What Your Children Need During Holiday Break

Often as parents we get stuck on the idea that we have to do something “special” or “out of the ordinary” for our children to have great memories.

“
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
”
— Maya Angelou

The truth is that most of us hold the memory of how we felt, more so than the memory of what was happening. As we start our breaks, take on the challenge of being aware of your mood and how you are making your children feel.

Move slowly, be mindful, hug more, kiss more, watch them without distraction. I promise that if you take on this challenge, the holidays will be brilliantly special and memorable.

Here are some quick ideas based on age group:

For under 4 years old:

  • Sit on the floor with them while they play. Narrate and describe what they do, no questions.

  • Go to your backyard or to a park. Observe them as they explore, climb, and pick up objects around them. Describe them. Tell them the names of the objects. Build a fairy castle with objects from nature and tell them that the fairies will find them.

  • Take your time with them while eating, while bathing, while helping them go to sleep. No rush. No phone. Be there, present.

For 5-8 years old:

  • Build a fort of blankets with them. Get in there and let them tell you what they want to do in the fort.

  • Play games like Red Light Green Light, Simon Says, or Freeze Dance.

  • Draw with them. Let them tell you what they want you to draw for them.

For 9-11 years old:

  • Snuggle on the couch and show them your favorite childhood movie.

  • Play board games together.

  • Tell them to teach you how to play their favorite video game. Play the video game with them. This one is specially important to do if you have been fighting over screen time.

For 12-15 years old

  • Bake or cook with them.

  • Watch a TV show together that they love and are willing to share with you.

  • Work on a puzzle together as a family.

For 15+

  • Watch movies and TV shows together.

  • Work on a playlist on Spotify together - they give you songs to add you give them songs to add.

  • Look at old pictures of your family and extended family and tell them stories of the people in their lives.

The idea is to keep it simple and to stop "telling them what to do" and be with them.

Hope this is useful to all!