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The Boy Scout motto is “Be Prepared” and that adage can apply to holiday downtime for kids just as easily as outdoor preparedness.
“Keeping children entertained doesn’t necessarily mean watching a television set or playing video games for extended periods of time,” said Jeff Herrmann, executive scout for the Orange County, Calif., Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Here are five tips from the Scouts to keep kids active and engaged during the holiday season:
Discover new interests.
Visiting the library is a cost-effective and educational field trip that allows children an opportunity to discover new interests. Children of all ages enjoy reading a book of their choice for the holiday break.
Get outdoors.
Spend more time outdoors while incorporating physical activity in your child’s day. Going on a bike ride, taking a family nature hike or visiting the zoo are all simple, fun and low-cost outdoor activities.
Inspire creativity.
Expand your child’s imagination by creating arts and crafts projects together, which makes for great, personal holiday gifts.
Family game nights.
Take time away from the television to participate in family game night. Game nights are a cost-effective way to spend quality time with each other while having fun and creating memories.
Give back.
Volunteering creates a positive learning experience and is a wonderful way to teach children the real meaning of the holidays.
“This season, my boys will be helping set up for our local library tree lighting and working on a Rose Parade float,” said Irene Alonzo, former den leader for OCBSA. “Community service during the holidays is a tradition in our family that has become second nature to us all.”
