Winter holidays: 9 activities to play inside the house with children

For many mothers and fathers, the word “vacation” this winter caused more than a pang of stomach: for three or almost four weeks, millions of boys and girls had to stay home full time. With the intense rains, cold and respiratory viruses, being all indoors again has been a backtrack to the traumatic quarantines of 2020 and 2021.

But don’t be so dramatic. While they can be boring and stressful, these long weeks are also a great opportunity to spend quality time with family and explore other ways kids can channel their creativity.

“ There are simple activities that never fail and that are really an opportunity to have fun and also to share quality time with our children,” explains Camila Melín, a kindergarten educator, known on Instagram as @mama.educadora . “Cooking together, like preparing easy and delicious recipes, is always a hit, and the kitchen is a mini-laboratory where boys and girls learn by doing,” she says. Among her more than 100,000 followers, a winter holiday game booklet that she made herself is causing a stir, material that can be downloaded for free here .

Daniela Alonso is a graduate in literature and a journalist, mother of Julián, 10, and Amalia, 7, and creator of momimom.cl , a blog about motherhood and parenthood. “Since on vacation they have to continue reading and perfecting their writing, I make them challenges and with this they earn “screenpoints”, a strategy that is used to prevent children from having excessive consumption of tablets, mobile phones or computers during the week.

“At the brain level, development in childhood is not only dependent on genetics, but also on the stimulation and affectivity provided by their environment,” he told us. Valeska Woldarski , child and adolescent psychologist, in a past interview. As adults, we must keep in mind that “childhood contains critical periods when neuronal synapses are produced. If there is not adequate stimulation at these times, it can negatively influence the acquisition of certain skills”. It has been shown that prolonged exposure to screens at an early age can lead to cognitive, attentional and behavioral problems.

With the help of these three mothers, we have compiled a list of activities on the inside that boys and girls of different ages can do during this winter vacation. The idea? Play, stimulate and, above all, have fun.

• Materials: Two or three potatoes, a blunt carving tool (like a spoon), tempera or non-toxic paint.
• Recommended age : 2 years and over.

A timeless classic, very easy to make. The adult or caregiver should cut a few potatoes in half and carve each into different shapes, such as hearts, circles, letters, stars, or whatever children can think of. “This will allow them to stamp and assemble their designs however they see fit,” says Woldarsky. The older the children, the more elaborate the designs can be.

• Materials: Miniature cars or vehicles and paper adhesive tapes (masking tape) colours.
• Recommended age : 2 years and over.

Use masking tape —masking tape— highways and roads can be created in different colors so that small cars can drive around the house. It will help to create towns, incorporating toys they already have, which will unleash all their imagination and creativity. “It will entertain them for hours,” says the psychologist.

• Materials: a cardboard box, colored cardboard, markers and blunt-ended scissors.
• Recommended age : 3 years and over.

It is a simple and creative activity, in which boys and girls can “practice cutting techniques and develop their fine motor skills”, explains Camila Melín, who is also a mother of two children. All they have to do is draw different geometric shapes on the cardboard, cut them out and then decorate them as they wish. The idea is that they have different shapes, such as long rectangles, zigzags, curves or spines.

These cutouts will accumulate in the box, “and with them you can invite them to create a collage or form other figures”, he explains, such as people, animals or objects. “With this activity, they work on fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, bilateral coordination – where both hands work on different tasks -, concentration and strength, in addition to preparing them for literacy”, adds- he. The important thing, yes, is to make it relaxed so that it’s a fun time.

Materials: A sheet of paper, markers and a “treasure” (a toy, stuffed animal, treat or small gift).

Recommended age + 3 years and over.

It is an ideal activity for those cold and rainy days. “It is enough to hide a loved object in a corner of the house, or it can even be a surprise, like a small gift. Then, build a plan of the house and add some clues to it that will guide the search,” explains Melín.

It’s an easy game, “which improves reasoning, problem solving and following instructions”, making it a great alternative to spend the afternoon. To give your map an old-fashioned and mysterious touch, you can draw it on a piece of craft paper and burn the edges with a lighter.

• Recommended age : 2 years and over

It can be cookies, a cake, tutti frutti or even bread. In this way, boys and girls will have contact with the dough and the ingredients, which will surely stimulate them to feel new textures and movements with their hands. “You can use different shaped cookie cutters,” adds Woldarsky, which will make baking more fun. Our columnist Álvaro Peralta has collected here some ideal recipes to make with children.

• Materials: 1 medium cardboard box (such as shoe boxes), toys or everyday objects of various sizes, textures and shapes.
• Recommended age For 2 years.

This is a game for guessing and testing the sense of touch. On one of the long sides of the box you need to cut out two circles where the child’s hands can fit. On the top — if it’s a shoebox and it has a lid — or on the other side, we leave it open so that the adult can place the various objects.

The game consists of guessing with their hands what they are touching. “It’s a very fun activity,” says Melín, “that stimulates the senses but also helps us improve language.” The more different the objects — they can be fruits, feathers, fabrics, tools or toys — the more fun it will be.

• Materials : Legos or blocks.
• Recommended age from 5 years. There are legos or blocks for the little ones, bigger ones so they don’t swallow them and they are easier to use.

“When parents work outside the home, my children know that we can do a lot of things: cook, eat, order, clean, but also share. What I’m doing, very intentionally, is telling them that we’re going to spend about 20 minutes together, but it’s going to be quality time,” says Daniela Alonso.

“I’m very concerned about sharing the things they like to do, and therefore being in tune with them”, explains the creator of Momiblog. Their eldest son is Julián, ten years old, and they get along well with him through the legos. During these weeks, in fact, they built a big house with these bricks. “We have been doing this project for several days, we are perfecting it, we are looking for tutorials and we are having fun with it”, he specifies.

• Recommended age : from 5 years.

Daniela and her family live in Puerto Montt. As in the south it is almost always cold and often rainy, often the pleasure must be at home. “That’s why we have many board games, which are simple and entertaining,” he says.

Julián and Amalia are both fans of Chilean Fractal games, which have a large catalog of games. One of his favorites is Was?, a card game where each participant will have to find out which animal pooped in the living room, clear up the doubts hanging over their pets and try to blame others. It is a game that tests both memory and reaction speed.

Daniela’s son is also very creative and even invents his own board games. When they are motivated, they all play it as a family. “Sometimes other family members or their own friends also join,” he says.

• Materials: sheets, paper, books, colored pencils.
• Recommended age From 6 years old.

Daniela Alonso has a system with her children: if they want to use electronic devices — whether to watch TV or use the tablet — they must first earn screen points. What is? Every day they have to give them a sheet written with what they want, a drawing and a page reading. For example, your younger daughter must comply with five pages read daily and the eldest with ten. When her kids are done, she checks to see if they’ve done it, which gives them the right to use the screens for a limited time.

“That way they also understand that things have to be earned and the screens here at home are not limitless.” This, he specifies, only works on weekdays, because on Saturday and Sunday there is more freedom and relaxation. While she focused on reading and writing, it could also be done with crafts, painting, drawing, or other activities that are fun for kids and build their skills.

*Prices for products in this item are current as of July 15, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.