Winter break at home: indoor toys and family games that keep kids busy

School winter break usually starts in late December, and with cold, foggy days most of it happens indoors. The trick is not one big toy but a small mix: something the whole family plays together, something the child makes with their hands, and something they can sit with quietly on their own.

Here is how we help parents put that mix together at our shop in Packages Mall.

1. One family game for the evenings

A game that grown-ups enjoy too gets played again and again. Good picks for the break:

• Quick card games such as the Monopoly Deal and UNO Flip packs (from about Rs 690). Rounds take 15 minutes, so they work after dinner.
• Tambola with 600 tickets (about Rs 3,250): the whole family, cousins included, can play at once.
• Magnetic Ludo (about Rs 3,950): the pieces stay put, so little ones can play too.
• Jenga (Hasbro, about Rs 5,350): no reading needed, fun from age 6 to 60.

See all board and family games.

2. One hands-on kit

A kit gives the child a project with a finished result to show off.

• Craft kits: jewellery making, printmaking, marker making and paper quilling (from about Rs 850).
• Science and STEM kits: build a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster or a wind-up generator (from about Rs 2,290). Best from age 8.
• Building sets: from soft blocks for toddlers to 300–500 piece sets for older children.
• Painting and colouring: colour pencils, watercolours, acrylic markers and fabric paints.

Browse arts and crafts, STEM kits and building sets.

3. One puzzle for quiet time

A puzzle the child works on alone is perfect for the slow hour after lunch.

• Speed cubes (3×3, 4×4 and pyramid cubes, from about Rs 1,490).
• Snake puzzles that twist into animals and shapes (from about Rs 1,190).
• Jigsaws and matching games for younger children.

What to choose by age

Age	Family game	Hands-on	On their own
3–5	Magnetic Ludo, matching games	Soft or big blocks, clay	Simple jigsaws
6–8	Jenga, Tambola	Craft kits, colouring sets	Snake puzzles
9–12	Card games, Tambola	Science kits, 300+ piece building sets	Speed cubes

Tips that make the toys last the whole break

• Don't hand everything over on day one. Keep one kit back for the second week.
• Set a "games night". Two evenings a week is enough to make it a habit.
• Clear one table. Craft and building projects get finished when they don't have to be packed away every hour.

Questions people ask

What is a good budget for the break?

Around Rs 5,000 buys a family card game, a craft kit and a puzzle. See toys under Rs 5,000.

When should I order?

Outside Lahore, order at least a week before the break starts: the courier takes 3–5 working days.

Can you help me choose?

Yes. Send us the child's age and what they like on WhatsApp and we'll suggest a few options with pictures.

How to order: order on the website and pay cash on delivery anywhere in Pakistan (Rs 200 courier, 3–5 working days), or collect free from our shop at Packages Mall, Lahore, usually ready within 1 hour. Prices on this page were checked in October 2026 and can change.