The winter holiday comes in the darkest part of the year, and for many families it is a week when everyday life has to hold together in a new way. Some go away, others stay at home, and many do a bit of both. Here are 18 ideas for activities at home and outdoors for children aged 3 to 9, and some advice for a week that does not require you to plan every hour.
Week 7 or week 8?
In Denmark the winter holiday falls in week 7 or week 8, depending on the municipality. Check your school's and nursery's calendar, so you know when you are off. If your child has a holiday in a different week from their friends, it can be a good idea to arrange playdates in good time.
How to plan a calm week
You do not have to fill the week. Choose one fixed activity per day and leave the rest free. A simple tip is to divide the day into three: morning, midday and afternoon. Use the morning outdoors, midday for food and rest, and the afternoon for something quiet at home.
Have a plan B for bad weather as well. A day of rain or frost can otherwise bring the whole plan to a halt. So keep one list of activities for home and another for things to do outdoors.
9 ideas for activities at home
- Build a den. Blankets, cushions and chairs are enough. Take a torch and books inside.
- Have a pyjama day. Films, books and hot chocolate on the sofa with no plans.
- Bake together. Buns, pizza or muffins. Let the children stir and decorate.
- Put on a play. The children make up a story, make scenery from cardboard and perform it for the family.
- Set a games challenge. Each day a child chooses a game that everyone has to play.
- Listen to an audio story. Crateit has three original Danish audio stories, free to download.
- Build and colour. Build a town or a house and recolour it. In Crateit Roomies children can build room by room and colour them with Crateit markers. The sets click together without glue or tools, so the rooms can be rebuilt.
- Do a project of the week. For instance a comic, a set of cards or a model that grows a little each day.
- Tidy up together. Go through the toys and find things to pass on or a new place for them. Many children find it fun when it turns into a game.
9 ideas for activities outdoors
- Go for a walk in the woods or along the water. Bring a flask and snacks, and find something to collect.
- Hold a treasure hunt outside. Make a list of things the children must find: a stick, a stone, a green leaf, a bird.
- Visit the library. Borrow books and audiobooks, and see whether there is anything for children in the winter holiday.
- Go to a museum or nature centre. Many places have activities for children in the holidays, but check opening times in advance.
- Swim or play at the swimming pool. It is a good way to get exercise when the weather is cold.
- Make a bird feeder. Hang it in the garden or somewhere nearby and see who comes.
- Visit grandparents or friends. Arrange it in good time, especially if several children are off.
- Take an evening walk with a torch. Dark afternoons can be made exciting with light and a warm drink.
- Play at the playground, even when it is cold. Dress the children for the weather and bring an extra jumper.
When you have to work yourself
Many parents have to work during the winter holiday. Here you can make a plan where the children have something to do while you are busy. Give them a small task in a room where you can hear them, for instance building, drawing or an audio story. Switch between activities, so the children do not get bored. And agree when you are free, so your child has something to look forward to. If you are looking for more ideas for days when the children are bored, you can read what children can do when they are bored.
More ideas
The winter holiday is similar to the autumn holiday in many ways. Read our post about autumn holiday with childrenif you want more ideas. And if you have dark afternoons, our indoor activities for children can also be used in February.
Make it your week
The most important thing is not that the week is full of experiences, but that you have time together. Let the children help decide, and choose activities that suit your energy. Some days it is fine to do almost nothing.
An example of a day
Here is a day that can give an idea of what a winter holiday day can look like. The morning starts calmly with breakfast in pyjamas. At ten o'clock you go out, for instance to the woods or the playground, so the children get fresh air. After lunch there is rest, and the children can listen to an audio story or draw. Late in the afternoon you build something together or bake. In the evening there is calm and a book.
It is not an answer key, but a frame. Some children want to be outdoors all day, others would rather stay in. Let your child's energy decide, and change the plan if it does not fit. The winter holiday is a holiday, not a task.
If you have more than one child
With several children, a holiday week can be hard to plan. Let the children take turns choosing the activity of the day, so no one feels overlooked. Or divide the day so that an adult can have time alone with each child for a couple of hours. Older and younger children can also do something together, for instance building a town where the older ones build roads and the younger ones drive cars.
Frequently asked questions
When is the winter holiday?
The winter holiday falls in week 7 or week 8, depending on the municipality. Check with your school or nursery for the exact week.
What can we do at home in the winter holiday?
Build dens, bake, put on a play, play games, listen to audio stories and build and colour. Choose one activity per day and leave the rest free.
What can we do when the weather is bad?
Keep a list ready with activities at home. The library, the swimming pool and a museum are also good options.
How do we keep children busy when we are working?
Give them a task they can do on their own, such as building, drawing or an audio story, and agree when you are free to play.
See Crateit Roomies, a wooden dollhouse that children build room by room.
