NANA SAYS VACATION DAYS ARE GOOD FOR DOWNTIME

With Christmas finished and the New Year approaching, it is a good time to sit back and enjoy the downtime. Rather than rushing around, try for some quiet events at home and in the neighbourhood. Of course some people are on a beach on a southern vacation but there are lots of things to do locally. Skating on an outdoor rink or indoors is a fun event too.  Home crafts or just cleaning up the craft area for the next projects helps too. With new items for Christmas, perhaps it is a good time to clean those closets. Sure the kids will say boring but often it is something that is necessary. Sorting through what fits and what does not! If a new item is needed, sales abound everywhere! Have the children, yes even the teens write a page about the year, Christmas or a special family event to put in your family album- a physical one, in the cloud, a computer file or whatever you use. It could become a tradition and a little mini diary of family events. Not much for now, but 10 or 20 years from now may be a moment at family events. Yes a video could do the trick but often the simple printed word written by little hands can mean more too! Encouraging reading, art, simple activities are good not only for children but the adults. Yes we can run and run and run around but being comfortable with our own company is good too! Teaching children to do simple activities is needed. Sometimes a play date may help. One friend over to spend a few hours with each child and a simple meal provided. Put away the gadgets. Too much face time is well too much. So the play date works with actual real time and conversation. Before long the new year and back to school will happen, the new hoopla will begin! Are you tired yet? So some restful activities may be what everyone needs! If the kids are too noisy, maybe there is a grandparent handy to help with them!!