The 12 Days of Christmas Break

The time has come when the weather is getting colder, the kids have tons of energy, and parents are needing ideas to save their sanity over Christmas break (preaching to myself here people). Well…fear not.  I have composed a list of 12 fun and interactive Christmas break activities for kids to keep the kids busy and the parents happy.  So, without further ado, here is “The 12 Days of Christmas Break. ”

 

• On the 1st day of Christmas break, my parent gave to me, some music playing that I can dance to.  

Put on your favorite Christmas song, preferably something fast that the kids can move to, and let them dance!  Some of my favorites are Trans Siberian orchestra, Mariah Carey Christmas, or Justin Bieber Christmas.  My kids love to dance and it is so fun seeing how creative they get with their movements.

 

• On the 2nd day of Christmas break, my parent gave to me, buckets to drum on and some music playing that I can dance to.

If you have an empty bucket in your garage, turn it over, hand your child a wooden or plastic spoon, and let them play it like a drum.  Your kids would love to listen to any song and drum along to the rhythm they hear.  If you don’t have a bucket, use a plastic tupperware container or turn a small trashcan upside down.

 

• On the 3rd day of Christmas break, my parent gave to me, skating in my socks, buckets to drum on, and some music playing that I can dance to.

If you have hardwood floors or tile anywhere in your house, put some socks on your kids and let them skate.  My kids get fancy and twirl, put one leg behind them, and jump in the air like a real ice skater.  Let them be creative with it, make up a routine and perform it for their audience.

 

• On the 4th day of Christmas break, my parent gave to me, shaking jingle bells, skating in my socks, buckets to drum on, and some music playing that I can dance to.

Jingle bells can be bought at most stores for super cheap.  Kids love to shake them and it will definitely get them in the Christmas spirit.

 

• On the 5th day of Christmas break, my parent gave to me, singing karaoke, skating in my socks, buckets to drum on, and some music playing that I can dance to.

This one is so fun.  Hand your child ANYTHING that can be used as a microphone, play your child’s favorite song, and let them sing their heart out!

 

• On the 6th day of Christmas break, my parent gave to me, cushions to jump on, singing karaoke, skating in my socks, buckets to drum on, and some music playing that I can dance to.

Ok…I know what you’re thinking.  “SHE WANTS ME TO LET MY CHILD JUMP ON A CUSHION?”  Yes, I think I am.  Now I’m not telling you to let them jump on your couch and break it or learn bad habits.  But, if you have an old cushion you can put on the floor, a pillow, a blanket, or even towels you can stack up, put them on the floor and let your children jump on them.  They can even pretend they are jumping on a trampoline.

 

• On the 7th day of Christmas break, my parent gave to me, making a maraca, cushions to jump on, singing karaoke, skating in my socks, buckets to drum on, and some music playing that I can dance to.

There are so many great ideas on Pinterest about how to make an instrument.  One of the easiest ones is to take an empty water bottle, put popcorn kernels in it, put the lid on, and BAM… you have a homemade maraca.  The kids can use their maraca while singing a song or while dancing to music.

 

• On the 8th day of Christmas break, my parent gave to me, a Christmas carol game, making a maraca, cushions to jump on, singing karaoke, skating in my socks, buckets to drum on, and some music playing that I can dance to.

Pick 5-10 of your favorite Christmas carols, write them down, tear them off, and put them in a bowl.  Take turns taking a Christmas carol from the bowl and drawing pictures of the song that was chosen until the other person guesses the song you are drawing.  Then trade who is drawing and who is guessing.  You can find some great Christmas carols here.

 

• On the 9th day of Christmas break, my parent gave to me, Christmas freeze dance, a Christmas carol game, making a maraca, cushions to jump on, singing karaoke, skating in my socks, buckets to drum on, and some music playing that I can dance to.

Play any Christmas song and let your kids dance.  When you stop the music, they have to freeze like the object you call out.  For instance, if you stop the music and say “tree”, they have to freeze their bodies in the shape of a Christmas tree.  Other ideas are candy cane, reindeer, Santa, present, or stocking.

 

• On the 10th day of Christmas break, my parent gave to me, wrapping paper rolls, Christmas freeze dance, a Christmas carol game, making a maraca, cushions to jump on, singing karaoke, skating in my socks, buckets to drum on, and some music playing that I can dance to.

Hand your child an empty wrapping paper or paper towel roll and use it as a trumpet, telescope, walking stick “through the snowy mountain”, or any other imaginative or pretend play your child can come up with.  Since I have three boys, things turn into swords easily around here, so make sure you are giving your child suggestions on how to use their wrapping paper roll.

 

• On the 11th day of Christmas break, my parent gave to me, an indoor snowball fight, wrapping paper rolls, Christmas freeze dance, a Christmas carol game, making a maraca, cushions to jump on, singing karaoke, skating in my socks, buckets to drum on, and some music playing that I can dance to.

Roll several pieces of paper into “snowballs”, hand them out evenly, and have an indoor snowball fight.  Find an open space in your home and see how much fun you can have trying to get each other with your “snowballs.”  Of course, you can have some fun Christmas music playing in the background.

 

• On the 12th day of Christmas break, my parent gave to me, hide and go seek, an indoor snowball fight, wrapping paper rolls, Christmas freeze dance, a Christmas carol game, making a maraca, cushions to jump on, singing karaoke, skating in my socks, buckets to drum on, and some music playing that I can dance to.

Of course, nothing beats a good game of hide and go seek.  Even the youngest of kids love this game and it is a perfect indoor activity.

 

I hope you have so much fun doing these activities with your children.  Do you have any favorite indoor ideas that you and your children can come up with?  I would love to hear all about them.

 

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