When Christmas is over and New Year's hasn't arrived, families often find themselves in a weird in-between stretch. Decorations are still up, kids are bouncing between excitement and boredom, and routines are paused. But instead of letting the days blur together, this week can be one of the most magical parts of the holiday season. Here are some fun, simple activities to keep your kids engaged, connected, and smiling until the ball drops.
Whip up a batch of fake snow using shaving cream and baking soda. It’s cold, moldable, and makes a great sensory activity. Let the kids build mini snowmen or use cookie cutters to make winter shapes. Bonus: it smells fresh and cleans up easily.
Create a cozy treat station with mugs, hot cocoa packets, and toppings like marshmallows, sprinkles, candy canes, and whipped cream. Let the kids customize their own perfect cup, then snuggle in with a holiday book or movie.
Got leftover boxes from holiday deliveries? Turn them into forts, cars, castles, or pretend stores. Provide markers, stickers, scissors, and tape, and let their imaginations do the rest.
Go for a walk, sled, take a short winter hike, or simply explore a park. The fresh air will break up the indoor energy and reset everyone’s mood.
Grab some mini pizza crusts or naan bread and let everyone build their own personal pizza. Set out bowls of toppings like sauce, cheese, veggies, pepperoni, and pineapple. Then bake and taste-test together.
Craft festive noisemakers from paper towel rolls, dried beans or pasta, and washi tape or foil. Kids will love shaking them during the countdown on New Year’s Eve.
Use pillows, scarves, and jump ropes to create a movement course inside. Kids can crawl under blankets, hop over "icebergs," and tiptoe across imaginary snow bridges. Time them for an extra challenge.
That stretch of time between Christmas and New Year's doesn’t have to feel like a lull. With just a few simple supplies and some imagination, you can turn the week into one filled with creativity, connection, and laughter. Whether you’re crafting snow indoors, building a cardboard castle, or sipping cocoa in your pajamas, these activities offer the perfect way to wind down the year together. Embrace the pause, enjoy the play, and get ready to head into the new year with full hearts and happy kids.