How to Keep Kids Engaged and Productive Over the Holiday Season

The holiday season is here, and for many parents, this is a challenge on its own. Let's face it, most parents prefer their kids to stay in school than at home. This is because keeping kids engaged and productive while they’re out of school for an extended break is a challenge not many parents know how to handle. With around two months break for the December holiday at home, it can be daunting to balance entertainment, learning, and positive behaviors in a way that doesn’t feel chaotic. Without structure, children can quickly become bored or overly reliant on screen time, making it all the more important to create a plan that promotes both fun and responsibility. Below are strategies parents can use to keep their children busy and foster personal growth through task assignments and a reward-based approach, reinforcing positive behaviors with meaningful incentives.

1. Create a Daily Schedule with Activities and Breaks

Children thrive on structure, even if they might resist it at first. Set up a flexible daily schedule that balances various activities, such as reading time, arts and crafts, outdoor play, and quiet time for relaxation. Adding scheduled breaks also allows kids to look forward to unstructured time, promoting both routine and independence. 

If you are a parent with an 8-5 job, you should have someone you trust to oversee these activities when you are not around. this can be your partner or a domestic manager.

(A trick that works for me:- Afternoon naps are a MUST!)

2. Encourage Learning Through Fun Activities

Learning doesn’t have to take a backseat during the holidays. Interactive, hands-on activities can help kids engage with learning in creative ways:

• Science Experiments: Set up simple experiments that explore everyday concepts. Websites like Science Kids and Scholastic offer experiments that are easy to do at home.
• Art Projects: Bring out paints, markers, and crayons to inspire creativity. Art fosters self-expression, develops fine motor skills, and is a fantastic way to engage children. You can buy coloring books and let everyone enjoy some quiet expressive time. Good thing there isn't an age limit.
• Reading Challenges: Introduce a reading challenge, where kids earn rewards for completing books. This can develop reading skills and provide entertainment.

3. Assign Age-Appropriate Tasks and Chores

Assigning tasks around the house can teach responsibility and make kids feel more involved in family activities. Create a list of chores tailored to your child’s age, such as watering plants, tidying their room, setting and clearing the table, feeding pets, cleaning shoes or even helping with simple meal prep. To make it motivating, you can introduce a reward system which brings me to the next point.

4. Reward System for Positive Reinforcement

Introducing a reward system is a classic behavior modification technique that encourages kids to repeat positive actions. Research shows that positive reinforcement, such as rewards for good behavior or completing tasks, helps children develop strong self-regulation skills and fosters a sense of accomplishment. Here’s how you can set up an effective reward system:

• Rewards: Rewards can vary depending on the child’s interests. For example, younger children might enjoy small toys or stickers, while older kids might appreciate a bit of extra screen time, a day out, or even a small monetary reward.
• Goal Setting: Set clear goals tied to specific rewards. For instance, completing five chores in a week might earn them a movie night. The key is to make goals achievable but challenging enough to promote a sense of accomplishment.
• Consistency: Make sure the system is consistent, do not promise a reward, and then fail to deliver. Reward them soon after the positive behavior to strengthen the association between effort and reward.

5. Interactive Outings for the Whole Family

Mixing up indoor activities with outings is essential. Look for opportunities to enjoy family-friendly places like parks, museums, or interactive science centers. If possible, plan activities that tie into their interests, like a day trip to a historical site if they’re interested in history or a visit to a nature reserve for young animal lovers. These can work best for over the weekend and give them something to fantasize about the entire week with anticipation for the next weekend.

6. Teach Financial Literacy with Earned Rewards

If you’re offering small cash rewards, consider using this as an opportunity to teach basic financial literacy. Encourage kids to save a portion of their earnings in a piggy bank or savings account. This not only incentivizes positive behavior but also imparts valuable lessons in money management from a young age. Additionally, you can ask the kids about what they wish they had, then give them the idea to be saving towards buying that. Trust me, they will cherish it more if they buy from their savings than when you buy it for them.