A List of Winter Break Activities For Kids

What To Do With Kids Over Winter?

With Sidney off of school for the next two weeks I've been busy trying to come up with fun activities to do. Unfortunately, I can't spend a ton of money so we are limited. However, our region has a strong focus on family and offers many enjoyable things to do with your kids. 

I know first hand that a lot of young moms aren't exactly rich. We are dealing with school,  starting a career, saving for a house and our children's college funds plus so much more. Money is tight, but we still want to enjoy our time with our little ones while they are young. So hopefully you can get some ideas out of my list and even though a lot of my listed activities are specific to the region we live, in your city might have similar programs. All you have to do is look it up online.

Things we might do that cost us basically nothing:

• Free skating at the mall (my mom bought Sid skates for $2 at the thrift store)
• Free skating at Central Park downtown
• Drop-in craft program at the library
• Rent a movie from the library (popcorn and juice is the only money we'll be spending on this!)
• Play at McDonald's indoor playground (costs me the price of a coffee and hot chocolate)
• A trip down to the farmer's market (spending money is optional, however I can't turn down delicious food - especially local produce!)
• Tobogganing (if we even get snow! Haven't seen much yet.)
• Play at the park, all wrapped up nice and warm
• Baking at home
• Walk the trails through Riverside park and feed the birds
• Playing with all our new Christmas toys of course!

Things we might do that cost us a little more:

• Drop in pottery class ($10)
• Indoor playground ($5 on Tuesdays)
• Indoor mini-golf ($5 each = $10)
• Region Museum all day pass ($5 for Sid, $10 for me = $15)

Things we might do that cost more:

• Tubing ($20 each = $40)
• Movies (about $10 each plus popcorn = $30)

There is a lot more around here we can do, but we only have two weeks and our funds are limited. I try to find and think up as many amusing things that are free, or cost very little. 

What are some things you like to do with the kids over the holidays/winter?

Thanks, 

PS - Because Sidney is on winter break now, I might not get around to blogging as much for the next two weeks.

Why We Made A Chore List

Sidney's Chore List - 11/07/2012

 

The Chore List

My Daughter Was Becoming A Slob

About a year ago I noticed my daughter was becoming a slob. That’s right, a slob. I had let things slide and instead of making her clean up after herself I would do it for her. 

I felt bad because she was so tired all the time. She went from being home with mommy, relaxing and even taking the odd nap when she needed it to being in kindergarten full-time. After school she was just so tired, I felt like it was my responsibility to clean up after her so she could relax.

Well, a few months into school she became used to it and wasn’t as tired any more, but she still wasn’t picking up after herself. Worse, she didn’t want to and would whine when I told her to put her things away! I knew then that something really had to change, that I had to motivate her some how to start taking responsibility. 

Letting Go of The Guilt

At first I felt kind of guilty forcing her to clean up after herself, “she‘s only four years old!”, but I knew I would feel more guilty if I allowed her to grow up not fully understanding responsibilities. I’ve witnessed what happens to children when their parents don’t force responsibilities on them; they grow up unprepared for the real world.

The Chore List

That’s when I made her a chore list. This is something Nick and I decided together to help Sidney begin to understand responsibilities. Mind you, her chore list is really simple and age appropriate.

Things listed on her chore list include:

• Hang up backpack
• Put shoes away
• Pick up toys
• Put clothes in laundry basket
• Help sort laundry
• Help with meal prep
• Help set table
• Homework
• Feed pets
• Help clear table
• Water plants
• Help with yard work (gardening, raking, shovelling snow)

 

Helping

Most of the chores on Sidney’s list say “help” because obviously she can’t clear an entire table by herself and I wouldn’t expect her to. It’s important to take the time to help her, even when I feel frustrated. Just like my teachers, my supervisors and my parents have helped teach me new skills, I have to take the time to teach her. It also promotes teamwork. 

The Benefits and Awards

To help motivate her, I simply drew out a chart on a piece of colourful paper and every time she completes a task she gets a sticker!  Sidney also made her own piggy bank out of an old jar by decorating it. Five tasks equals one quarter that we tally up at the end of the week. Twenty five cents may not seem like a lot to an adult but to a five year old it’s a major accomplishment. 

Most of these tasks are easy and to be expected of her on a daily basis so I don’t see the need to be paying her a large allowance. Besides, Sidney has a savings account that I put money into regularly. 

This chore list is simply to encourage her, build self confidence/self worth and responsibility. 

It also lessens my workload at the end of the day! 

Do your children have chores list? What kind of chores do they have and how are they rewarded?

Thanks,