โAnd Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start againโ is a line from โItโs Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmasโ and it can be true for a lot of parents.
Two weeks off school doesnโt seem like a long time, but after the holidays have come and gone, those days can stretch out pretty quickly.
New year, new skills
School may be out, but that doesnโt mean the learning has to stop. In fact, days without homework provide your kids with a great opportunity to learn something new or explore an existing interest.ย
There are some camps for older kids, such as the improv camp for kids 11-18 at The Second City or art camp for kids up to age 12 at The Paintbrush. If one-time events are more your familyโs speed, try a cooking class like the ones for tweens and teens at The Kidsโ Table.ย
If you have time, try teaching them something yourself, like a favorite family recipe or an easy dinner that they can make for the family now and when theyโre on their own. Theyโll thank you later.
Hit a museum and put your kids in charge this time
Even if youโve been to a museum several times, chances are thereโs something new to see, or an old favorite to revisit. Put your kids in charge of planning the visit to not only get a sense of what theyโre most drawn to, but to also teach them some valuable skills like being able to read the map of the museum, scheduling and budgeting. You can find free days at museums here and advice on making the most of free days here.
The Art Institute hosts Holly Days Dec. 27-30, which features drop-in art making for all ages, and is always free for teens living in Chicago.
Ready to read? Have a family book club
One of the best ways to raise readers is to have your kids see you reading. Even better, read the same book as part of a family book club and then discuss it. It can be a great way to start meaningful conversations and get their perspective. Tweens and teens often find it easier to talk about fictional characters than their own lives and you asking about a character isnโt seen as intrusive.ย
Make an event of it. With tweens, read โSliderโ by Pete Hautman, which is partially about competitive pizza eating, and then talk about it over a pie at Giordanoโs or Lou Malnatiโs. For teens, consider reading โWhen Dimple Met Rishiโ by Sandhya Menon, which explores Indian culture, and then head to Devon Ave. for delicious Indian food, or get take out. (Find more book suggestions for tweens here and teens here.)โจ
Shutterbugs will love going on a photo walk
Tweens and teens often really enjoy photography (and Instagram). Have them grab their phones or real camera and hit the streets.ย
Come up with a scavenger hunt for them around your neighborhood. Or bundle up to capture images of holidays lights at night (or late afternoon, given how early the sun sets!). Another option is heading to Millennium Park to get great shots of the Bean, the skating rink and Lurie Garden. Check out great Instagram-worthy spots here.ย
The fresh air and change of scene can do wonders for a kidโs mood, but if outside isnโt an option, consider checking out the inside of the Chicago Cultural Center, the pedway underneath the Loop, or a museum for some photo inspiration.
Find a new show to binge watch together
With cold temperatures and minimal homework, winter break is a great time to curl up on the couch with your tweens and teens and binge watch a show together. Even if what they want to watch is not quite your cup of tea, sitting down and sharing something that they really like can go a long way toward building a strong connection.
Have a kid who loves fantasy? Check out โA Series of Unfortunate Eventsโ on Netflix, with Neil Patrick Harris playing Count Olaf. Have kids who loves science? Watch โCosmos: A Spacetime Odysseyโ hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Teens love โRiverdale,โ and there are a lot of adults who are into it as well. Or check out โGilmore Girlsโ if you havenโt yet.ย
Put the pieces togetherย
A friend of mine swears by this for simple and inexpensive family fun with her teens. If youโre new to puzzles, start at one thatโs around 500 pieces just so you donโt go crazy or take all year to assemble it. Put it in a public place that everyone walks past. Your kids may roll their eyes, but youโll also be surprised at how often they stop to put a few pieces in. Pick a fun Chicago-centric puzzle like one of Wrigley Field, Navy Pier or the skyline. (We found a bunch on Zazzle.) When youโre done, take a trip to that place to celebrate!ย
Let them have friends over
The holidays are a time for gathering, and tweens and teens enjoy the company of their friends as much as adults do. Encourage your kids to put their phones down and spend some time face to face instead of texting. It doesnโt have to be a big blow out or anything complicated — order some pizza and let them munch on that and some holidays treats. Leave out some board games and chances are theyโll start playing. Itโs a great way to encourage kids to unplug, be social and develop some social skills. Theyโll appreciate you welcoming their friends, and the friendsโ parents will also likely appreciate the invite, too.
Find more ideas for making the most of winter break with kids of all ages here.
