by Rachel Wells
Thanksgiving break will be here before you know it, and winter break will follow just a few short weeks later! While time off from school is a great opportunity to slow down and enjoy some extra time together, the change in routine may leave parents hearing those dreaded, familiar words: “I’m bored!”
Before reaching for a tablet or turning on the TV, try some of these screen-free activities! They’re a great way to keep kids entertained while giving them opportunities to get creative, explore new interests, and make the most of their time away from school.
Thanksgiving themed STEM challenge
Find some awesome ideas here and here.
Scavenger hunt
If you want to do something other than a standard scavenger hunt grab some of these and hide them around the house overnight. Give your child a printable 100’s chart to keep track of what they’ve found – and get ready for your kids to be busy for hours.
Let the kids take over the kitchen
Whether its breakfast pancakes, a Thanksgiving side dish, or a fun dessert – invite your child into the kitchen to cook and bake alongside you. Not only will they learn valuable life skills while staying engaged in a fun, hands-on activity, but you’ll also get to enjoy a little quality time together while guiding them along the way.
Build a cardboard creation
Give a child a cardboard box and let their imagination take over! You might be surprised by what they come up with. Before long, that simple box could turn into something pretty amazing.
Make pet rocks
Gab some rocks and sharpies (and maybe some hot glue and accessories) and let the creativity flow.
Cup stacking challenge
Challenge your child to build a cup tower or structure using a set of fun rules! See who can build the tallest tower, create a perfect pyramid, or stack cups in a specific pattern.
Create an indoor obstacle course
Turn your living room into an obstacle course using pillows, blankets, laundry baskets, toys, and anything else you have on hand! Set up a fun obstacle course in an open space and use a timer to see who can make it through the fastest.
Decorate cookies
Pick up some plain sugar cookies and turn decorating into a fun, creative activity. Set out a muffin tin filled with different decorating supplies like frosting, sprinkles, candies, or candy eyes, and let your child’s imagination run wild as they create their own delicious masterpieces.
Secret ingredient cooking challenge
Choose one family member to be the judge who will choose a food item. Everyone else will have to create a snack with that item in it. After a set amount of time have the judge taste all the snacks and choose their favorite to win that round. Choose a new judge for round two.
