Top 6 Activities to Keep Your Elementary Kid Engaged Over Holiday Break
The holiday break is a magical time for children, filled with festive lights, family gatherings, and a break from the everyday routine of school. However, it also presents a unique opportunity for parents to engage their kids in activities that are not only enjoyable but also educational. During this period, it's essential to remember that learning is an adventure that extends beyond the walls of a classroom, encompassing everything from creative expression to practical life skills. Integrating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and soft skills into holiday activities can be particularly beneficial, ensuring that children return to school enriched and excited about learning. Below are six holiday-themed activities designed to keep your elementary-aged child engaged, learning, and most importantly, having fun.
Hot Cocoa Stand (Using the My Lemonade Day App)
Difficulty: Easy
Description: This activity involves using the My Lemonade Day app to simulate the experience of running a hot cocoa stand. Children can learn basic business concepts like budgeting, pricing, and customer service in a fun, interactive setting. The app guides them through each step, from setting up their virtual stand to managing sales and expenses. It's an engaging way to introduce business principles and could be followed up with setting up an actual stand in the neighborhood, bringing the virtual lessons to life.
Why It's Great: This project combines technological engagement with real-world business experience. It encourages entrepreneurial thinking while keeping the festive spirit alive.
How To Start: Begin by downloading the My Lemonade Day app, and then gather the materials for a real stand - hot cocoa, cups, a table, and some decorations to attract customers.
Create and Sell Hot Cocoa Bombs
Difficulty: Medium
Description: Hot cocoa bombs - spheres of chocolate filled with cocoa mix and marshmallows that melt when hot milk is added - have become a popular holiday treat. This activity involves making these cocoa bombs from scratch, which can include melting chocolate, forming the spheres, and creatively packaging the final product. Children can then sell their creations to friends, family, or neighbors. This project not only teaches culinary skills but also business skills like product development, marketing, and sales.
Why It's Great: It’s a fun, hands-on way for kids to learn about cooking, creativity, and running a small business.
How To Start: Research recipes and techniques for making hot cocoa bombs, purchase the necessary ingredients and molds, and plan how and where to sell them.
Days of Service
Difficulty: Varies - But Worth It
Description: The holiday season is often associated with giving, making it the perfect time to engage children in community service. Activities could range from volunteering at a local food bank, participating in a toy drive, or organizing a charity event in the neighborhood. These acts of service can help children understand the importance of giving back and being part of a community. It's also an opportunity for them to learn about the needs of others and develop empathy.
Why It's Great: Engaging in service activities instills a sense of responsibility, empathy, and community involvement.
How To Start: Contact local charities or community centers to find opportunities suitable for children, or plan a small charity event within your community.
Write a Christmas Play/Movie Script
Difficulty: Medium
Description: This activity involves writing and possibly performing a Christmas-themed play or movie script. Children can unleash their imagination by creating characters, a storyline, and dialogues. They can then perform the play for family and friends or even record it as a movie. This project enhances creativity and writing skills and can also improve public speaking and acting abilities if the play is performed. Don’t forget to charge admission and issue tickets for the full entrepreneurship experience.
Why It's Great: It's a creative outlet that allows children to express themselves while learning about storytelling and drama.
How To Start: Begin with brainstorming ideas for the storyline and characters, write the script, and then organize a small performance or record the play.
Program a Light Display to Music
Difficulty: Challenging
Description: Synchronizing a light display with holiday music combines technology, creativity, and the festive spirit. This project can be as simple or complex as desired, depending on the child’s age and skill level. It involves programming lights to turn on and off or change color in time with music, creating a spectacular holiday display. This activity teaches basic programming skills and can also be an artistic expression as children design their light show.
Why It's Great: It's a unique blend of technology, music, and visual arts, making it an engaging and educational experience.
How To Start: Research simple programmable light kits and select a piece of music. Plan the light display and program the lights using basic coding.
Develop a Board Game
Difficulty: Medium
Description: Designing a board game is an excellent way for children to tap into their creativity and strategic thinking skills. They can create the theme, rules, and design of the game, which can range from simple card games to more complex board games with multiple pieces. This activity encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and artistic skills. Once the game is created, it can be played with family and friends, and if successful, there’s even the potential to sell it.
Why It's Great: It fosters innovation, strategic thinking, and creativity, and it’s a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy.
How To Start: Brainstorm ideas for the game, sketch out the design and rules, create a prototype using household items, and test play the game to refine the rules and design.
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Holiday breaks are a wonderful time for children to step back from academic pressures and engage in activities that nurture their creativity, empathy, and entrepreneurial spirit. The activities listed above not only provide entertainment but also invaluable learning experiences that contribute to a child's holistic development. They remind us that the spirit of the holidays can be about more than just receiving; it's also about creating, sharing, and growing. By integrating these activities into your holiday schedule, you're offering your child a diverse and enriching break—one that equips them with skills and memories that last well beyond the festive season.
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The holiday break is a magical time for children, filled with festive lights, family gatherings, and a break from the everyday routine of school. However, it also presents a unique opportunity for parents to engage their kids in activities that are not only enjoyable but also educational. During this period, it's essential to remember that learning is an adventure that extends beyond the walls of a classroom, encompassing everything from creative expression to practical life skills. Integrating Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and soft skills into holiday activities can be particularly beneficial, ensuring that children return to school enriched and excited about learning. Below are six holiday-themed activities designed to keep your elementary-aged child engaged, learning, and most importantly, having fun.
Hot Cocoa Stand (Using the My Lemonade Day App)
Difficulty: Easy
Description: This activity involves using the My Lemonade Day app to simulate the experience of running a hot cocoa stand. Children can learn basic business concepts like budgeting, pricing, and customer service in a fun, interactive setting. The app guides them through each step, from setting up their virtual stand to managing sales and expenses. It's an engaging way to introduce business principles and could be followed up with setting up an actual stand in the neighborhood, bringing the virtual lessons to life.
Why It's Great: This project combines technological engagement with real-world business experience. It encourages entrepreneurial thinking while keeping the festive spirit alive.
How To Start: Begin by downloading the My Lemonade Day app, and then gather the materials for a real stand - hot cocoa, cups, a table, and some decorations to attract customers.
Create and Sell Hot Cocoa Bombs
Difficulty: Medium
Description: Hot cocoa bombs - spheres of chocolate filled with cocoa mix and marshmallows that melt when hot milk is added - have become a popular holiday treat. This activity involves making these cocoa bombs from scratch, which can include melting chocolate, forming the spheres, and creatively packaging the final product. Children can then sell their creations to friends, family, or neighbors. This project not only teaches culinary skills but also business skills like product development, marketing, and sales.
Why It's Great: It’s a fun, hands-on way for kids to learn about cooking, creativity, and running a small business.
How To Start: Research recipes and techniques for making hot cocoa bombs, purchase the necessary ingredients and molds, and plan how and where to sell them.
Days of Service
Difficulty: Varies - But Worth It
Description: The holiday season is often associated with giving, making it the perfect time to engage children in community service. Activities could range from volunteering at a local food bank, participating in a toy drive, or organizing a charity event in the neighborhood. These acts of service can help children understand the importance of giving back and being part of a community. It's also an opportunity for them to learn about the needs of others and develop empathy.
Why It's Great: Engaging in service activities instills a sense of responsibility, empathy, and community involvement.
How To Start: Contact local charities or community centers to find opportunities suitable for children, or plan a small charity event within your community.
Write a Christmas Play/Movie Script
Difficulty: Medium
Description: This activity involves writing and possibly performing a Christmas-themed play or movie script. Children can unleash their imagination by creating characters, a storyline, and dialogues. They can then perform the play for family and friends or even record it as a movie. This project enhances creativity and writing skills and can also improve public speaking and acting abilities if the play is performed. Don’t forget to charge admission and issue tickets for the full entrepreneurship experience.
Why It's Great: It's a creative outlet that allows children to express themselves while learning about storytelling and drama.
How To Start: Begin with brainstorming ideas for the storyline and characters, write the script, and then organize a small performance or record the play.
Program a Light Display to Music
Difficulty: Challenging
Description: Synchronizing a light display with holiday music combines technology, creativity, and the festive spirit. This project can be as simple or complex as desired, depending on the child’s age and skill level. It involves programming lights to turn on and off or change color in time with music, creating a spectacular holiday display. This activity teaches basic programming skills and can also be an artistic expression as children design their light show.
Why It's Great: It's a unique blend of technology, music, and visual arts, making it an engaging and educational experience.
How To Start: Research simple programmable light kits and select a piece of music. Plan the light display and program the lights using basic coding.
Develop a Board Game
Difficulty: Medium
Description: Designing a board game is an excellent way for children to tap into their creativity and strategic thinking skills. They can create the theme, rules, and design of the game, which can range from simple card games to more complex board games with multiple pieces. This activity encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and artistic skills. Once the game is created, it can be played with family and friends, and if successful, there’s even the potential to sell it.
Why It's Great: It fosters innovation, strategic thinking, and creativity, and it’s a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy.
How To Start: Brainstorm ideas for the game, sketch out the design and rules, create a prototype using household items, and test play the game to refine the rules and design.
--
Holiday breaks are a wonderful time for children to step back from academic pressures and engage in activities that nurture their creativity, empathy, and entrepreneurial spirit. The activities listed above not only provide entertainment but also invaluable learning experiences that contribute to a child's holistic development. They remind us that the spirit of the holidays can be about more than just receiving; it's also about creating, sharing, and growing. By integrating these activities into your holiday schedule, you're offering your child a diverse and enriching break—one that equips them with skills and memories that last well beyond the festive season.
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