Holiday Camp for Kids: Keeping Kids Engaged Over Holiday Break

The holidays are supposed to be the fun part of the school year. For a lot of working parents, they are also the hardest stretch to cover. Thanksgiving week and a long Christmas break land right when work gets busiest, and kids who were on a tight school routine on Friday are bouncing off the walls by Tuesday. Whether you are looking at a holiday camp for kids or planning to keep everyone home, a little planning now makes the break a lot calmer.

This guide covers when Sumner County kids are out, holiday break activities that actually hold a child’s attention, what to look for in a holiday camp, and how break coverage works at GMA in Gallatin, TN.

When Kids Are Out of School This Holiday Season

According to the official Sumner County Schools 2026–27 calendar, the closures between now and the new year are:

• Election Day: Tuesday, November 3 (no school)
• Thanksgiving: November 23–27 (no school all week)
• Half day: Friday, December 18 (end of the first semester)
• Christmas Break: December 21 through January 1 (no school)
• Back to class: January 4 is also a no-school day, and students return Tuesday, January 5

Add it up and that is a full week in November plus more than two weeks around Christmas. If you attend a private school or homeschool, your dates may differ, so check your own calendar. For single days like Election Day, our guide to school day off camps walks through the options.

Holiday Break Activities That Keep Kids Engaged

Kids don’t need a packed itinerary over break. They need a little structure, a reason to move, and something to look forward to. These ideas work at home, at a grandparent’s house, or between holiday plans.

Keep a Loose Daily Rhythm

You don’t need a bell schedule, but a consistent wake-up time, mealtimes, and bedtime keep meltdowns down and make the return to school in January much easier. A simple plan for the day, written on the fridge, gives kids something to anchor to.

Get Them Moving Every Day

Federal guidelines recommend at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day for kids ages 6 to 17, and that doesn’t take a holiday. Cold weather pushes kids indoors and onto screens, so plan for it: a walk after the big meal, a park trip on a mild afternoon, a backyard game, or a class. Our post on physical activity for kids explains why it matters so much.

Give Their Hands Something to Do

Holiday crafts, homemade cards for relatives, building a gingerbread house, or helping measure ingredients for a family recipe all keep kids busy and off a screen. They also give kids something they made to show off at the holiday table.

Give Them a Real Job

Kids rise to responsibility. Let them set the table, help plan a meal, wrap gifts for siblings, or keep track of the week’s plan. A job makes them part of the holiday instead of waiting for it.

Set Screen Rules Before Break Starts

A long break with no plan for screens usually turns into a long break on screens. Decide the limits before break starts so it isn’t a fight every afternoon. Our post on screen time vs active time has what the research says and practical alternatives.

Keep Them Connected to Friends

Two weeks without classmates is a long time for many kids. A playdate, a class, or a camp with familiar faces keeps those friendships going and gets them out of the house.

When a Holiday Camp for Kids Makes Sense

Home plans work well when a parent is off work too. When you are not, a holiday camp fills the gap without leaning on the same relatives every year. When you compare holiday camps, look for:

• Real structure. A posted daily schedule, not a room with a TV and a stack of board games.
• Vetted staff. Ask whether staff are background-checked and trained in CPR and first aid.
• Small groups. Ask how many kids attend each day and how many adults supervise them.
• Active time. Kids who move during the day come home calmer.
• Hours that match your workday. Check drop-off, pickup, and whether later pickup is available.
• Clear policies. Know the payment deadline, the refund policy, and what to pack before you register.

Holiday camps tend to fill quickly because so many families need the same weeks. Register as soon as dates post. The same checklist from our summer camp guide applies to break camps too.

Holiday Break at GMA in Gallatin, TN

GMA runs break camps during summer, spring, fall, and winter school breaks for ages 5 to 14. Dates and rates for each break are posted on our camp pricing page as they are set, so check there or call 731-324-3850 to ask about specific holiday dates. We don’t promise a camp day until it’s on the schedule.

Here is what a GMA camp day looks like on our current schedule: drop-off starts at 7:30 AM, followed by a morning meeting, a fitness and discipline block, life skills and arts and crafts, lunch, team games or an outing, a second fitness block, and pickup between 4:30 and 5:30 PM. Extended care until 6:00 PM is available for $40 per week. Kids get 1 to 3 hours of structured physical activity a day, two snacks, and Pizza Friday. Capacity is limited to 20–25 kids per week, and campers spend the day with the same background-checked, CPR-trained staff who run our programs all year.

The fitness blocks are taught by the same family behind Global Martial Arts USA, so kids get real training, not just time to burn off energy. Our facility is peanut-free, so pack a peanut-free lunch Monday through Thursday.

Already in our after school program? During summer break and school closures, the after school rate drops to a $40 per week off-week maintenance fee, and our Parent Night Out events include holiday parties and seasonal events. Families who need break coverage can register for camp directly with no consultation, and current GMA members get member pricing in person.

Frequently Asked Questions