Every year about this time the kiddos come home for a well-deserved winter break.
But with all the festivities and hustle of the holiday season sometimes we all just need a quick list of things for them to do that don’t turn them in to couch potatoes or little screen zombies.
Here are a few of our favorite ways to keep the kids happy, engaged and (shhhhh!) learning over the winter break. We won’t tell them if you don’t.
Happy Holidays!
1. Personalized Reading Recommendations:
Get ready for the kiddos by stocking up on books and movies now! Tell us a little bit about your child and we’ll do the rest. Plus our Ask a Children’s Librarian services are always available to help with those projects due in January.
2. Listen to “The Gingerbread Man:”
Out and about? Call in to our story phone line from until January 3 to listen to The Gingerbread Man from wherever you are. Dial 803.799.9084, Press 6 to listen. Catch it while you can.
3. Carry Out Kits:
Picking up materials or print jobs at the library? Ask staff for one of our take-and-make “Carry Out Kits” for students and families.
Please note: There’s a limited supply of kits—available first come, first served—at all locations while supplies last.
4. #BrainBreaks:
Check out these short screen-free activities for students we share each week using the hashtag #BrainBreaks. Here’s an example of one of the past activities.
5. Holiday Baking as a family:
Start a new family tradition! Our team put together 12 of their favorite cookie, candy and sweet recipes just for you. Nothing says the holidays like sugar.
6. Play Together:
Classic car games, like this one, can be a great opportunity for family bonding and lots of laughs. They work great at home, too. You can also check out puzzles, classic board games and a karaoke machine from our Library of Things collection.
7. Virtual Storytimes and Author Events:
Want to make screen time meaningful? We have several virtual storytimes for children, including Family Storytime and Bilingual Family Storytime planned over the break plus our Past storytime videos are also available to watch on demand on our YouTube Channel or Facebook page.
As an added bonus, Meet the Author: Mac Barnett video will also be available to view on-demand on our Facebook page until December 31.
8. Streaming Movies:
And finally, if you just need 15 minutes to sip a cup of hot cocoa, wrap a present or take a breath, here are some hidden gem movie recommendations from Kanopy & Hoopla.
Kanopy
From Weston Woods
• Bear Has a Story to Tell
• Bear Snores On
• Great Joy
• Lemonade in Winter
• Seven Candles for Kwanzaa
• Too Many Tamales
Favorite Characters & New Friends
• The Downfall of Santa Claus
• The Lost Letter
• Max’s Christmas/Ruby’s Snow Queen/Max’s Rocket Run
Hoopla
• Christmas in Yellowstone
• Dasher
• Hanukkah Bear
• Latke, the Lucky Dog
• The Night Before Christmas
• Nutcracker: The Motion Picture (set design & costumes by Maurice Sendak)
• The Snowman
