This holiday season might look a little different but that doesn’t mean that you can’t bring some holiday joy into your homes! Here are a couple tips to help make the best out of the holidays this year
Create a photo memory book: We rarely print photos these days. Dig out those photos and make a special “old-fashioned” album for each of your children and have your kids help make one for their grandparents or other relatives. Be sure to find photo books with acid-free pages to protect your photos.
Tell a story with your child: For as little as $10 and some computer time, you can sit down with your child and help them create their own book. Here are a couple of websites you can check out: My Storybook and Pinhole Press.
Create an imaginary vacation: You have everything you need at home to have a really creative “staycation.” Want to go to Legoland? Pair a Lego gift with some quality time building together and have a Lego movie marathon or watch YouTube videos about kids building with Legos.
Build a Christmas tree alternative: Christmas trees are expensive (and not always eco-friendly) and not everyone celebrates Christmas. But anyone can have fun with a Christmas tree alternative. You could use colored paper, books, wood, houseplants, lights, tree branches, the possibilities are endless.
Go on a holiday light tour: Do some research to find the best neighborhood light shows in your area, load up your playlist with your favorite holiday music, grab some popcorn or other snacks, and hit the road.
Read holiday books: Set aside special family time to read your favorite holiday books together. The classics are Charles’ Dickens A Christmas Story, Chris Van Allsburg’s The Polar Express, Eric Kimmel’s Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins and more recent, Hanukkah Bear, and Angela Shelf Medearis’ Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story.
Make some delicious latkes: You don’t need to celebrate Hanukkah to enjoy these delicious fried potato pancakes. Get the whole family together to help with the potato grating and you’ll have a ton of fun in the kitchn. You can pair them with homemade applesauce and sour cream. Yum!
Volunteer and donate: Local organizations are always looking for help this time of year assembling food baskets, gift baskets, or sorting donations for distribution. You can also simply make a point of checking in with elderly neighbors and offering to help with yard work or grocery shopping. Think about what you can do to help out as a family.
Organize game night: There are tons of group games you could play. Have your child help you pick out a new game or pull one out of the closet you haven’t played often. Some of our favorites: Ticket to Ride, Telestrations, and the old classic, Charades.
Savor the season: This should have come first, not last. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed during the holidays, whether you’re an adult or a child. So make this your family mantra now: All I want for the holidays is time. Time to enjoy delicious treats, time to relax with your loved ones, time to read together, play silly games, laugh, and hug them every chance you get.
At the Exchange Family Center, we’re gearing up for our holiday and end-of-year fundraisers. The pandemic has interrupted some of our plans this year too. But we’re figuring out how to serve our community during this new normal and make this season merry and bright for as many families as we can. We hope you will too!