As our kids finish up the last days of school before the holiday break, we may find ourselves wondering how we will make it through the next 2 weeks with such lively, wound-up children. It is winter so in many places in the U.S., it is cold. Sure, the kids may go outside for an hour or so each day to play in the snow, but what about the rest of the day? Here are some activities both in the home and out of the home that you may want to schedule or keep in mind for some fun.

• Go skating (ice or roller) – Find a pond or an outdoor rink to ice skate on.  Bring along some hot chocolate in a thermos for a mid-skate break.  Check the hours for the roller rink and prepare for a blast from the past!
• Visit a library – This is one of my favorite activities.  Where else can you go where you can leave with an entire bag full of possibilities for FREE?!

• Check out a museum – History, science, art, and fun await in the museums of your own hometown or home state.

• Read a fun book series – Find a good book series (like the Spiderwick Chronicles or Percy Jackson & the Olympians), call everyone to the couch, wrap up in a blanket, and read your way through each day of the break.

• See a movie – There are some good ones in the theaters now:  The Princess & The Frog, Planet 51, Disney’s A Christmas Carol, Alvin & the Chipmunks (out on Christmas Day), The Fantastic Mr. Fox.  Try a midday matinee for a price break and eat a snack before you go.

• Tackle a project – Feel like there is never time to do a home project?  This is your chance!  Sure, there will be kids around, but block off some time and get them involved.  You can finally organize the storage room or paint a bedroom or clean off your desk.
• Break out the craft supplies – Paints, crayons, markers, paper, construction paper, scissors, glue (supervised), play-doh, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes are all cheap materials that go along way on a cold afternoon.  Join in for some creative fun!
• Bake away – Nothing warms a home and makes people as happy as gooey cookies or sweet-smelling bread.  Devote a morning or late afternoon to baking some of your family’s favorites.
• Piece together a puzzle – Whether it is a 24 piece puzzle or a 1000 piece puzzle, putting together a puzzle is a good group activity.

What fun things do you have planned for the holiday break?