Surviving winter breaks through creative play
If you have kids or care for kids, you know those long winter breaks can be challenging. If you are looking for ways to get creative with your kids over upcoming holiday breaks, I’ve got you! Here are a bunch of unique, budget-friendly, kid-tested ways to get the kids stretching their creative muscles.
I loved paint with water books as a kid and my kids have loved them too. This set comes with 3 different books but there are so many themes available now.
These color changing markers are fun for kids of any age and make a perfect stocking stuffer! Draw with the color you like, then use the magic ink or eraser to create some unique effects and textures.
I love this activity because it’s super budget-friendly and the creative possibilities are pretty endless! Roll this paper down a hallway, across a hard floor or cover a table, bust out the crayons and colored pencils and let the kids’ imaginations run wild. They’ll have a blast drawing, writing or playing games on this large surface. Make some banners with the bigger kids to decorate for New Years or draw some shapes, letters or numbers to practice tracing and recognition with the younger kiddos. There are SO many possibilities! (A word of warning: be careful with markers - they could bleed through! Test yours before letting the kiddos loose on your floor.)
If you’re looking for something a little less messy, I hear you. These paint by sticker books are a fun twist on the classic paint-by-number kits you’ve seen. Choose the image you’d like to “paint”, find the corresponding color and shape stickers and adhere them to the painting.
For some on-the-go creative play for your little ones, these Aqua Art books are mess free and re-usable. Fill the included brush pen with water and watch the color appear as your child paints the page. Color disappears as the pages dry, making it ready to be used again and again. We loved these when our kids were small! And what child (or parent) doesn’t love Bluey, am I right?
My kids have both enjoyed these LCD tablets for writing and drawing. And my husband and I have loved that they’re portable, mess free and budget friendly. The pens are attached to the tablet so they don’t go missing. They’re great for quick doodles, writing notes back and forth or playing some road trip games. This one comes as a single tablet, set of two or a set of 3 all for under $20.
My son would tell you he’s not very artistic (though he’s still amazingly creative & clever!). He’s nearly 12 now but when he was a little younger, he enjoying doing guided drawing videos. Brad Woodward’s guided drawing videos at the Brave Kids Art Club were gold! They are clear, fun and provided a little education about each subject that he drew. The confidence boost this activity gave to him was so valuable! You can choose from over 100 videos, so there’s sure to be a topic or image that your child would enjoy learning to draw.
Lastly, I couldn’t resist sharing this precious photo and classic idea with you: For a free option, remember to save those big cardboard boxes. Oh I wish we did this sooner! Last year over winter break, each kid got a big cardboard box to decorate. They used markers, crayons, tape and even hung Christmas lights and used small lanterns to light up their cozy nooks. My kids loved curling up in their fort with blankets and stuffies for some reading or quiet iPad time. We’ve also used them to create cars that can be pushed or pulled around the house or use them to have our own “drive-in” movie night.
I hope this list inspires you to get creative with your kids and helps you survive some of the cabin fever that’s sure to hit in the weeks and months to come. And I hope you and your family have a joyful, peaceful and happy holiday season.
-Becky
