Fun Activities With Your Toddler This Holiday Season

The Holiday Season is here! This is a time of the year where family time is extra important. Plus, it's a time of the year where so many memories are made that will be cherished for many years to come. One way to connect with your little ones is to come together and do some fun activities. These can range from crafts to watching movies to playing in the snow. Dive into these fun ideas.

Gingerbread Houses

A staple for home decorations during the holidays are made out of gingerbread! Making these candy and frosting filled houses are always a great time. You can purchase gingerbread kits that are super easy.  However, if you and your kids love to bake and love authenticity, you can make your own unique gingerbread house from scratch!

Holiday Movie I-Spy

Watching holiday movies like How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Home Alone, Elf, etc. is always enjoyable. However, to challenge your little ones and get them to really focus on the movie, make an I-Spy game! You or your kids can come up with a list of items or words they need to find in the movie (ex. santa hat, candy cane, christmas tree). You can even keep track of how many of each item they find to add some competition! This will get the whole family engaged in the movie and you can even give them a little prize at the end.

Wrapping Gifts

For some, gift wrapping can be therapeutic. For others, it can be dreadful. If you want an extra set of hands to help you tape or hold down one side of the wrapping paper, have your kids help! Their help may be simple, yet effective. 

Crafts

Holiday crafts are very versatile and can take minutes to make. These crafts can also be made from materials straight out of your home as well. So, assembling the crafts isn't always hard to do, nor does it cost you a trip to Michaels or Hobby Lobby. These crafts can consist of ornaments, mini wreaths, or even elves made out of pinecones. To find more ideas of simple and fun holiday crafts, check out our Pinterest board.

Donating Toys

Although some kids may find it hard to let go of their precious toys (even if they haven't touched them in years), going through their toy bins to make donations can be very rewarding and a great way to teach about giving. In addition, getting rid of some of your kids toys can help create a lot less clutter in your house and make more room. To involve your child in doing this task without conflict, try giving them options. For example, hold up two toys and ask which one they would rather keep. Continue this game of elimination until you've cut down the amount of toys to your (or your child's) liking. Once you have the donations ready, look for a local toy drive that you can send them off to. Make sure your child takes part in dropping off the toys. Explain to them that this will make a child in need's holiday season a lot happier. 

Drive-By Christmas Lights

A family favorite activity is driving through your town and admiring all of the Christmas lights. This is something that your whole family can do as it gets dark out. A plus is that if you choose to stay in the car, you don't have to worry about layering your kids up in warm clothes and hearing them complain about being cold! You can sit in the comfort of your own car, play some Christmas music, and enjoy the fun lights and decorations.