It’s easy for kids to get restless and bored indoors during the winter holidays—especially if it’s cold where you live and you’re staying at home. Sit-down family board games are often the go-to, but you can also mix things up and get creative. These holiday activities can be easily modified to suit your space and the holiday you’re celebrating, and are adaptable for kids of all ages and abilities. First, set up a wrapping station with paper, ribbons, scissors, and tape. Then assemble the kids and stage a relay race to see who’s the fastest wrapper. Encourage players to stand rather than sit for this activity, if they’re able. If you have a bunch of children running around, make the relay more challenging by dividing players into teams of two, with each player using only one hand to wrap. Want even more of a challenge? Try blindfolding one team member while the other gives them instructions but no hands-on help! You could also have them trim an artificial mini tree, or everyone can bundle up and decorate a tree in your backyard. Children might also enjoy drawing simple trees or menorahs on paper and decorating them with art supplies. Get crafty and bring your holiday creations to life. Match your treasures to the occasion you’re celebrating. For example, holiday cookie cutters, candy canes, or tree ornaments; Hanukkah gelt or menorah candles; or Kwanzaa mkeka or candles. Cast members can act out a favorite holiday story or add dance choreography to a holiday song. Put a festive spin on the usual party tricks. For example, making Grandma’s sugar cookies disappear is a magic trick that both kids and adults will enjoy. You can also take turns decorating each member of the family and have a contest for the best-dressed human tree. The only rule is you can’t vote for yourself! When you’re finished decorating everyone, be sure to snap a group photo you can share with other loved ones. Before you start the game, clear a large room with enough space for everyone to move around. Establish goals at either end of the space (e.g., between two throw pillows placed on the floor). Playing as teams or individuals, the objective of indoor snowball soccer is to challenge each other to kick the “snowball” into the goal. For the youngsters, stick to the tunes that are well-known (and well-loved) and therefore easy to guess. For older adults, make the game more challenging by throwing in some golden oldies or more obscure classics from holidays past for a healthy dose of nostalgia. Snow play: Build a fort or snowman together, start an intergenerational snowball fight, or find a hill for sledding. Capture the flag: Play this popular game with a holiday twist by using a Santa hat or a bag of Hanukkah gelt as the flags. Snow painting: Have extra food coloring on hand from making holiday cookies? Mix it up with some “paint” and use the fresh white snow as a blank canvas. Kickball: This beloved game can be fun to play even with snow on the ground! Snowbanks are built-in goalposts.
