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School is out for the winter break, and your family is all together. This year, make the winter break one to remember by planning ahead and enjoying quality time participating in fun and exciting activities. Here are 7 things to do with your kids over the winter break.

Have a Family Baking Night

The holidays are busy with social gatherings and parties that often have baked goods. This year, make your holiday baking list a little easier, by having a family baking night. Delegate tasks to each family member, like mixing, adding ingredients, and decorating, or assign a different recipe to each person to complete. For younger children, set up a special table, and put them in charge of decorating, or have them sit on the counter and help you mix the ingredients. This is a fun way to complete your holiday baking while spending some quality time with your kids.

Put on a Show

Encourage imaginative play in your children, while enjoying the entertainment, and plan a family talent show night. This idea can be for all ages, and it can be a lot of fun for everyone. Whether it is reading a short story, tap dancing, or singing, planning a family talent show will keep your kids busy. For an extra special touch, make and serve popcorn for the audience, and print tickets for admission. If your house does not have a built-in stage like this photo, there is an excellent tutorial from Teach Mama on how to build an easy stage. Having a family talent show is a fun and exciting way to keep your children occupied, while encouraging imaginary play, and developing their public speaking skills.

Play Spot the Reindeer

Get into the holiday spirit, and encourage your children to look closely at the light displays by challenging them to a game of spot the reindeer. This game is as simple as designating each child with a specific holiday symbol they need to find and count. At the end of the drive, the person with the most sightings is the winner. It’s  a creative way to make viewing the lights more fun while instilling an element of friendly competition among family members.

Enjoy a Victorian Christmas Festival

Take your kids back in time for a day, and visit the Christmas Festival at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. The festive tradition features hands on activities for children, where they can create a take home souvenir using historic tools, tour the festively decorated farmhouse, or sing Christmas songs in the parlour while enjoying holiday treats. Entrance to the park for the day is $17.00, and the event runs from December 27-31, and January 1-7.

Take in a Live Show

A fantastic advantage to living in the GTA is the endless opportunity to take in live theatre. Expose your children to the culture and wonder of a live performance, and take in one of the many child friendly shows. The Royal Alexandra Theatre will be putting on a production of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, The Young People’s Theatre is having Beauty and the Beast, and  The Randolph Theatre is putting on a Production of Annie. Regardless of how old your kids are, live theatre is an excellent way to inspire them, and introduce them to the magic of a performance.

Enjoy Family Sundays at the Art Gallery of Ontario

Every year from November 5- April 29, the Art Gallery of Ontario offers a hands on art experience for the whole family, young and old. Family Sundays are an interactive, family friendly experience, inspired by the ever changing collection at the Art Gallery of Ontario. The event allows hands on exploration, and innovative learning experiences for families interested in the exhibits at the museum, and it is a perfect way to spend a Sunday with your kids over the winter break.  

Go to Holiday Bricktacular at Legoland

Legoland is a perfect family friendly activity to do over the winter break, and as an added bonus, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, a magical holiday theme takes over the exhibits. Featuring a build-your-own ornament exhibit, Santa and Reindeer in mini land, and a chance for the kids to write letters to Santa, Legoland is the perfect place for the whole family to have fun over the holidays.  

Whether it is spending time with your kids at home, or enjoying some of the Holiday activities the local attractions offer, there is no shortage of what you can do with your kids over winter break. So spend some quality time together, and enjoy what the holidays have to offer. For more ideas about what to do with your kids over the break, visit the Falconcrest Homes Blog.