It’s the time school kids look forward to all semester long – Winter Break! Those couple of weeks off during Christmas and New Year’s can be a great opportunity to relax and spend time with family and friends. It can also be challenging for parents who don’t want their kids watching TV or playing video games the whole time. As a Gilbert Pediatric Urgent Care and Mesa Pediatric Urgent Care, we also know what a bummer getting sick during the holidays can be.
You can interject some physical activity and nutritious food into Winter Break to make sure your kids stay on track and healthy. Here are just a few ideas:
Christmas Lights Walk
Pick an evening or 2 and go for a walk through your neighborhood to get a closer look at Christmas decorations and lights. If your neighbors aren’t the decorating type, there are plenty of other options, such as the Phoenix Zoo Lights. Here in the Mesa/Gilbert area, we get to enjoy milder winter temperatures that allow for evening walks without freezing to death but be sure to still bundle up!
Go For a Hike
There are several great options for hiking that are all just minutes away from the East Valley. Usery Pass, Superstition Mountains, or the Riparian Preserve all offer trails that are easy enough even for small children. A hike is a fun way to work off some of those calories from holiday treats.
Christmas Smoothies
It’s really tough to stay away from all of the holiday goodies and treats that seem endless this time of year. While you don’t want to be a Scrooge and completely ban all sugary treats, you can also find clever and yummy substitutes to try. Start a tradition of making Christmas smoothies to replace cookies and fudge. Get creative with fresh fruit and other healthy ingredients and soon you’ll have a new favorite family treat.
Family Cooking Day
If you haven’t already tried it, cooking together as a family can be loads of fun. It’s a perfect way to spend time together as a family, away from technological distractions and focused on healthy eating. You’ll be teaching your kids important skills and they will love being involved. Even smaller children can help with mixing and measuring ingredients.
Sports Day
Gather all of your favorite sports equipment and head to the park for a few hours for a sports day. Throwing the football back and forth, teaching your kids how to swing a bat or a rousing game of kick-ball are all positive ways to stay active and include kids of all ages.
There are plenty of other fun ideas out there for keeping kids active and healthy during their Winter Break. If you do end up with a sick kid, remember that AllKids Urgent Care is here to help! Both our Gilbert Pediatric Urgent Care and our Mesa Pediatric Urgent Care are open every day from noon until 10:00 pm.