How to engage your child during Dussehra Holidays?

With so many tasks to juggle – festival planning, giving your home a Diwali makeover, inviting family and friends, and of course, to-do lists at work – it's natural to feel overwhelmed. But before you start scanning the neighboring activity centers or day care centers for holiday camps, pause for a moment.

Your child sees this holiday season as one of relaxation – going to bed late, waking late, hours of free play with his friends and cousins and most importantly, bonding with you. So, with a little planning, you can help him enjoy his vacation time while keeping him engaged productively.

Tips To Keep Your Child Busy During The Holiday Season

Don't panic if your colleague has already enrolled her children in the best holiday camp in town. Here are some tips to keep your busy-bee happy and busy during the Dussera holidays-

1. Festival trivia: Speak to your child about festivals in our country. Encourage him to do some research on each festival, and to tell you one interesting fact about it. If he must have screen time during the day, encourage him to use it for this purpose. You could have a little quiz, too
2. Art time: Have other parents in your apartment complex help in planning an arts and crafts competition for the children.
   • You could have a 'Festivals of India' theme, and have them unleash their creativity with paints or pencils
   • Give them each some raw material, and have them craft anything related to Dussera within a given period of time
   • If you celebrate with a 'golu' (doll arrangement in Southern India) then get your child to help you with the arrangements, and even make some clay models
   • If you distribute sweets or gifts to friends and family, teach your child to make simple boxes with colorful paper and ribbons. You also end up saving money on boxes and wrappers!

3. Clean-up time: If you do an exhaustive cleaning of your house during the holidays, it's a great way to teach your child to take responsibility-
   • Have him sort through clothes, toys and books he won't use, and keep aside to give away
   • Give him simple tasks like dusting table tops, and arranging books on shelves
4. Master Chef at home: Dussera time comes with its share of traditional sweets and savories. Ask your child to help you prepare a simple dessert. And definitely tell him what a good job he's done, when you relish it
5. Visit the library: There are many wonderfully written books on Indian festivals, mythology and culture, specifically for children. Take a trip to your local library and engage the bookworm in your child
6. Keeping in touch:If you are unable to plan a family vacation to meet your parents, siblings or cousins, write letters, or make cards.Encourage your child to do the same. This is a great way to explain the importance of relationships to your child

Involving your child in festive activities doesn't just keep him busy. It helps him learn about the culture and traditions that define your family. We wish you a happy festive season, with loads of joy and delicious food!

How do you keep your child busy during the holiday season? Share your tips with us in the comments section!