It’s definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas with glistening lights now shining in most businesses and neighborhoods. Besides decorating, there are plenty of other fun ways to make the holidays brighter. Here are some memory making activities to enjoy this season with your family and friends.
- Go ice skating – What better way to exercise off that extra glass of eggnog than to zip around the ice at your local rink? At this time of year many ice rinks feature holiday music, Christmas trees and seasonal decorations to make the occasion even more festive.
- Decorate a gingerbread house – Grocery and drugstores sometimes offer two-for-one price discounts on gingerbread kits toward mid-December, making it easy to purchase several for a family gingerbread house decorating contest. Who’s the best artist in your house? Â
- Play in the snow – Winter snow makes any home seem more picturesque during the holidays, and building a snowman, zooming down the hill in a sled, or having a good old-fashioned snowball fight is a great way to stay active. Snow doesn’t come but once every five to eight years in my home in Houston, but some local organizations bring in artificial snow machines each winter that give us enough of the white stuff to slide down neighborhood hills for a couple of days.
- Attend a church Christmas program – In addition to teaching the true meaning of Christmas, many churches put on beautiful holiday programs highlighting the birth of baby Jesus that are sure to warm the heart of each member of the family.
- Take in Christmas lights either in your neighborhood or at park/zoo events- Cruising your ‘hood to see who has the most creative light display is a great way to get in the Christmas spirit.
- Brighten someone’s day – Those separated from family can be especially lonely during the holiday season. Consider having kids make Christmas cards to deliver to nursing home residents, or have musical children sing songs or play their instruments for senior citizens groups. Offer to help a single neighbor decorate. Catch up with friends or relatives you haven’t seen for a while.
- Watch holiday classics – Curling up to view holiday classics like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Elf, The Polar Express or The Santa Clause are enjoyable ways to bond as a family and relax while waiting for Kris Kringle’s arrival. Just make sure not to eat all the cookies before he shows up.
- Volunteer at a soup kitchen or food pantry – The holidays are all about giving, and it’s always a good idea to remember those who are less fortunate by serving at local soup kitchens or helping stock shelves at food pantries.
- Bake Christmas cookies – Have fun trying out new recipes each year and eat them with festive seasonal drinks like hot apple cider and cocoa.
- Get a picture with Santa- Even if you are too big to sit on Santa’s lap it’s always fun to share whether you’ve been naughty or nice and to get that keepsake photo to update each year.
- Read books – Share the story of Jesus from the Bible or holiday classics like ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas or How the Grinch Stole Christmas to soothe the anxious kiddies before bedtime on Christmas Eve.
Merry Christmas!
Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday season.
Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the Readers’ Favorite “Five Star†rated Sophie Washington children’s book series, geared toward readers ages 8-12 and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
www.tonyaduncanellis.com
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