School’s out, the weather’s cold, and your kids are demanding all of your time and attention. They want to be always entertained, and you’re running out of ideas. Fret not! We have some fantastic winter vacation activities that can help you keep your children busy and entertained during the holidays.
As Pakistan is geographically quite diverse, most of the country enjoys mild winter temperatures, but residents of places like Murree, Naran, Hunza Valley, Nathia Gali, Kalash Valley, Malam Jabba, Ziarat and Skardu witness snowfall every year. What starts off as a mild sprinkling of snow is sometimes so severe in certain areas that life comes to a halt, roads are blocked, and even everyday supplies cannot reach remote locations without waiting for the snow to melt.
Thus, our list of winter vacation fun will cover both aspects of the season, outdoor as well as indoor activities so you can enjoy the season with your kids without worrying about them catching a cold outdoors or wreaking havoc indoors.
Outdoor Fun for Everyone
There’s something about an undisturbed patch of snow that just makes you want to jump in. If you live in an area where it snows, consider these outdoor activities during the winter vacations:
Build Snow Structures
If you’re going to get hands-on and create a masterpiece of ice, be sure to involve your kids in this fun process. Build a fort, a snowman, or just a mound to hide behind for the ever-so-exciting snowball fights. Be sure to dress warmly before you head out for this or any outdoor activity during winter.
Have a Snowball fight
Nothing says winter vacation fun like a snowball fight! Want to make the most of all that snow in your yard? Are the kids getting dull because of not having enough avenues for physical activities? If yes, then dress yourselves warmly and head out. Show your kids how to make snowballs and then let them fly. While you can keep a score count for every hit and divide your family members into teams, the best snowball fights start out at random, without even knowing who is supposed to hit whom. It’s utter mayhem, complete chaos, and the ultimate fun and laughter that everybody needs on a snowy day.
Discover the Wildlife
If you live near a forest or hills, you might frequently find paw prints or hoof prints in the snow. Why not discover more about the animals that you share your surroundings with? Take your children on a walk near your home or in a nearby park and note down all of the different markings that you find in the snow. Once you’re back home, you can sit with the kids and discover just what kind of creatures made those prints with the help of encyclopaedias and the internet.
Make Shovelling Fun
If your kids are eager to help you shovel the snow off your lawn or driveway, let them help you out. Divide the work between everybody and make it a friendly competition to see who clears up their section first. While shovelling snow can be tough work if the snow is several feet deep, the work is fairly easier if the snow is not packed in tight and gradually melting away.
Light a Bonfire
As the night rolls around, having a bonfire is the perfect way to bond as a family and enjoy the winter weather. Light it up in your backyard or rooftop, sit around the fire, roast some marshmallows, and share your stories with the little ones. You can also sing songs or poems, or play games like Ludo, Monopoly, and such.
Indoor Activities for Busy Bees
Is your family really active outdoors? Is all of your kids’ energy being spent in tantrums because they don’t want to go out in the snow? Here are some creative indoor activities for the winter for those frosty snow days:
Build a Fort
Use pillows, blankets, or cardboard boxes to build a fort in your living area. You can use chairs to support your structure. With the winter chills surrounding your home, it is the perfect winter vacation activity to keep the kids warm and huddled up in their personal fortress.
Have a Pillow Fight
Want your children to use up some of that pent-up energy? Take up soft pillows from around the house and start a pillow fight. This is not just a fun way to get rid of the energy that’s building up but also gives you the chance to bond with your kids while you try to tag each other with the pillows at hand.
Bake It Up
Who doesn’t enjoy the wonderful warm smells floating through the home on a chilly day? Be it cookies, cupcakes or bread, baking is not only a good way to stay busy but it is also a nice treat for the kids once the work is done. List your children’s help in baking up the goodies they can enjoy. Even small children can mix the batter, cut out shapes with the cookie cutters, or lick the bowl clean after a batch has been put into the oven.
Arts and Crafts
Want a more creative indoor activity for the winter? Draw, paint, or create a model with your kids. You can also try out some easy and cool science experiments from items of everyday use. You can also use the dry leaves found outdoors to make a collage by sticking them on a piece of cardboard or chart paper.
Have a Picnic Indoors
Who says that picnics can only be enjoyed in the outdoors? Indoor picnics can be just as fun. Spread out a blanket, set it up with a feast of sandwiches, cookies, fruits, and of course, hot chocolate topped with marshmallows, and you are good to go. Sit down with your kids, share amusing stories, and play board games while you devour the treats spread before you. Stuck at home with the kids during the holidays? The above winter vacation activities will give you a few ideas on how to make the most of the day and keep everyone entertained.
Browse through our posts on Zameen Blog for more lifestyle tips and tricks. Email us at blog@zameen.com if you want to share your ideas, questions, or concerns.
