When it’s the holiday season and the kids have been on a break from school for a while now, it can be easy for them to get bored. So here are a few ideas to get the kids excited about the holidays and to get them involved in the Christmas activities.
A Christmas Scavenger Hunt
What better way to get the kids in the holiday spirit than a scavenger hunt. Buy a few cheap, small toys and/or sweets and hide them all over the house and/or garden.
You can even get creative and leave clues to lead the kids to the next gift.
This activity will keep the kids busy, promote teamwork and is a fun activity for everyone to do together.
The Chocolate Mitten Game
WARNING: If you are a person who can’t move much if you’re laughing uncontrollably then this game will be very hard.
Here’s what you will need:
- A sweet treat (a chocolate slab works the best in our experience)
- Pair of mittens
- Knife and fork
- One die
- As many extra accessories you want (gloves, scarf, hat, glasses etc.)
Here’s how it works:
Sit in a circle and place all the items in the middle. One by one everyone will get a chance to throw the die in the hopes of landing a six. As soon as a six is rolled, that person must put on all the accessories and the mittens and start to open the chocolate as quick as possible. The rest of the players immediately continue throwing the die. And as soon as someone gets another six, they must instantly take over from the previous player who is busy with the chocolate.
Once the chocolate is fully uncovered players must eat the chocolate with a knife and fork while still wearing the mittens and other accessories. The player who gets the most chocolate wins!
Christmas Tip:
To make the game a bit harder, wrap the chocolate slab in a couple of layers of festive wrapping paper. And remember, the layers will have to be removed one by one.
Swimming pool games
It’s the summer holidays in South Africa, which means that the weather is perfect for pool games! So grab a towel and head to the nearest pool and enjoy some fun with friends and family.
I remember as kids we were able to entertain ourselves in the pool until we looked like raisins. However, if you or the kids are struggling a bit, here are a few ideas:
Volleyball
Volleyball is a great game to play in the pool. Not only will it keep everybody busy for hours but it will also keep you fit!
Marco Polo
This classic will never get old. One person stars in the middle of the pool with their eyes closed and is only allowed to say “Marco”. The rest of the players are surrounding him in the pool and must answer with “Polo”. They are allowed to try and move away from the main player but cannot climb out of the pool. And if the “Marco” player touches you, you’re out.
Finish the lyrics – Christmas edition
All players stand on the edge of the pool while one person plays a Christmas song. Once the song randomly stops, players must continue the song with the correct lyrics. If the lyrics are incorrect, they need to jump into the pool.
For more ideas: Fun Holiday Activities for the Whole Family