After all the presents are unwrapped and your families have gone home, it may seem like there’s nothing left to do, but there are actually many things you can do both inside and outside. One of the best ways to help kids deal with winter boredom is to encourage them to be active with their friends. Seeing friends outside of school can also help build social skills. So, invite a friend over or plan a gathering with a group. It can be a great time to practice specific social skills, like making a phone call (as opposed to just texting), or having a face-to-face conversation. It can be a great time to practice good etiquette like the importance of reciprocating social invitations and being a good host or writing a thank you note.

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Sarah McPherson

Get cozy by the fire.

Many things can be done over break, here is a list for outside and inside activities:

                     Things Outside: 

• Shovel snow for someone in need. You could go to someones door step and ask them if they need help, especially with older people.
• Go winter camping as a family and learn survival skills.
• Have a bonfire and enjoy hot chocolate with some s’mores.
• Go snowshoeing. Have fun, run out in the snow with your snow shoes.
• Go on a winter photo scavenger hunt. Invite some friends and family and go out somewhere and have fun.
• Go ice skating. Invite some friends or even a boyfriend or girlfriend and have fun.
• Go sledding. Go find the biggest hill you can.
• Go downhill cross-country skiing.
• Build a snowman.
• Build a snow fort. Have fun and be adventurous
• Have a snowball fight. Invite some friends over and go at it.
• Go on a winter hike.
• Go ice fishing.
• Go snow tubing. Don’t let the cold stop you.
• Play pond hockey. Just make sure the pond is sturdy.

• Learn a new craft each weekend.
• Take turns picking online workout videos to do together as a family.
• Cook a meal as a family with each member in charge of a different course.
• Read one book every week. If you love to read this is something you probably want to try.
• Join a book club (or start one). You could meet some new friends with this idea.
• Go to an indoor water park.
• Learn card tricks (or magic tricks). Impress people with your talent.
• Attend yoga classes. Have a relaxing day after all the holiday excitement.
• Plan a family vacation. Go out of town or even the country and have fun.
• Clean out clothes and household goods that are no longer wanted and donate them to charity.
• Go swimming at an indoor pool. Bring some friends along.
• Take an art class. If you love art this will help you better at it.
• Join a gym. Work off all those Christmas dinners you’ve eaten.
• Have a movie night. Have a cup of hot cocoa and a bowl of popcorn close by.
• Visit a museum. Just because it’s a break doesn’t mean you can’t learn something new.
• Snuggle with your pets.
• Get cozy by the fire.

Or you can do what Jonathan Hurley plans to do, which is, “sleep, sleep and [more] sleep”.