance, a “Nature Scavenger Hunt” may have the kids looking around for various types of leaves, rocks, or animal footprints.

2. Holiday-Themed Crafts

Holiday crafts are an effortless way to get the kids involved in some hands-on fun. Options range from making paper snowflakes and holiday ornaments to even sprucing up pinecones with glitter on them. If the kids are older, you can try your hand at some more advanced DIY projects: hand-painted holiday cards or salt dough ornaments that they can bake and decorate themselves.

Set up a “craft station” in the living room or kitchen corner where kids can make their creations. This way, as a bonus, they will have some nice gifts or decorations by the end!

3. Cooking and Baking Together

Cooking and baking are great ways to involve kids in an activity that feels special, yet ultimately results in something tasty. Try simple holiday treats such as decorating cookies or making gingerbread houses, or even fun no-bake treats like popcorn balls. Kids learn math skills through baking-typically around measuring ingredients-patience, and a little bit about chemistry.

Tip:

Make a simple “kid’s menu” of recipes they can help with. You can even turn it into a holiday tradition by letting them pick one or two treats they want to make every year.

4. Indoor Obstacle Course

Set up an indoor obstacle course for an energetic activity. With cushions, chairs, and blankets, create a safe but challenging route through the living room or a hall. Add some fun challenges like balancing on a cushion, hopping through hoops, or crawling under chairs.

 Tip:

Time each child and encourage them to beat their best time. This can become a fun family competition without anyone leaving the house!

5. DIY Science Experiments

Other fun and educational ways to keep them occupied during those no-screening hours are science experiments. You can try baking-soda-and-vinegar volcanoes, or simply teach them about homemade slime. There are many experiments in science for which simple household items will suffice, and kids love the hands-on learning experience.

 Tip:

Now, do the science behind each experiment. It’s a great way to sneak in a little learning while having fun!

6. Story Time with a Twist

Reading is great as a screen-free activity, but with just a little tweak, you can make it even funnier. Build a cozy reading nook with blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals, or let kids engage in a sort of “book play” where they act out their favorite scenes. You can even plan a storytelling session in which each family member adds one sentence to create a holiday story unique in its kind.

 Tip:

With younger kids, you may want to stick with picture books or interactive books. With older kids, you can start them in a chapter book and have them act out scenes.

7. Make a Family Holiday Scrapbook

Gather photos from holidays, mementos, and craft supplies; work together to make a family scrapbook. Children can draw what happened on each page, add captions to pictures, and decorate each page. It’s really something afterwards to look at during the holidays, and also it can be a keepsake for many years into the future.

 Tip:

Want a digital-free way to add photos? Pre-print them, or use those fun instant camera photos for an instant scrapbook!

8. Nature Walk and Rock Painting

Bundle up and take the kids on one of those nature walks. Let them explore and collect interesting rocks, leaves, and pinecones. Upon returning, it is very easy to turn these natural beauties into pieces of art. Rock painting merely requires paint and brushes. Kids can paint their rocks with holiday designs, animals, or anything else that comes into their head.

 Tip:

Create a display area for their painted rocks, or have them give the rocks as gifts to friends and family.

9. Board Game Tournament

Bring out the board games and have a holiday tournament! From Monopoly and Scrabble to Candy Land, there’s something for every age. Plan out a mini-tournament over a few days and keep score to declare a holiday champion.

 Tip:

Allow each member of the family to choose one game so that everyone can get a turn playing their favorite. You could even have little prizes for each round!

10. Holiday Shadow Puppet Show

All you need for a puppet show is a few paper cutouts, a flashlight, and a wall. Let the kids cut out different holiday-themed characters like reindeer, snowmen, or elves. Then make the room dark, shine the flashlight at the wall, and let their imagination run free. Shadow puppets are an excellent way to make up stories and practice certain aspects of storytelling.

Tips :

Encourage them to make holiday-themed stories and then act those out for the family. It’s a great confidence and creativity builder.

It’s entirely possible to keep kids entertained over the holidays without screens-and it can be a real hoot! These activities let them explore, create, and connect in ways that will give them new memories to carry far beyond this holiday season. Try a few out, and you may just find you’re having as much fun as they are!

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