Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
Wonderful Ideas To Make It Through The Holidays With Kids
The holidays can be tough on parents. It’s difficult when you have to work but have to make arrangements for your kids, and it can be even tougher when you have the time off to spend with them. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not saying that it’s something you don’t want to do, or something that should be avoided, but it’s a lot, and that’s why planning is your best bet.
Having a plan, and a list of things that you can do will massively reduce any boredom that kids may say they feel, and won’t make you feel bad for keeping them inside all of the time. Having said that, it can be tough to come up with these ideas, right? But don’t worry, because we’ve done that for you. Down below, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the wonderful ideas that we’ve got for you to make it through the holidays with your kids. Keep reading if you would like to find out more.
Cinema Trips
We’re going to kick things off by talking about cinema trips. Now, we know that the cinema has gotten pretty pricey in recent years, and that even just tickets to one of the latest movies can be expensive. If you add on cinema snacks, you’re basically paying an arm and a leg to see a movie as a family, which is okay every once in a while, but not something that’s going to fit into everyone’s budget.
But, there are ways to make cinema trips budget friendly. For example, you can take your own snacks. Despite what so many of us think, there really is no rule that says you can’t do this, and it’s going to save you a lot of money, and a lot of hassle. You can also look at booking tickets when there are deals on to make it a little cheaper. You don’t have to pay full price for it to be a fantastic time.
Visit The Animals
If you’re a family of animal lovers, then why not head off to see some? Perhaps you could find the closest safari to you and have a day out there. Even if this is somewhere that you have been in the past, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still an enjoyable day out for everyone involved.
There are plenty of options for zoos and safaris across the country, so find one that works for you, book your tickets, and make a day of it. Remember, most places like this also have a range of other activities for kids to do, and there are so many animals that it takes a whole day to see them all anyway.
Day Of Crafts
You don’t have to go out to have an incredible day of fun with your kids. So, it might be a good idea to look into creating a day of crafts. Set up a craft table in your living room that contains all of the things that your kids could possibly want. Don’t worry about the mess, as this is a problem for after the fun has come to an end.
Here’s a super easy craft idea: Snow paint! Get my snow paint tutorial here and below in my 1-minute YouTube video via my channel @carolynjbraden:
If you’re not the most creative person in the world, but you know your kids would love it, you can look up fun invention ideas for kids to see what you come across, and perhaps try to create some in your home.
Soft Play
If you have younger children that need to be kept entertained then you could head to your local soft play center. These often have slides, ball pits (we like this at-home ball pit version too), and sensory rooms for babies and children with additional needs. During the holidays, you could arrange many playdates with some of their family or friends from nursery and school. Soft play centers are a wonderful way to spend the day, some of them even have carousels and bumper cars included in the price of the ticket.
Head Abroad
How about you take your family on vacation somewhere? If the kids have never been abroad then now is the chance, the perfect chance some might say. There may be somewhere that you have always wanted to take them, check out to see if there are any deals out there that can get you there. Many vacations can take a huge chunk of your cash, make sure that the trip is worth it as you don’t want to throw money into nothing.
Theme Parks Are Fun
Another wonderful idea that you may not have thought of just yet is theme parks. There are so many worldwide and you may wish to make your way around all of them at some point. This can take some time but it would mean the world to your kids and provide them with a story to tell when they are older. As a family you may be a huge fan of Disney, there are eight parks around the world. There is also a brand new one currently being built so that will be a great place to visit when it opens. You can incorporate a vacation into theme park trips, this will create even more memories for you and the kids.
As Are Water Parks
Lastly, if you love theme parks then how about also incorporating a water park trip at the same time. Some theme parks around the world will offer a ticket for the park itself as well as any adjoining water parks. This can save you some money compared to when you buy tickets separately. Look into which water parks you want to visit, some even offer special quiet days for any children or families with additional needs.
We do hope you found this article helpful and it gave you some ideas on what you can do with your children throughout the holidays. There will always be something that your children want to do so listen to them and note down anything they mention that you haven’t yet thought of.
Take Action
I encourage you to try these ideas with your own creative twists and share your ideas on your social accounts! If you tag me using @carolynsbloomingcreations or @carolynjbraden, I’ll see it! Or tell me about it in the comments below.
If you loved this article, then we know you’ll love this one too: How to Make Mint Sparkle Snow Dough
Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.
This is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links. All opinions and ideas expressed in this post, however, are based on my personal point of view.