Parents, let's face it, there are two sides to the holiday season. On the one hand, it's great to get the kids home, curl up in their jammies, and escape the early school run. On the other hand, the novelty eventually wears off, usually around day three. The screens begin calling their names a little too loudly, and you hear the dreaded chorus of "I'm bored."
Why not transform this vacation into a cultural adventure if you're searching for a way to break up the monotony of generic holiday films and video games? Introducing African-themed holiday activities for kids to do at home is a great way for families to connect with their heritage or expand their horizons. It's interactive, instructive, and most importantly, a lot of fun. These activities use common household items to create magic, whether you want to honour your heritage or educate your kids about the great diversity of the continent. This is your guide to celebrating the holidays with a dash of joy, creativity, and culture.
Why Add African-Themed Activities?
"How do I teach African culture during Christmas or the winter break without it feeling like a history lesson?" is probably what you're wondering. Play is the solution. Children learn much more effectively when they interact with culture through their hands and imaginations than when they learn from a textbook.
Cultural Value
Integrating culture into play helps normalize African history and traditions in your home. Children of African descent experience a boost in self-esteem and a sense of belonging when they see their heritage reflected in holiday fun. It reaffirms that their history is alive, vibrant, and pertinent today and isn't merely something for Black History Month. These activities help non-African families develop global awareness and empathy. It enables kids to recognize the joy, celebration, and family values shared throughout the world, as well as the beauty in differences. It also provides an answer to the query, "What African-themed activities work for kids?" by showing that play is a universal language.
Creative Learning
These activities are developmental powerhouses that go beyond the cultural component. We are discussing rhythm, storytelling, pattern recognition, and fine motor skills. A child learns geometry when they weave a paper mat modelled after Kente cloth. Playing a rhythm game helps them learn counting and math. The children won't even be aware that they are using their brains during these "stealth learning" activities because they are so entertaining.
10 African-Themed Holiday Activities
Ready to get started? We have compiled a list of fun African culture holiday activities for families that range from artsy crafts to energetic games. The best part? You likely have most of the materials in your kitchen or recycling bin right now.
Crafts: Unleashing Creativity
If you're wondering what African holiday crafts kids can create, look no further. These simple African Christmas crafts for kids require little preparation but deliver big results.
1. Potato Stamp "Ankara" Wrapping Paper
Ankara textiles are renowned for their vivid, striking designs. You can create your own holiday wrapping paper by replicating this style!
- What you need: Brown craft paper (or the inside of grocery bags), potatoes, acrylic paint, and a knife (for parents).
- How to do it: Cut a potato in half, then carve triangles, circles, and diamonds into the flat side of the potato. Allow the children to stamp repeating designs on the paper by dipping the potato "stamps" into vibrant paints, such as yellow, red, indigo, and green.
- The lesson: Talk about how African textile patterns frequently convey proverbs or tell stories.
2. DIY Egg Carton Mancala Board
Mancala is one of the oldest board games in the world, with roots in Ethiopia, and is played across the continent (often called Oware in West Africa).
- What you need: An empty 12-hole egg carton, two small bowls (for the "banks" at the ends), and 48 small stones, dried beans, or beads.
- How to do it: Cut the lid off the egg carton. Paint the carton in earthy tones or bright Ndebele-inspired colors. Place a bowl at each end of the carton.
- The Lesson: Once the paint dries, teach them the strategy of the game. It’s a fantastic way to boost math skills during the break.
3. Cardboard Kwanzaa Kinara
Even if you don’t officially celebrate Kwanzaa, making a Kinara is a great way to learn about the holiday's principles (Nguzo Saba).
- What you need: Cardboard tubes (toilet paper rolls work perfectly), paint (red, black, green), tissue paper, and a base (a long strip of cardboard).
- How to do it: Paint three tubes red, three green, and one black. Glue them to the base with the black candle in the justify, red on the left, and green on the right. Use yellow or orange tissue paper to "light" the candles each day.
- The Lesson: Discuss the meaning of the seven candles, such as Unity (Umoja) and Creativity (Kuumba).
4. Recycled Milk Jug Shekere
Music is the heartbeat of many African cultures. A Shekere is a West African percussion instrument made from a dried gourd with beads woven into a net covering it. We can make a kid-friendly version!
- What you need: An empty plastic milk jug (handle kept on), glue, string/yarn, and dried beans or popcorn kernels.
- How to do it: Put a handful of beans inside the clean milk jug and screw the cap on tight. Tie strings around the handle and neck, draping them down the sides. You can glue beads onto the strings or just paint the jug itself.
- The Lesson: Shake it to the beat! This is perfect for an impromptu family dance party.
5. Maasai-Inspired Pasta Necklaces
The Maasai people of East Africa are renowned for their intricate and colourful beadwork, which signifies age, social status, and marital status.
- What you need: Rigatoni or penne pasta, paint, and string.
- How to do it: Paint the dry pasta in vivid colours; red, blue, orange, and white are traditional Maasai favourites. Once dry, thread them onto the string to create bold, collar-style necklaces.
- The Lesson: Show them photos of real Maasai beadwork and talk about how clothes and jewelry can send messages about who we are.
Games: Moving and Storytelling
When the glue sticks are put away, it’s time to move. These activities get the wiggles out and engage the mind.
In many parts of West Africa, the Griot (Jeli) is the historian, storyteller, and praise singer who keeps the oral history alive.
- The Activity: Gather the family in a circle with blankets and pillows. Turn off the TV. Designate one person as the "Griot." Their job is to tell a story about the family’s history, maybe a funny story about a grandparent or the day the child was born.
- The Twist: Encourage the kids to make up a legend about a made-up African kingdom where they are the heroes.
7. Ampe (The Jumping Game)
Popular in Ghana, Ampe is a high-energy game that involves jumping, clapping, and rhythmic foot movements.
- The Activity: It’s traditionally a leader-follower game where two people jump at the same time, landing with one foot forward. The goal involves predicting or matching the foot placement of your opponent.
- Why it works: It requires zero equipment, just a little bit of space and a lot of energy. It’s perfect for burning off those holiday cookies.
8. African Animal Charades
- The Activity: Write down names of African animals (lion, elephant, meerkat, giraffe, hippo) on slips of paper.
- How to play: Family members take turns acting out the animal without making sounds while the others guess.
- Level Up: Once the animal is guessed, the actor has to share one fact about that animal or where it lives on the continent.
9. "Taste of Africa" Cooking Helper
Okay, this is technically a chore, but for kids, it’s an activity!
- The Activity: Involve the kids in making a simple African dish. It could be helping wash the rice for Jollof, mashing yams for Fufu (or using potato flakes), or sprinkling cinnamon on South African Melktert.
- The Lesson: Food is culture. As you cook, talk about the spices and smells. It engages their senses and makes the dinner table a place of learning.
10. Ndebele House Painting (Chalk Edition)
The Ndebele people of South Africa are famous for painting their homes in striking geometric patterns.
- The Activity: If the weather permits and you have a driveway, use sidewalk chalk. If you are stuck indoors, use a large cardboard box.
- How to do it: Tape off sections using painter's tape to create straight lines and geometric shapes. Let the kids colour in the shapes with bold, solid colours. Peel the tape off to reveal crisp, Ndebele-style lines.
Tips for Parents
We know that "low prep" can sometimes turn into "high stress" if things get messy. Here are a few tips to make these African-themed holiday activities for kids at home enjoyable for you, too.
Set Up for Success
- The "Mess Zone": If you are doing the painted wrapping paper or the pasta necklaces, lay down a plastic tablecloth or an old shower curtain first. It makes cleanup a two-minute job.
- Pre-Cut Materials: If you have younger toddlers, do the cutting (for the masks or cardboard rolls) the night before. Their attention spans are short; you want to get right to the decorating.
Variations for Different Ages
- Toddlers: Focus on sensory experiences. The Shekere shaker is perfect for them. Let them paint with their fingers rather than brushes.
- School-Age: Focus on the "Why." They will enjoy the strategy of Mancala or the storytelling aspect of the Griot circle.
- Teens: Challenge them to research. Ask them to look up what the colours of the Kente cloth represent and design a pattern that matches their own personality.
Conclusion
The holidays are a time for connection, and what better way to connect than through the rich, vibrant history of Africa? By incorporating these African-themed holiday activities kids can do at home, you aren't just keeping boredom at bay; you are planting seeds of curiosity and pride.
Whether you are stamping potatoes to make "Ankara" paper or laughing your way through a game of Ampe, you are creating memories that go deeper than the usual holiday routine. So, grab some cardboard, clear off the living room floor, and get ready to explore the continent from the comfort of your home.
Have you tried any of these activities? We’d love to see your creations! Tag us on social media or check out our collection of books at Our Ancestories to keep the storytelling going all year round.
