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DEL.ICIO.USFamily fun picks for the school holidays
A few ideas for holiday fun for the unexhausted.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, it’s all over now. We’re exhausted and the house is a mess. Today we’re cleaning up and moving toys where they belong. If you’re not completely wiped out, here are some ideas for fun while your kids are home from school:
Cooking
Monkey bread - My girlfriend made a version of this at our mom’s brunch a few weeks ago, and it was delicious. I didn’t get her recipe before they left town but I found a bunch on the Internet. I made this recipe the day before Christmas and the reheated Christmas morning. It turned out pretty well. Here’s one recipe but the site also has a link to other versions. See what you think. The kids can totally help make it.
Pillsbury’s already rolled-out sugar cookie dough - My kids love to use cookie cutters but I’m always worn out after making the dough and rolling it out. So, we bought the already made, rolled-out dough. I got icing in little squirters in the baking aisle and lots of sprinkles.
We ended up doing one of the packages on Christmas Eve morning. They did a great job with it. It was very easy and just the right thickness to make very nice cookie cut-outs. We cut out the cookies on wax paper with a little bit of flour sprinkled on it.
Pretzels dipped in chocolate - One our friends gave these out as goodies. They were so festive but had to be easy to make. She took the large pretzel rods, bought the chocolate you melt in the microwave to dip them in, and then covered with cookie sprinkles. We tried it a week ago and they were very easy and tasty. Our biggest problem was I needed something long and thin to hold the chocolate to dip the pretzels in. I ended up just sort of rolling the pretzels in the chocolate and it didn’t look as pretty. But it did keep them occupied.
Easy gingerbread houses - If you’re feeling a little more ambitious, you can make little gingerbread houses. Many of you may have made these before, but I’m sure there are some new moms out there who haven’t seen it done. Here are the quick and dirty directions:
You need a school milk carton-size box - grocery stores have the little Tropicana boxes that would work just fine. Buy graham crackers, canned white icing and different types of candy (Twizzlers, red hots, candy canes, Skittles all work well.) Spread the icing on the sides of the little box then stick the graham crackers on to make the house. Then use the icing to stick the candy on the house to decorate it.
We also used large marshmallows and pretzel sticks to make snowmen. Use one pretzel stick to spear the three marshmallows together to make the snowman. You can also use the pretzel sticks as arms. Another cute touch is to use sugar ice cream cones turned upside down as Christmas trees. Tint the icing green and spread it on the little tree.
On the entertainment front, here are some things we’ve seen:
Movies
“Enchanted” - Three adults and one teenager took one 6-year-old girl to see this movie, and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. It was funny, cute, sweet and very tolerable to adults. I’m not sure if my 4-year-old would have liked it. It was pretty girly.
“Alvin and the Chipmunks” - A big fan of the Chipmunks, I took my 6- and 4-year-old and met my brother, his wife and their 6- and 2-year-old to see the new movie. The kids loved it. The parents suffered. There are a lot of gas passing jokes, and you really have to suspend disbelief. While I was checking my watch wondering why Jason Lee would agree to play Dave, the kids were cracking up.
“Bee Movie” - It’s still out there and if you haven’t seen it, it is worth checking out. It was cute for the whole family. The story hangs together pretty well. The animation is good. The jokes are funny to kids and adults.
The Water Horse - This movie opened on Christmas Day and my kids are fascinated by the trailer. One review I read said it had some pretty scary parts to it. So I’m not quite sure whether to take them or not. Let us know if you see and what you think. How old can kids be to go? Did you kids like it?
Stone Mountain Park Christmas - My parents took our 6- and 4-year-old a few weeks ago to the park for all the Christmas stuff. It isn’t cheap, but the kids really had a great time. They spent about six hours there. My kids sat still for all the live shows and loved seeing the Snow Fairy at the end of the parade (happens at the end of the night). They also liked riding the train. All I remember from years past was that food service was slow and expensive. The Christmas stuff is there through Dec. 30.
Fun at home:
We recently discovered that Comcast cable has Karaoke on the On Demand section under music. It’s free. They have holiday songs, as well as ’80s, country, current hits, and all kinds of categories. It’s fun for the whole family - or at least those members that can read. (Only kidding, kids would love to see their parents be silly.) Side note: Jesse’s Girl, they have “Jessie’s Girl”!!! I did a fantastic job on it — would have made you proud!
Disney’s Scene It - Santa brought this game last year and it’s very fun for all ages. We play in teams - girls against boys often. My parents like to play with us. Even the 4-year-old can get answers right in this game.
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: Family Life
Comments
By Jen
December 26, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this
This isn’t something I need to worry about…my husband takes our son and goes out of state to visit relatives for 10 days, right after Christmas….meaning I get to stay home by myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They’ll be back right before school starts….
Side note: yeah, I do miss them and sometimes wish I could go but I just don’t have enough PTO by the end of the year - it’s all used up doing school stuff. So, instead, I’ve learned to really cherish this time alone…
By Amy
December 26, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this
We always try to have a friend of my boys over sometime during a holiday because they live too far away for any weekend visit - keeps my kids happy.
By WarEagle 87
December 26, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this
My boys are now 14 and 17 but the same thing holds true today that did when they were smaller…they play with what they got for Christmas and with neighbors…I’ve never felt like I HAD to entertain them or fill their time…not that we haven’t played games or watched movies together but they can function on their own without my constant interaction too.
By pattie
December 27, 2007 6:42 AM | Link to this
We saw Water Horse yesterday. It is a beautiful, intelligent, tender movie. It has one very scary part, during which my child looked away. I would not recommend it for any child under 8, and then just be prepared that it is not a Hollywood—funny-sea-monster story. It is about war and families and grief and love. It is about imagination and truth. Gorgeous cinematography, fully-developed characters who are perfectly cast, absolutely lovely music and ultimately, a thought-provoking story add up to a winner, in my book.
By Joyce
December 27, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
We’re planning on hitting Fernbank for their frog exhibit. It looks pretty interesting, judging from the website. Besides, the permanent collection of dinosaurs, etc. will definitely keep a 5-yo boy entertained for a morning!
By Annie
December 27, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
Didn’t the kids just get a bunch of new toys/books/puzzles/cds/dvds/video games for Christmas? If so, surely they can amuse themselves with the new goodies?? That’s the ritual in my house, and I can join in the playtime if I want - and I often do.
What’s the point of amusing kids right after they’ve received a heaping of new stuff?
By ayoungmom
December 27, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this
I work and my daughter plays with her toys …WHAT??? Is that so wrong?
By Joyce
December 27, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
I agree with Annie……
By Snarky
December 27, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this
Again, just for the record, I am NOT a slut because I have a tramp stamp. But I don’t care what you think of me, so I’ll keep posting this over and over again.
By Theresa
December 27, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
I’m a little surprised by the negativity about offering some ideas of fun stuff to do with your children. Obviously kids can entertain themselves with the toys they have just received but I would assume that parents would want to spend some time as a family as well — whether it’s during the week or on a weekend — and these were just some ideas that we could vouch for.
Pattie - I appreciate you writing in — it sounds like the movie is too mature for my kids — they do like the trailer but it sounds like it would be over their heads and maybe too intense.
hey Joyce — I hadn’t thought of the frog exhibit =— write back and let us know how it is —- I keep wanting to go to the High — my husband wanted to see the new world of coke —
By Annie
December 27, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
Theresa, I didn’t mean to come across as negative. I enjoy interacting with my kids, and do so all the time. However, after the holidays, I’ve got a house to clean, decorations to put away, thank you cards to send, etc.
My kids amuse themselves with their toys and books; I have the option of doing stuff with them and I do.
I love and cherish my kids; I hope that I’m raising them with good values and morals. Having said that, I won’t bow down to them and spoil them anymore than necessary. I want my kids to know that certain things/events are a special treat and not to be expected everytime they’re off from school.
By pattie
December 28, 2007 7:54 AM | Link to this
Teresa: Another idea is ice skating. We go once a year, and there are ice shavings from everyone skating along the edge of the rink. Many children bend down and make snowballs out of this ice and just stand there looking at them. Keep in mind that these Southern kids hardly ever get to see snow, let alone make snowballs. The look in their eyes is priceless. I saw many children take off their gloves just to feel the “snow.” How’s that for a simple pleasure?
By FCM
December 31, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this
My take on spending time w/Kids:
Cooking: Did most of it by Christmas Eve…
Cookies -the kids made Santa his cookies on Christmas Eve. We did the Betty Crocker just add butter and egg version—no sprinkles or icing (Santa doesn’t like them that way ). Plus they doubled later in the week when my daughter’s Target My Generation doll and I visited her for tea. (BTW, we later took this doll to the AGS and had no issues while we bought outfits for the doll).
Pancakes - again did this out of a Betty Crocker mix…the kids had fun flipping them in the pan. Under supervison of course!
Veggie/Cheese Trays - we made these up for Christmas Eve night. Sat and watched anminated ‘Grinch’ and drank water from the crystal wine glasses—the kids felt grown! Later in the week these same trays were brought out for snacks during movies.
Outside:
Park: Though damp it worked for Christmas Eve and one other day last week.
Target: Did some after Christmas sales shopping.
AGS: had to get our new doll some outfits.
Movies:
Water Horse: Well filmed, well acted, but well not really for kids. At least not little people ones. It is a very dark film and speaks more to WWII than the ads let on.
Enchanted: Delightful but girly.
Alvin: We all liked it. It is campy but in a fun way. Anyone expecting Oscar performances/story will be sad.
National Treasure: slated for tomorrow.
DVD:
Santa Clause 3 Harry Potter 5 Pirates 3 High School Musical 2 Deck the Halls (though it has some suggestive parts to it)
When you get a minute to yourself: Creation in Death by JD Robb/Nora Roberts Holiday (DVD) Music and Lyrics (DVD) License to Wed (DVD) (ok the above movies are predictable and some what cheesy….however after 24/7 kids inside due to weather…its nice veg with the cheese!)
Tonight (New Years Eve):
Board Games and movies with the kids…….we will do a full fledge party theme/food but in a more formal way than we did for Christmas…..and of course those that are awake at midnight get to watch the ball drop!
By Theresa
January 2, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this
FCM — that was some action-packed time — I am impressed!!
By Joyce
January 2, 2008 5:30 PM | Link to this
Sorry to take so long to write back. We didn’t make it to Fernbank, AKA “the froggy museum” until New Year’s Eve day. The exhibit was a lot of fun, especially trying to find the frogs that were hiding. Each display case with the live frogs in it had a sign that tells you how many are in there, so we played “I Spy” to try to find them all. The kids also had a blast with the rest of the museum. There are a couple of hands-on areas that were a lot of fun. Besides, you can never go wrong with dinosaur skeletons! It would be nice to go back though, to be able to read more of the info they give at each of the exhibits.