The Holidays are a beautiful time of family meals and gatherings, but also, often, a lot of waiting, new environments, and sometimes long stretches of travel or sitting still. For little ones who haven’t fully developed their self-control and patience, this can be a lot to ask. With a bit of preparation, these wonderful holiday moments can also be calm, connected family experiences that also support the early childhood education of the littlest, and wiggliest, family members. Research shows that family mealtimes are linked to better nutrition, mental health, and school outcomes, and offer opportunities to build vocabulary, improve communication skills, and strengthen family relationships. So, let’s take a look at some simple activities that can be prepped ahead of time to make this busy season a little smoother!
Here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center is here to help support your family through the busy holiday season and beyond! Call today to schedule a visit and to ask about our holiday hours and plans.
1. Pack a “Holiday Busy Bag”
It doesn’t take much to keep a preschooler occupied. A small pouch of odds and ends can make the difference between a calm dinner out and chaos. A handful of simple items can set the stage for plenty of fun and activity to keep your little one amused all the way through dessert. Try including:
- A mini notebook
- A few crayons or twistable pencils
- Stickers or washi tape
- Wikki Stix or pipe cleaners
- Washable pre-inked stamps
- Small tubs of playdough and small animals/characters
According to the NAEYC, open-ended art and manipulative activities at the table build small-muscle control and spark creativity, which supports future writing and school readiness.
Here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center, we love sharing practical, parent-friendly tools to help your child learn and grow at home and on-the-go! Schedule a tour today to come meet our teachers and see our facility!
2. Conversation Games
These require almost no prep and help keep littles entertained while also encouraging connection. Research shows that mealtime conversations give children a chance to share their thoughts and build emotional closeness, helping them develop deeper family connections. These are great games to keep in your pocket for the next family gathering, long car trip, or even for a rainy day in a daycare of childcare classroom.
- Would You Rather (Holiday Edition): sledding or snow fort?
- I Spy (only things on the table).
- Gratitude Go-Round: everyone names something they’re thankful for.
3. Paper Games and Mini Challenges
Table-friendly paper activities can transform waiting into play. Here are some excellent examples that support visual-motor skills, attention, and other early childhood education concepts. Plus, they are fun!
- Menu scavenger hunt: “Find the letter S,” “Circle a number,” “Spot something green.”
- Doodle swap: You draw a squiggle, your child turns it into something.
- Dot-to-dot or simple mazes: Easy, quiet, and focus-building.
We believe learning can happen anywhere–at home, at childcare or daycare, at the grocery store and at the dining room table! Call us here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center, we would love to show you around and see our daily learning in action.
4. Stickers, Small Building, and Quiet Fidgets
Small toys and activities that pack up nicely are excellent tools to support self-regulation and self-amusement in busy or overstimulating environments. Daycare and early childhood education professionals will agree that overstimulated situations and preschoolers can be a recipe for stress. Packing up little items like the following and reserving them solely to be pulled out in such a situation helps keep the items engaging and unique, to help bring calm to chaos when needed.
- Sticker scenes can easily be packed up for travel and also encourage storytelling and fine-motor practice.
- Mini building bricks–with or without a template or instructions! Easy play and invites creativity
- Silent fidgets such as a sipper bracelet or a Pop-it toy can help easy nervous energy.
5. Reusable Placemats and Books
Bringing a reusable coloring placemat (like this one) or an activity book (like this one) is an easy win. Children can stay engaged, talk about what they’re creating and work on their pen-holding skills! Working on numbers, letters, and counting can be an additional support to their early childhood education, all while keeping them occupied at the table!
Here at Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center we are happy to share what we are working on within our classes so you can help your child learn and grow from home, as well. Call us today to schedule a tour and ask about our daily schedules and lesson plans.
Screens on Travel Days
During long travel or unavoidable waits, screens can be helpful. Healthy Chidlren.org supports this in saying that adding movies, games or videos to your travel toolkit won’t do any harm, even if you usually keep screen time to a minimum. This is especially true if it helps to keep both child and family at a lower level of stress through the experience. Choose low-stimulating or educational shows that support quality morals, creativity, as well as reinforces the learning preschoolers are acquiring at home, daycare, or childcare. Some excellent examples are:
- Daniel tigers Neighborhood
- Little Bear
- Tumbleleaf
- Wild Kratts
- The PBS Kids App
- Kahn Academy Kids–a free resource that is both education and incredibly fun!
Peace Through The Holidays
This holiday season, with a little bit of forethought and preparation, you can create an opportunity for your preschooler to learn, connect, play, and enjoy the traveling and long waits that traditionally come with family get togethers. Instead of waiting for the crayons and coloring sheet at the restaurant or hoping that your Great Aunt’s house will hold something of amusement that isn’t breakable, pack up some engaging activities, leave them in the car, and enter this holiday season prepared for any amount of waiting. Bonus, you’re supporting familial connections and early childhood education concepts at the same time!
If you’re looking for a warm, supportive learning community for your child, we’d love to welcome you and your family to be a part of Crestwood Childcare and Learning Center. Call today and schedule a tour!