Holiday season is upon us and we know that after a while, kids at home begin to get restless. But there’s good news! At one of our recent Family Carts in Chicago, we created an activity where families were able to pick out some things to do with one another and create activity bundles. Here are seven ways that you and your family can spend some quality time together over the holiday break:
- Take a trip to the library
The library is full of hidden gems of fun for the entire family to enjoy. There’s everything from story time, to movie screenings, arts and crafts, and more. Both the DC Public Library and the Chicago Public Library have an array of events happening right in your neighborhood. - Spend an afternoon reading with each other
After you come back from your trip to the library, cuddle up and read your favorite books to each other. Ask your child questions and act out the story with funny voices. You and your child will appreciate this quality time together, all while building reading and vocabulary skills. - DIY holiday decorations
Using materials found around your home, see how creative you and your family can get by creating your own holiday decorations. This post from HGTV has some unique and inexpensive ideas that will impress your whole family. - Bake cookies together
Whether your child still believes in Santa or not, baking cookies together is a great way to spend time with one another. - Act like a tourist around your city
Feeling restless and need to get out of the house? There’s nothing like acting like a tourist in your own city to help jumpstart your imagination. Is there a Smithsonian Museum you haven’t been to in awhile? Find information on hours and current exhibits here. And the Chicago Cultural Center has tons of FREE events all holiday season. - Practice gratitude with a family meal
We know that the holiday season can be about giving and receiving, and a perfect gift is the gift of gratitude. Share a delicious meal with your family and express how thankful you are for one another with handwritten notes or small tokens of appreciation that the whole family can enjoy. - Have a holiday movie marathon
The 2-week break is a great time to kick back, relax, and spend some quality time watching movies together. There’s no limit to ideas with classic movies like The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, A Muppets Christmas Carol, or The Polar Express. Get the popcorn ready and enjoy each other’s company in front of the big screen. Bonus: you can always pair a movie with the book version too!
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