Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Explore news, videos, and much more based on what your friends are reading and watching. Publish your own activity and retain full control.

To get started, first

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    5 Ways to Keep Winter Break from Getting Boring

    By Parentables | Parenting – Wed, Feb 22, 2012 9:10 AM EST

    Have a productive winter break.Have a productive winter break."Mom! I'm bored!" Oh, I wish I had a dollar every time my kids uttered those words. I don't hear it so much anymore since they're teenagers, intent on lying low. And that's how they think they're going to spend the next five days of winter break. I hate to be the one to break it to them but they won't be sleeping until noon everyday or waiting until 3 p.m. to change out of their jammies. Nope. We've got work to do. Here are the five things we have planned (well, I have planned for them).

    Read More: 99 Ways to Use This Winter to Have a Blast, Comfort Yourself, or Take Control of Your Life

    1. Spring Cleaning. I know it's still technically winter but since it's been a mild one, it feels like spring is right around the corner. That and I'm sick of looking at the scuffmarks all over the baseboards. So one of the projects we will undertake this week is a deep cleaning of every room in the house. Remember, if your kids have never done this before you'll have to show them how to do it. I use the "High-Low approach" starting with things that are at eye level and working my way down. We'll throw on some music and an egg timer for added excitement.

    2. Go through their wardrobe. Both of my kids have closets that need organizing and, as we know, a big part of organizing is weeding out what you're not wearing. That's even more important for kids who outgrow clothes overnight, it seems. So right after the spring cleaning we can move over the closet for a little organization.

    3. Hanging/repair projects. I don't know about you but I have several items that need to be hung, rehung or straightened. We'll take an afternoon to hang mirrors, artwork, tapestries, and all the things that have made their way into this house but not to their final home, if you will. From there, it's on to the nagging repair projects that oftentimes get overlooked. Rewiring lamps, shoring up wobbly chairs and anything else that's been assigned to the "I'll-get-to-that-later" list.

    4. Picking up a neighbor's yard. There is a house on my block, owned by an elderly, single woman. Her yard is kind of a mess, littered with old newspaper, trash, and dog poop. The kids and I will fill a couple big trash bags before calling it a day. This is an important one and they'll learn how good it feels when you help someone else.

    5. Take a day trip. I can't let them do all this work without at least one day of reward, so how about a little day trip? I'm even going to let them plan it. Years ago that would have meant a day at the museum or the movies; now it means the mall. But hey, it's their day; they will have worked hard for it so I'll let them have it. And on this day, they can stay in their PJ's until 3 p.m.

    This post was written by Rene Syler.

    Top Articles on Activities for Kids
    A Quick And Easy Craft Project: Homemade Felt Finger Puppets
    Three Simple Origami Projects To Do With Your Kids
    How To Survive Toddler Cabin Fever

     

    3 comments

    • Potatoes
      Potatoes  •  Houston, Texas  •  3 months ago
      You're the type of mom I'd hate to have. Your kids finally have a break and are exhausted, but instead of letting them enjoy their break, they're forced to clean and aren't allowed to make up for lost sleep. They'd probably rather spend a day with their friends rather than an obsessive mother who doesn't understand the word "vacation."
    • MsOpinionated
      MsOpinionated  •  Providence, Rhode Island  •  3 months ago
      I totally understand you not wanting your teens to 'waste' their vacation but I think you're forgetting that it is indeed supposed to be a break. I think as we become adults we forget how stressful being a teenager can be. Before you roll your eyes take a moment to think about it. They're becoming adults in a fast moving and often complicated world. They have the pressures of school, friends and family to live up to plus whatever their own dreams and ambitions are. They are expected to get good grades, behave like adults while still feeling like a kid in a lot of ways and make everyone around them happy. Plus we can’t forget their ever changing hormones!

      I see nothing wrong with making them at least clean their room and perhaps help around the house a bit but I think you need to give them more free time. This week is supposed to be the equivalent to you taking a week off from work. School is their job and they need time to recharge just as we adults always crave. So make them be productive and help your elderly neighbor but let them hang out and relax too. The week will be gone in no time and they will be back to school before they even blink.

      Oh and by the way, studies have proven that teens actually need more sleep than adults due to the changes that their bodies are going through. I believe there was an even an article on shine earlier this week. Maybe cut them some slack on the sleeping in part too!
      • Amanda
        Amanda 3 months ago
        She didn't say they couldn't sleep in, but just that they didn't need to sleep until noon. And it also doesn't say that they're doing these projects all day. They can play video games and hang out with their friends and relax when they're not helping out.

        I think a lot of teens and young adults don't understand how to clean and that's a pretty useful life skill for when they move on to college dorms or their own apartments/homes.

        If this is supposed to be their week off from "work", what is Summer? That's a 6 - 8 week vacation from "work" that they have. I think this plan is incredibly reasonable. It can also be looked at as time spent with family and you can make this fun and teach them a great life skill!
    • Sarah
      Sarah  •  Monitor Twp, Michigan  •  3 months ago
      I believe kids should have chores but they are by no means there to be your maid. Clean your house yourself. If you wanted maids you should pay a maid service. If you can't afford one then maybe you should have thought about what it would entail with having children before you did. My son is almost 2 and he is very good at picking up his toys and putting them where they go. He puts his own dishes in the sink and knows how to help wipe the table after meals. I do not expect him to do my spring cleaning for me as he gets older, will he have chores, yes. He can keep his room clean and do some light cleaning to teach him responsibility and money management from allowance. Let your kids be kids they will find out soon enough what the real world is like.
     Post a comment

    Work + Money »

    Beauty »

    The Thread »

    Join us on Pinterest

    Shine on

    DAILY SHOT VIDEO

    We apologize. An error has occurred. Please try again.