Christmas holidays conjure up happy images of families huddled around the dinner table or admiring the family tree.
But they can also be challenging. The kids are off school and often bad weather – like the recent Toronto ice storm – means that your kids and their babysitters and caregivers are cooped-up inside. But they don’t have to be stir-crazy; there are a lot to great options for playing inside:
The Classic Board Games
Clue, Monopoly, Operation, Twister, Scrabble, Snakes and Ladders, Candy land, Battleship and more….Your kids and their caregivers will happily whittle away hours with these games, just as you did when you were a kid.
Video Games
The world has moved on from the days of Pac-man on your Atari console; if you think Nintendo is the latest and greatest, you are still off. Video games have come a long way and the things your kids can do on their Wii, x-box and PlayStation is extraordinary. Ask your babysitter to encourage games that require movement and set limits so you don’t come to find your 8-year old blowing people away on Grand Theft Auto.
Online Games
As with video games, be sure you review what your kids are allowed and not allowed to play with your care-giver. Equally important is setting limits on how much can be spent downloading games – you do not want a bill for $1000s from iTunes. Online gaming should be monitored and educational games encouraged, including sites sent home by teachers for school work.
The ‘Big Guns’ Games
Everyone loves ping pong and foosball. If your kids are getting older and you are interested in keeping them close to home, regardless of the weather, this could be a good investment!
Interactive and Homemade Games
Some of the best, most engaging games are those that are interactive and / or homemade. Charades is always popular as are treasure and scavenger hunts. Not only are they fun, they can help develop your kids’ social skills.
Cards
Go Fish! Memory, Crazy Eights, War, UNO and more! The list is not complete without the joy of cards!