Want to keep your kids busy while you get ready for the holidays? Here are some fun ways to keep your kids busy on the upcoming days off.

Scissors and Snowflakes: Kids of all ages can enjoy the fun of making snowflakes with scissors and paper. The act of paper folding, careful cutting (use age appropriate scissors) and observing the ensuing patterns are great visual tactile activities. Have everyone in the family participate, and decorate walls windows or packages with snowflakes that don’t freeze, but will warm you all winter long.

Recording Family Traditions: Most of us practice some family traditions, especially around the holidays. Involve your kids by having them ‘interview’ family members and create a Family Holiday Journal. Provide a scrapbook, paper, pens and colorful stickers for them to write and illustrate your family’s traditions.

Graham Cracker Houses: Making gingerbread houses are great fun, but can be a bit labor intensive. Keep it simple by making miniature gingerbread-type houses using graham crackers. Building a house out of crackers, gluing with frosting and decorating with candy is a visual, spatial creative outlet, while helping kids develop their motor skills.

Bette Fetter Founder and CEO of Young Rembrandts and Author of Being Visual [email protected] Follow Bette on Twitter