The holiday season is a time to reunite with family and friends. Late December also is a time for students to relax and recharge over the holiday break, which typically begins a day or so before Christmas and extends until the first weekday after New Year’s Day.

Parents know that kids tend to reach for their devices when they have lots of time on their hands, and the holiday break from school is no exception. Children who receive new devices as holiday presents may be even more tempted to spend hours on end looking at screens. That temptation is understandable, but succumbing to it can be detrimental. A 2023 study published in the journal Cureus noted that excessive screen time can adversely affect academic performance and even reduce the frequency and quality of interactions between children and their caregivers. The study also found that excessive screen time can increase the likelihood of obesity, sleep disorders, depression, and anxiety.

Fewer hours of daylight, colder temperatures and the general lack of structure over holiday breaks can increase the chances kids reach for screens during the late-December break from school. But parents looking to fill kids’ time with healthier pursuits can look to these screen-free ways to engage youngsters over the holiday break.

Spend time in the great outdoors

It might be cold outside, but that does not mean families need to spend their entire holiday break indoors. In fact, parents can anticipate outdoor activities over the break and incorporate such recreation into their holiday shopping. When buying holiday gifts for kids, upgrade their outdoor gear. A new moisture-wicking base layer can be paired with hand warmers and glove liners to provide extra insulation for outdoor activities like sledding, hiking, and ice skating. A chance to use their new gear may add to the excitement of spending time outdoors over the break.

Incorporate board games into your daily holiday break routine

Board games have been popular pastimes for decades, and for good reason. The Australia-based Child Development Clinic notes that board and tabletop games offer a host of developmental benefits to children. Board games engage social skills such as cooperation and turn-taking which are critical to kids’ development. A 2016 study published in The Journal of Mathematical Behavior also found that number board games help young children develop their early mathematical skills. Board games also can be incorporated into holiday gift-giving, and the chance to play a new game or games may excite curious kids looking for something to do during their break from school.

Create New Year’s-themed crafts 

The excitement of the holiday season does not have to end once the presents are opened on December 25. New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are fun days to look forward to once Christmas has come and gone. Some New Year’s-themed craft projects can spark kids’ creativity and even help them engage, maintain and strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills they’re developing at school. 

Screens fight for kids’ attention over the holiday season break from school. But parents can incorporate various screen-free activities into their holiday break routines.

– Metro Creative