Here at PopUp Play, we know how difficult it can be to balance spending time with your children, a busy work schedule, making sure the house is still in one piece, and everything else in between. However, the holiday season has officially come, and with it comes the opportunity to take a breath from a busy lifestyle and enjoy one of the most important parts of the holiday season: spending some quality time with family.
However, now that that time has come, where do you even begin? Luckily, we have a few activities for you and your kiddos to have the best break ever.
Involve All The Family
This month, PopUp Play has been celebrating our “family” history since we first started in 2015, and we’d like you to join the celebration by reflecting on your own family history! Take advantage of having the family all together this holiday season by recounting stories from when your parents were children to where your own children are now. Your children will love the chance to hear what kind of fun you and even their grandparents had when they were just their age, and it’s a great learning opportunity for younger kids who haven’t known life without modern technology.
No one can deny how far we’ve come over the course of the last few generations, but some things never change. Your family can have cross-generational fun this season by spending time together and celebrating the endless fun of imaginative play. Speaking of…
Get Involved In Play Time
At PopUp Play, we believe that everyone is still a kid at heart. So, why not spend time with your children by doing one of their favorite things: playing together?
Photo by Comms Hero
Not only do kids love to use their imaginations, but it’s actually essential to their cognitive development. According to development psychologist Paul Harris, “imagination is absolutely vital for contemplating reality,” and there can be negative repercussions if children aren’t using their imaginations often enough. So why not get involved and imagine with them with the games and toys they like to play with?
Or, try reading a book or imagining your own stories together! Storytelling is an important part of kids’ development, and can aid in everything from enhancing memory retention to bettering communication skills.
Need a starting point for imaginative play? Check out our toy guide for 2016 for some inspiration.
Gingerbread House Building Party
This holiday season, have some nostalgic hands-on fun with your kids by doing the same thing you did as a child: building a good old-fashioned gingerbread house.
The fun doesn’t have to stop there, though. One of our very own fans inspired us with the idea of a gingerbread house building party. Invite over all your children’s friends to decorate edible gingerbread houses together with icing, candy and more. What’s more, bring a modern twist to your decorating party with one of our own life-sized, digitally designed gingerbread houses to color on and play in between cookie breaks. Tested by real-life PopUp Play fans, you’ll be the most fun house on the block.
Depending what type of gingerbread house maker you are, here is an in-depth guide to creating your own gingerbread and the best decorating tips, tricks and maneuvers. If you’re looking for a quicker, more basic building experience, check your local grocer for an easy-assembly kit.
Spend Time Together During Day-To-Day Tasks
As much as we’d like to think that a brief week or two off work for the holidays means no obligations, we all know that’s not true. Even on a break, a parent’s work is never done. However, that doesn’t mean your little elves can’t help out!
Photo by Entrepreneur
One of the easiest ways to spend time together with your children is to incorporate them into day-to-day tasks. If you’re sending out holiday cards this year, have your helper put stamps on the envelopes, or mix the cookies together while you’re prepping dinner. These are ways of spending quality time together that can be extended far beyond the holiday season. In fact, incorporating family time into daily tasks could even be a resolution to make your 2017 the best it can be.