HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR KEEPING KIDS BUSY DURING WINTER BREAK

MANHATTAN -- Holiday time is fast approaching and soon parents will again hear the pitter-patter of little feet. The sounds, however, can soon turn to moans and groans of "I'm bored" as children yearn to find activities to occupy their time during the winter break from school. One Kansas State University professor has some ideas for parents to keep their children occupied during their vacation.

According to Ann Murray, associate professor in family studies and human services, parents should plan activities that involve their children, especially in helping to prepare for the holiday season.

"The main thing is to involve the kids in all of the work that's being done," Murray said. "Kids really like to have a role and to feel needed. They can do lots of things in the kitchen, even little tiny kids, to help out setting the table and making some of the things several days in advance. Don't just plop the kids in front of the TV to watch cartoons. I think what parents can do is to have some longer-term projects that they do with their kids."

Parents can get ideas for these projects from many different resources. There are sites on the World Wide Web that contain information about arts and crafts projects and recipes for the holiday. "For example, Reader's Digest has a site (www.rdchristmas.com) and so does Martha Stewart (www.marthastewart.com). You can use any of the search engines to search for holiday projects and activities and come up with a list of sites to surf for ideas," Murray said.

Murray also mentioned the library as one of the best places to get ideas. "I would suggest going to the public library and looking at magazines like Working Mother, Good Housekeeping and Martha Stewart's magazine. Around Christmas time they have lots of ideas for how to bake things or things you can make," she said. Other projects that Murray mentioned include:

* Building a gingerbread house.
"One thing we do is build a gingerbread house and this stretches over a number of days, and there are a lot of different tasks that everyone can get involved in. We've been doing this for about 10 years and we started small with graham cracker houses and we've gotten more elaborate as our kids have gotten older. But that's something that has the potential to stretch over a number of days and be something that kids really get involved in and have a lot of fun with."

* Parents can also help their children make presents instead of buying them.
"Instead of buying expensive gifts, they can be involved before Christmas in making gifts, particularly food-type gifts. Kids really enjoy that. I'm sure there are lots of things that kids can make to give away instead of having to ask for money to buy gifts for friends and relatives."

* Instead of doing it all yourself, have your children help decorate for the holidays.
"Another idea is to just involve them in the holiday decorating that's being done, like selecting the tree, decorating the tree and even making ornaments for the tree. We always used to make cookie ornaments for the tree, gingerbread people that we would decorate or stars or bells, and that was a nice project that contributed to the tree looking nice."

* Help your children find the true meaning of the holidays.
"As they get older I think it's important to involve kids in the giving at Christmas, not just thinking about what they're going to get. For example, going to a local organization like a food pantry to help make up holiday baskets or helping to select toys for other children. I think it is good to take the focus off 'what I'm going to get for Christmas.'"

* Make sure your children stay active and have the opportunity to get out of the house.
"Adults often forget that kids need to be active," Murray said. "When the weather is bad often adults don't want to go out, but kids really need to have a physical outlet. Some ways to do that are to go roller skating, ice skating, bowling, or if the weather's good enough go to the zoo. Do something to get the children out of the house on a regular basis to blow off some steam. And if there should happen to be any snow, of course sledding is an important activity for kids to be able to do."

* Finally, don't give your children too much responsibility during their vacation.
"Parents should try and be with the children and not leave one of them in charge of younger siblings. I think children should be supervised under the age of 12 and I don't think that older kids should necessarily be given the responsibility for younger siblings. I think that's often asking for trouble. So if there can be adult supervision, I would recommend that."

Murray noted that it is harder for children to get into trouble when parents are working with them. At the same time they are learning new ways to do things and be creative.

"I think the more kids can be involved in the real work that's going on, the better," Murray said. "It may take you a little longer but the children are occupied. And they're not getting into trouble because you're right there helping them and they're learning some skills, too."

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For more information, contact Ann Murray at 785-532-1492.

December 1997