Fun Outdoor Holiday Activities
by Shari Mendelsohn
The holidays is a perfect time to get outside and enjoy yourself. This article has some ideas for fun activities you can do over the holiday season. The following two activities can also be done inside for those who are having a winter holiday...
Plaster Handprints
Materials
- Plaster of Paris - mixed to directions
- strong paper or plastic plate
- Spatula or plastic knife to even the surface
- Fill the plate with plaster of paris and smooth to create a flat, even surface.
- Have your child press his open hand into the plaster and remove.
- Place the plaster plate in the sun to dry.
Tough Bubbles
Want the bubbles your kids play with to last a bit longer? Try this solution:
Materials
- 2 packets unflavoured gelatin
- 4 cups boiling water
- 3-5 tablespoons glycerine
- 3 tablespoons dish detergent
Dissolve the gelatin in hot water. Add glycerine and dish detergent. This will create a tough bubble that can bounce off your clothes. They're not invulnerable though so they will still burst. We made up this mixture to try it out and found that it worked even better after it had been sitting for a while to cool, but you'll need to stir it. Eventually this mixture will set like jelly, you'll need to reheat it each time you use it.
Jump Rope with a difference
Materials:
- 8 wooden or plastic ground pegs
- Plenty of stretchy elastic
Then you can create games where they have to jump the elastic or within the squares. Getting the kids to help create games is also educational and they will be proud to play a game that they made up. This could be great for party games too and also if you're creating a backyard obstacle course - kids love them!
Great ideas for the family include:
- Hiking - taking a gentle hike with a picnic in your backpack is a great way of getting outdoors away from technology and spending some time with the family. Stopping in a picturesque or restful spot to eat is relaxing and a good way to commune with nature. Even spending the day at the local botanical gardens can be a true delight for the littlies and give you some relaxing, quality moments with your partner.
- Backyard Campout - sleeping bags, a safe, well-tended fire and in no time you're roasting marshmallows and enjoying a warm cup of cocoa while you tell the kids of the adventures you got up to when you were their age. They just love hearing those stories and it brings the family together while having fun.
- Gardening - Growing your own fruit and veg is so successful as a way of getting kids to eat fresh food that some schools are even doing it now. They just love to eat the results of their work. You could take a trip to a nursery and allow each child to choose their favourite plant and let them plant and grow them. It teaches them a lot about nature, how plants grow, the seasons etc. They may prefer a flower to a fruit or veg.
- Bird Watching - This sounds like and old fashioned idea, but the kids just love it and it gives you a chance to be out in nature's peaceful serenity.
- Astronomy - This can be really exciting. You can pick out the constellations that you recognize or use a telescope. You could combine it with a backyard campout for when the fire goes out. It's fun looking at the stars while you drift off to sleep.
- Kite Flying - Remember how much fun it was to fly a kite when you were a kid? Well guess what? It's just as much fun when you're an adult! It's a cheap, fun way to spend time with the family and even enjoying it alone can be very therapeutic. Grab a kite and take it with you if you're going to the beach. Oh, and don't forget to take some other goodies such as a ball, spade and bucket etc.
Winter Holiday Ideas for the family...
If you live in an area where your holidays will be snowing, then you have the perfect opportunity to enjoy a range of outdoor activities that are fun and also healthy for you. The fresh, crisp air will help you feel invigorated. Here are some activities that you can enjoy...
- Build a snow person - Make a snowball and roll it along on the ground until it grows into a much larger ball. One large one for the bottom, a smaller one for the middle and the smallest for the head. Then decorate it with a hat and scarf, stones for eyes, a carrot for a nose or anything else you'd like to use that will add character to this lovely snow man or woman.
- Skiing - Skiing is an excellent cardiovascular activity. If you've never tried it before, how about having some lessons and then you can try snowboarding should it take your interest.
- Ice skating - A perfect activity for those who love to slide or dance. This activity can be carried out indoors or outdoors, but ensure that if you're skating on a pond that you stick to the outsides of the pond where the ice is thickest and safer. Never skate where there is moving water beneath the ice.
- Make Snow Angels - Laying down in the soft, white snow, moving your arms up and down and your legs in and out. This will create a lovely angel in the snow.
- Snowball Fights - Pack snowballs tightly if you want a fast moving one for throwing at a non-living target. Be careful about throwing them at people as it can break the skin so you may wish to pack the snow softly so that it falls apart upon impact without too much force. It's important to wear gloves or mittens when doing this to prevent injury and chills to your hands.
- Sledding - Using a sled or toboggan is such great fun and the climb back up the hill is fabulous exercise. Be careful about where you sled so you don't run into anybody. These days you can purchase inflatable versions of the sled that are cheaper and less dangerous.
- Kite Flying - Yes, I know it's already mentioned above among the fair weather activities, but it's amazing the number of people who don't consider the fun they can have with a kite in the wintertime. Using a plastic kite can be such fun in winter when there is a good breeze blowing.