Calm, Connection, and Play: The Importance of Family Time During the Holiday Season

The holiday season is a magical time of year, filled with joy, celebrations, and cherished family traditions. Yet, it can also be a whirlwind of activity, leaving little room for calmness and meaningful connections. For children, the hustle and bustle of Christmas or other festive celebrations can feel overwhelming, making it even more important to carve out moments of stillness, creativity, and bonding.

At Edx Education, we believe that play-based learning is not just for the classroom—it’s a vital tool for fostering family connections, building resilience, and nurturing persistence in children. Let’s explore how families can use play to create calm moments amidst the festive madness, building memories that last a lifetime.

Creating Calm Through Play

In the chaos of the holiday season, play can be a sanctuary—a space where children and caregivers come together to connect, learn, and create. Activities like solving puzzles, engaging with educational toys, or working on small projects can be grounding for children. These moments of calm allow them to develop focus and persistence while also teaching valuable thinking skills.

Edx Education’s Busy Play Range offers ways to engage children during the holidays. Toys like Pattern Blocks, Pentominoes, and Tangrams encourage children to explore shapes, patterns, and problem-solving in an open-ended way. These tactile, hands-on activities not only calm restless minds but also provide an opportunity for family bonding.

Building Resilience and Persistence Through Play 

Play is one of the most natural ways for children to develop resilience and persistence. When children work on a challenging puzzle or build a structure with tangrams, they are learning to overcome obstacles, think critically, and try again when things don’t go as planned. These skills are essential for navigating life’s challenges and can be nurtured in a playful, low-pressure environment.

The holiday season is a great time to incorporate these lessons into your family routine. For example:

• Create a “Calm Corner”: Dedicate a space for quiet activities with pattern blocks or pentominoes where children can unwind and focus.
• Work on a Family Project: Build a collaborative creation using tangrams, encouraging children to contribute their ideas while working together.

Teaching Children to Think: Six Simple Ways

The holidays are not just about giving gifts; they’re an opportunity to give children the lifelong gift of learning how to think. Play, Learn & Create with Edx Education podcast shares six practical ways parents can encourage thinking skills in children:

1. Choices: Empower your children to make their own decisions. Let them pick their outfits, choose their snacks, or decide on a family activity. Guide them by explaining what makes a choice good or not-so-good.
2. Exploration: Allow children to take risks and explore new ideas. Whether it’s making slime, climbing trees, or inventing a game, exploration encourages creativity and problem-solving.
3. Experimentation: Engage them in simple experiments, such as planting seeds in different spots to see where they grow best. Discuss the outcomes together to promote critical thinking.
4. Listening: When your child shares their interests—be it a new game, book, or hobby—truly listen. Ask open-ended questions to deepen the conversation and show that their ideas matter.
5. Experiences: Provide diverse experiences, like visiting markets or trying new foods, to expose them to different cultures and ways of thinking.
6. Shared Time: Engage in activities you enjoyed as a child or try new ones together. Shared experiences create lasting memories and teach children the value of quality time.

Making Memories That Last

Holiday traditions are the perfect opportunity to blend play and learning into your family’s celebrations. Bake cookies together, create decorations using pattern blocks for inspiration, or design a festive scene with tangrams. Not only will these activities bring joy, but they’ll also teach children to be creative, collaborative, and resourceful.

At Edx Education, we advocate for play-based learning because it’s a powerful way to connect with your child while teaching them essential life skills. Through toys, downloadable resources, and our podcast Play, Learn & Create with Edx Education, we aim to inspire families to embrace play as a cornerstone of their children’s development.

This holiday season, let’s step away from the stress and embrace the simplicity and joy of play. By creating calm moments, nurturing thinking skills, and cherishing family time, we can give our children the greatest gift of all: the tools to thrive, connect, and lead with confidence.

Happy holidays from all of us at Edx Education! 🎄✨