"I'm bored."
This is the common phrase heard by many anxious K-12 students on Winter Break, especially once the novelty of the holidays wears off. This is also the plight of many mamas and families during consecutive days off from school and work. Feel free to explore the following ideas of how to inexpensively entertain and make productive use of time, while intermittently catching some relaxation during the holiday break as we count down the final days of 2021 in preparation for 2022.
Out with the old, in with the new: clean out closets
I know it doesn’t sound like much fun, but once new gifts and packages have been opened, the motivation to reorganize, purge, and make more space anew is there. Getting something new is always the incentive for everyone in the household to pack up and put away, and everyone gets the payoff to enjoy their new prized possessions.
Bargain
Getting help boxing up and storing away Christmas decor in exchange for maybe more screen time or a playdate will cut the holiday clean-up time in half, as well as perhaps free up some “me” time for yourself or getting in a nap.
Low-Key Social Events
Schedule a brunch date or happy hour with a friend or family member that won’t require getting up too early or staying out too late.
Charity Involvement
Volunteer at a church or shelter and involve your children and family. Make a Goodwill trip or two. With so much abundance for some during this time of year, spreading around the wealth of your time and positive cheer is wonderful use of extra time, not to mention time that can be used as examples of how we can raise up the students of our communities to become more service-oriented.
Cook Together
With the rush of the season slowing down, we get to use this time to actually take our time. We don't need to have as much fast-food or meals standing up as we wait on others. Winter break can be utilized as time to create our own dishes–using fresh ingredients that we can educate our families about, as well as practice making delicious new meals that can turn into new favorites. Time talking and laughing in the kitchen is also time for family bonding and communication.
Camp Out In The Living Room
Enjoy the warmth, comfort, and stillness of the Winter season ahead. That’s what winter break is all about! Take an actual break. Sleep. Stay in those new pajamas all day long, and watch those movies as you cuddle up on he couch or make pillow and blanket forts on the floor. Rest warmly and safely.
Do Crafts
Craft-making of any sort or finishing a photo-project can be unrushed enjoyment and occupy our time in a healthy way. Also, card or wreath making for cemetery visits that we may now have time for can be soothing for the soul and is therapeutic. And they are ready to go when they're needed later.
Be Still And Reflective
Lastly, as our culture continues to engage in more mindful, present practices, enjoyable comfortable silence to reflect or even read will most definitely be time well-spent.
Not everything can always be tied up neatly and perfectly in a bow, but we can certainly make the most of the time, people, and resources that we have. Cheers to you and yours this holiday season. Keep well and be blessed!
Sheena Cessor is a graduate of the former Perley Isaac School of Journalism at West Virginia University and has been a middle school English and Language Arts educator. She is currently working as a Special Education teacher for Early Childhood Development for Anne Arundel County Public Schools and is a mother of three children.
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