Winter Break Musts and Must-Nots - How to make holiday break memories of the best kind
While your kids are home on a break – whether from kindergarten or from college – here are some musts and must-nots for the pause in the daily grind.
MUST: Bake and eat cookies. A Snickerdoodle is just Christmas in cookie form. Teach your children how to make Grandma’s cookies and enjoy your favorite treats with your family.MUST NOT: Over-indulge. A cookie here and figgy pudding there is fine, but don’t binge and eat an entire cake, eighteen buffalo wings, and then turkey dinner all in one day. Treats are good, but tummy troubles are not.
MUST: See family and friends. Spend time with those you love and who love you in return. Remember that not every day is promised, so be sure to spread holiday joy to people important to you.MUST NOT: Spend time with toxic people. It doesn’t matter if it’s your brother or your co-worker, there’s no room for toxic people and negativity during the holidays. You have permission to keep those things out of your life.
MUST: Wear pajamas. Whether it’s for a day or an entire week, staying cozy in flannels and watching seasonal movies is just plain fun.MUST NOT: Deep clean the house. Even if you’re hosting the holiday dinner, don’t spend all your time cleaning. That’s not fun for anybody.
MUST: Clean out those backpacks. We’re midway through the school year. It’s time to toss those old assignments and make sure there’s not a banana rotting away in the bottom of someone’s backpack.MUST NOT: Force kids to do school work every day they’re home from school. Trust me, the teachers are taking a break. The kids deserve one, too.
MUST: Attempt a routine. Waking up at the same time and loosely keeping to a schedule helps kids feel secure and will make going back to school in January easier.MUST NOT: Overschedule. Time is precious, yes, but don’t cram an activity into every minute. This will lead to overstimulation and burnout.
MUST: Create new family traditions. Especially as a new family, it’s important to find out what works for your household and to create new traditions to carry on throughout the years.MUST NOT: Forget what was magical when you were a child. We all remember the magic of the holidays when we were kids, Grandma’s cookies, special games, etc. Pass those down to the next generation.
MUST: Have fun. The holidays are all about magic and family, regardless of what holidays your family celebrates. Celebrate them together and fill your time with laughter and love.MUST NOT: Forget those no longer with you. Take a moment to remember Aunt Sue’s favorite Christmas ornament or the way cousin Ben used to laugh at your jokes. Though they may be gone, they are not forgotten.
The time off from school (and maybe work) is a wonderful time for your children to make memories that will last a lifetime. Enjoy every second.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Winter Break Musts and Must-Nots - How to make holiday break memories of the best kind
