Kids on vacation? 5 activities away from screens to do at home!

When the school holidays arrive, the household routine changes completely. Children spend more time at home, full of energy, curiosity, and a desire to play, while adults need to juggle work, household chores, and moments of rest. Amid this scenario, a common question arises: how to keep the little ones entertained in a healthy, creative way and without constantly relying on screens? The good news is that you don’t need to leave home or spend much to create fun and enriching experiences. With a little planning, it is possible to transform the home into a space for learning, imagination, and coexistence. Simple activities help develop motor, emotional, and cognitive skills, as well as strengthen family bonds. Below, we have gathered five ideas for activities to do at home during the holidays, designed to stimulate children's well-being and bring lightness to the routine.

1. Art and creativity workshops

Setting up a home art workshop is one of the most effective ways to keep children occupied for hours. Drawing, painting, collages, folding, and even sculpting with dough or clay are activities that stimulate creativity and motor coordination. There’s no need to invest in expensive materials: recycled paper, old magazines, cardboard boxes, toilet paper rolls, and bottle caps already yield excellent projects. Aside from the playful aspect, art allows children to express emotions and ideas freely, contributing to emotional development. One tip is to propose creative challenges, such as creating a character, illustrating an invented story, or assembling a collective mural to decorate the bedroom or living room. The most important thing is to value the process, not the final result.

2. Cooking together: fun and learning

The kitchen can become an educational and discovery-filled space during the holidays. Inviting children to participate in preparing meals or simple recipes, such as cakes, cookies, and bread, helps develop notions of responsibility, math, and organization. Measuring ingredients, following steps, and waiting for cooking time are valuable lessons. Moreover, cooking together strengthens family bonds and can be an opportunity to encourage healthier eating habits. Even small children can help wash vegetables, mix ingredients, or decorate dishes. The moment becomes even more special when everyone sits down to taste what has been made together.

3. Games and activities that stimulate the body

Keeping the body moving is essential for children's physical and mental well-being, especially when they spend more time in indoor environments. Traditional games and activities, such as tag adapted, obstacle courses, free dance, jumping rope, or improvised hopscotch, are great options. One suggestion is to set up a circuit indoors using cushions, chairs, and tape on the floor, creating balance and coordination challenges. Another idea is to set aside a moment of the day for stretches or small dance sessions, playing lively music. These activities help burn energy, improve mood, and contribute to a healthier routine during the holidays.

4. Reading, stories, and theater at home

The holidays are an excellent time to encourage contact with books and stories. Setting aside time for reading stimulates imagination, broadens vocabulary, and develops concentration. It’s good to read to children, read together with them, or let them explore the books alone, depending on their age. To make the moment even more engaging, a good idea is to create small plays. Children can act out characters, use improvised costumes, and invent dialogues. Theater at home stimulates verbal expression, creativity, and confidence, besides yielding good laughs with the family.

5. Manual projects and daily challenges

Creating manual projects or daily challenges helps give rhythm to the holidays and avoids boredom. It could be building a model with boxes, assembling handmade toys, taking care of plants, or even organizing a special corner in the room. These activities stimulate a sense of responsibility and autonomy. Another interesting proposal is to create a "holiday calendar," with a different activity for each day of the week. This way, the child has something to look forward to and feels more motivated. The challenges can include simple tasks, like putting together a puzzle, learning something new, helping around the house, or creating a drawing about the day. This type of organization brings balance between fun and routine.

CASACOR Publisher is an exclusive content creator, developed by the Technology team of CASACOR based on the knowledge base of casacor.com.br. This text was edited by Yeska Coelho.