When everyone is home for the holidays, try one of these kid-approved activities for some quality family time!
Try a fun Snacktivity with your little chefs!
At the Y we believe everyone should play with their food! These snacktivities are great for picky eaters and give kids a choice for the type of food they want to eat!
Get Messy with one of these Holiday Projects!
A holiday craft or STEM project is a great way to keep boredom from settling in and keep kids busy at home.
This fun and festive slime courtesy of No Time for Flash Cards makes a fun gift!
Snow Slime
Materials Needed:
- Elmer’s glue
- Foil snowflakes
- Blue/silver/white glitter
- Saline solution
- Baking soda
- Plastic cups
- Plastic spoons
- Zip lock bags
Instructions:
- Mix together 1 small bottle of glue, 1 tsp of baking soda, and 1 tsp of contact solution in a bowl.
- Stir until smooth.
- Mix in food coloring and any other desired items (glitter, plastic bugs, etc).
- Scoop into Ziploc bags
Thanks to our friends at Happy Hooligans, your tiny scientist can explore density and predict which of their favorite decorations will sink or float.
Holiday Experiment: Sink or Float?
Materials Needed:
- Large clear container filled with water.
- Cranberries (some cut in half)
- Ribbons
- Oranges (one peeled, one unpeeled)
- Candy canes (wrapped and unwrapped)
- Pine branch
- Nuts
- Candle
Instructions:
- Have children make their “Sink or Float” predictions.
- Have children take turns choosing items to put in container and see if they sink or float, then have them record the results.
Early Learning Ideas shared this festive activity to enhance your child’s fine motor skills!
Snowflake Ornament
Materials Needed:
- Pipe cleaners
- Pony beads
- Ribbon
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Cut pipe cleaners in half. Fold the small (halved) pipe cleaners in half. Then twist two of them together on the bend. Finally, twist the third small pipe cleaner around the first two to form a snowflake shape.
- Have children grab a pipe cleaner snowflake and put pony beads on them to create their snowflake.
- When children are done, take each pipe cleaner end, loop it around your finger, and fold it into the other end of the bead to ensure the beads do not fall off.
- Then tie a piece of ribbon to the snowflake to make it into an ornament for children to give their parents.
Don’t miss out on the fun happening at your local YMCA!
School Break Camp
School Break Camp is a fun, safe place for your child to spend their week or time out of school.
Youth Sports
Sports at the Y help kids learn the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork, and healthy living.
Swim Lessons
Students develop comfort with underwater exploration and learn to safely exit in the event of falling into a body of water.
That’s Not All! See all Winter Programs here.
Program locations and times vary, check with your local Y Branch for details.