(Published on November 21, 2023)
Winter holiday is coming soon! Have you planned any holiday activities for your child? No worries, we have prepared some guides for you. From exploring the magical festivities of Christmas and Chinese New Year in Hong Kong to engaging in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, our guide is packed with ideas to keep your little ones entertained and learning. Whether you’re looking for educational experiences, cultural explorations, or just some fun ways to spend the holiday season, we’ve got you covered with a range of options suitable for children of all ages. Get ready to make this winter holiday a memorable and joyous time for your family and your kids!
Winter School Holiday Period In Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the school holiday schedule typically includes a winter break, though the exact duration and timing can vary depending on the school system (local school vs. international school) and individual school calendars. Here’s a general overview of the school holiday during winter for children in Hong Kong:
- Christmas Break: School kids usually have a Christmas holiday that lasts for about two weeks. This holiday typically starts a few days before Christmas and extends until after New Year’s Day.
- Chinese New Year: The Chinese New Year holiday is a significant break in the Hong Kong school calendar. The school generally closes for about one to two weeks to celebrate this important festival. The exact dates vary each year as they are based on the lunar calendar.
- Mid-Term Breaks: Some school kids may also have a mid-term break during the winter time, but this can vary widely depending on the school.
During these winter holiday periods, many families in Hong Kong take the opportunity to travel, experience cultural activities, or enroll their children in various holiday camps and tour. These activities can range from sports and arts to educational courses that cater to different interests and ages. If you and your family stay in the city, Hong Kong offers a wide array of winter holiday activities, as previously mentioned, which include festive events, outdoor adventures, and educational excursions.
Winter Holiday Activities For Your Children
Winter in Hong Kong is mild compared to many other places, with temperatures rarely dipping below 10°C (50°F). This opens up a variety of outdoor and indoor activities that are suitable for children during the winter time. Here are some activities that children in Hong Kong can enjoy during winter:
- Visit Theme Parks: Hong Kong is home to famous and best theme parks like Disneyland and Ocean Park. Winter is a great time to visit these attractions as the weather is cooler and more comfortable for walking around.
- Hiking: Hong Kong offers numerous hiking trails that are suitable for any family with children. The cooler winter weather makes it an ideal time to explore these trails.
3 Best Family Hiking Trails Suggestion
- Dragon’s Back Trail: Part of the Hong Kong Trail, Dragon’s Back is one of the most famous hiking trails in Hong Kong. It’s relatively easy for families and offers stunning views of Shek O, Tai Long Wan, Stanley, Tai Tam, and the South China Sea.
- Lion Rock Country Park: Known for its iconic Lion Rock peak, this park offers various trails that are manageable for your children. The park provides panoramic views of Kowloon and the Hong Kong skyline.
- Lamma Island Family Trail: This trail is perfect for a family day trip. It’s an easy hike from Yung Shue Wan to Sok Kwu Wan on Lamma Island, which location offers beautiful views and a chance to explore the island’s unique charm.
- Beach Visits: Although it might be too cold for swimming, Hong Kong’s beaches are still great for picnics, sand play, and enjoying the seaside scenery during the winter. Suggestion: Repulse Bay Beach, Shek O Beach and Stanley Beach
- Cultural Activities: Visiting museums, such as the Hong Kong Science Museum or the Hong Kong Space Museum, can be both educational and entertaining for children.
- Hong Kong Science Museum features over 500 exhibits, many of which are interactive, allowing young kids to learn Science through hands-on experience. Subjects range from physics and biology to environmental science.
- Hong Kong Space Museum offers spectacular astronomical shows that take young kids on a journey through the cosmos. The museum also has exhibitions covering things like the solar system, the history of space exploration, and the latest developments in astronomy.
- Festivals and Events: Winter in Hong Kong is marked by several festivals, like the Chinese New Year celebrations, which include parades, lion dances, and other cultural activities that are exciting for children.
- Indoor Playgrounds and Activity Centers: There are numerous indoor playgrounds and activity centers across Hong Kong that offer a variety of fun and educational activities for children.
- Cooking Classes: Participating in cooking classes can be a fun indoor activity. Many places offer cooking workshops for children, teaching them how to make simple dishes or traditional Chinese cuisine.
- Arts and Crafts Workshops: Winter is a great time to engage in indoor arts and crafts. There are various workshops and classes available in Hong Kong where children can learn new skills like painting, pottery, or other crafts and be creative.
- Botanical Gardens and Zoos: Visiting places like the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens can be a pleasant experience in the cooler weather, offering a chance to learn about plants and animals.
- Libraries and Reading Rooms: Hong Kong’s public libraries often organize story-telling sessions and reading activities, which can be a quiet yet engaging way for children to spend time in Winter.
These activities provide a mix of educational, cultural, and physical experiences suitable for children during the milder winter time in Hong Kong.
How Can Your Domestic Helpers Get Involved?
Domestic helpers can be actively involved in winter activities with children, providing both care and enrichment during this season. Here are some ways they can engage:
- Outdoor Activities: If the weather permits, domestic helpers can accompany children on outdoor adventures like a visit to a park, nature walks, or simple outdoor play.
- Indoor Crafts and Games: On colder days, indoor activities such as arts and crafts, board games, and DIY projects are suitable for children of all ages. Helpers can facilitate these activities, providing supervision and creativity.
- Educational Activities: Helpers can also assist children with educational activities or homework, especially during the winter school holiday, motivating them to learn and explore new knowledge.
- Holiday Preparations: Involving children in holiday preparations like decorating, baking, and making festive crafts can be a delightful experience. Domestic helpers can guide the child and supervise these fun activities.
- Storytelling and Reading: Reading books or storytelling can be a cozy way to spend winter days. The helper can read the stories or books to the children, especially the little ones of younger ages.
- Cooking and Baking: Teaching children how to cook simple dishes or bake treats can be a fun and practical winter activity. This can also be an opportunity for cultural exchange if the helper introduces new dishes from their own country.
- Movie and Game Nights: Organizing a family movie or game night can be a great way for a domestic helper to engage with the children and create a fun experience at home.
- Physical Activities: Keeping children physically active is also important, even in winter. Helpers can organize playground play for kids, where they can have fun and play around playground equipment like swings, slides, and climbing frames. This is not only fun but also good for physical development of the kids. Bike riding, on the other hand, is a fun outdoor activity for kids to get exercise and explore the city. It also helps kids in improving balance and coordination.
- Learning New Skills: Winter can be a great time for children to learn new skills such as knitting, sewing, or other crafts. If the domestic helper has these skills, they can teach them to the children. Additionally , children may be exposed to a new language, especially at a young age, which can be highly beneficial for cognitive development and cultural awareness.
- Cultural Exchange: If the helper is from a different cultural background, they can share their culture’s winter traditions, crafts, or stories with the children.
Here are some of the key traditions that children enjoy during the Christmas time in the Philippines:
- Simbang Gabi: This is a series of nine dawn masses leading up to Christmas Day, starting on December 16th. Kids often attend these masses with their family. It’s a spiritual preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ.
- Parol Making: The ‘parol’ is a traditional Filipino Christmas lantern, symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem. Kids often engage in making these colorful lanterns at school or at home, using materials like bamboo sticks, rice paper, and vibrant colors.
- Monito Monita: A form of Secret Santa, this gift-giving practice involves drawing names to become someone’s anonymous gift giver. It’s a popular activity among kids and even in schools and communities.
It’s important to remember that the specific activities should be agreed upon by the parents and the domestic helper, taking into consideration the children’s interests, safety, and the helper’s abilities and comfort level. Additionally, these activities should align with the helper’s job scope and contractual agreements.
You might also be interested in:
- Visa Renewal For Filipino Maids
- How To Hire A Domestic Helper Online?
- 7 Best Christmas Gifts For Domestic Helpers 2023
- Top 20 Household Cleaning Tips
About HelperChoice
HelperChoice is a reputable maid agency that holds a valid license approved by the Labour Department Hong Kong. The agency offers an online platform for direct hiring of domestic helpers and facilitates visa processing service specifically for Filipino maids. With a vast network, HelperChoice has successfully served over 75,000 employers in Hong Kong and Singapore, providing employers access to a pool of more than 20,000 domestic worker profiles. The agency maintains collaborative partnerships with local NGOs, including Enrich Hong Kong, Help For Domestic Workers, and PathFinders, organizing workshops and webinars to support the welling being and the employment rights of foreign migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong.
Contract And Visa Renewal For Filipino Maids
Employers are required to renew the employment contract and visa for foreign domestic helpers every two years at the Immigration Department and the respective Consulate. If you need assistance with processing the contract and visa for a Filipino maid, you can reach out to the HelperChoice team via Whatsapp. Normally, the visa renewal takes around two weeks to complete. Most visa processing packages include a mandatory two-year insurance coverage for domestic workers. For more info, please contact us via Whatsapp.
See also: Visa Processing Service For Filipino Domestic Workers
How To Hire A Domestic Helper On HelperChoice Platform?
HelperChoice offers a convenient online platform for foreign domestic helpers matching services. Employers can register an account and post job ads for free. Employers can also filter and review domestic helper profiles based on criteria like year of working experience, age, nationality, cooking skills, employment contract status (finished contract, break contract, terminated contract or overseas contract), current living region, any reference letter from the previous employer. Once you decide to hire a domestic worker, you may contact HelperChoice team to process helper’s employment contract and visa application for you at the Immigration Department of Hong Kong. If you apply for an overseas domestic worker’s visa, it will take around 3 months time to complete the process at the Immigration Department. If your domestic worker is already in Hong Kong and has finished employment contract, the visa processing time will be shortened to 6 weeks.
See also: How To Hire A Helper On HelperChoice Platform?