Three Things That Are Not So Boring Over Winter Break

BY CHRISTY HINKO chinko@antonmediagroup.com

This year feels fast-moving and tiring already. Maybe because it is the first full year where most kids and adults are finally back to some normalcy in their schedules and routines. Winter break is almost welcoming if you are lucky enough to snag a few days of respite in conjunction with the kids school schedule.

Want to make the most of your winter break and avoid complete and utter boredom? Here are a couple of ideas to consider to make the most of your kids’ winter break next week.

Visit Your Favorite Hometown Spots

If you are like most people, our busy schedules and constant pressure to be on and moving and going and doing often do not include some of the cool and fun things that are available right in our own backyards. We often forget what it is like to be a tourist in our own hometown. Many of the neighborhoods have walkable downtowns, candy or toy shops, a specialty bakery, micro-museums and historical societies, amazing nature trails and so much more. Put a plan in place to visit a few of your favorites next week. Make time to appreciate the “little” things and support local business, many of whom are your own neighbors. These places and things will remind you of how fortunate you are to live in such on such a vibrant and bustling island. Make a parent-kid meet-up out of it. Invite a few parent-friends with their kids. You may find a new appreciation or experience at the places you have loved for so long.

Learn Something New

If the COVID quarantine has taught us anything, it is probably that you are never too young or too old to learn something new. We had spent countless hours in sheer boredom on most days trying to reignite some old hobby passions and also hop online to learn something new. The libraries around Long Island took clear advantage of this captive audience to bring you crafting classes, ukelele lessons, cooking demonstrations and language learning workshops, all via the internet to keep our brains engaged and our skills sharp. Many of these “pandemic” explorations turned into new businesses for many of our neighbors, including new restaurants, candlemaking, bakeries and tutoring services.

Some hobbies to consider while you are on winter break next week are:

• Painting

• Ceramics

• Jewelry-making

• Crocheting or knitting

• Die-cutting on a Cricut machine (available at some libraries across Long Island, for loan)

• Mahjong or chess

• Play a new instrument (you can start with a YouTube video, sign up for classes at the local music shop or enlist the help of a private music tutor who will come to your house)

• Try a new sport, like pickleball or curling (yes, there are actually leagues and local teams)

• Learn to speak another language (the local libraries have several highly rated language learn apps and databases available for self-guided study)

You will never know what you are interested in of you don’t give something a try. Try it. It could give you and your kids something of a bonding experience or develop a hobby passion in common.

Take A Staycation

When it comes to winter break, you may not have the time, budget or desire to put together a dream getaway. That does not mean that you have to remain confined to the house with the kids, sitting on the couch

Danfords Hotel, Marina, and Spa in Port Jefferson (www.danfords.com) in front of the TV being bored out of your minds. Plan a staycation. What does that mean? It means grab the calendar and map out small short day trips that do not require packing suitcases, boarding the dogs and having your mail transferred. Day trips will help you have a plan for getting out of the house all or most days of the week-long school vacation. A fun staycation idea also is to book a local extended-stay hotel, Airbnb, VRBO or other accomodations on the island, even if it is only four miles from your house and you feel like you have escaped the doldrums of winter. There are some great boutique hotels on Long Island including ones in Port Washington, Roslyn, Port Jefferson and Garden City.

Whatever you choose to do on your welldeserved winter break, have fun and be safe.