Now that school is almost out, we wanted to create a short list of activities you and the family can do to spark connection and focus on what is important this time of year. Each other. We hope this season is filled with meals around the table, long conversations and dreaming together for the new year.
Build a Gingerbread house together, or make it a competition.
-Either buy a pre-made kit, or take your kids to the local grocery store (ideally one that carries bulk candy), let everyone pick out a couple different kinds of candy, then buy everyone a container of frosting and a box of graham crackers and have at it. If its a competition give them a timeline. Then vote!
TIP: Stores like Winco have cheap bulk candy isles, and/or the dollar store for frosting and graham crackers for a buck!
TIP: Turn on Christmas music and make a hot coco bar for the entire family to enjoy while they are decorating.
A Christmas Day- IN
- Start your morning before the kids wake up, brew yourself a coffee, turn on the Christmas tree lights, light the candles, play Christmas music softly in the background and start making breakfast for the family. What were some of your childhood favorites? For us, we are big fans of sticky buns, cinnamon rolls (both of which can be prepared the night before), dutch babies (you can find the recipe in our Marked cookbook) or a waffle bar with all the toppings.
- Once the kids wake up, have them each open up a cookbook and pick out a Christmas cookie they would like to make, if they're little, we recommend sticking with a classic sugar cookie recipe and letting them pick out the cookie cutter designs as well as helping you decorate.
- When the cookies are done, or maybe they are cooling. Pull out a puzzle, or a game they have been asking to play for awhile. After all you are in no hurry today.
-After games are done and the puzzle completed, begin to prep dinner. Maybe its build your own pizza night, or chili and corn bread around the fire. Either way, use this intentional time to connect. Asking questions like what they loved about this past year, and even what they didn’t.
TIP: We call this “popcorn” where we go around the room letting each person pick the next, asking about their ‘high’ and ‘low’ of the day/week/year.
- Last, turn on a Christmas movie the whole family will love. Pop popcorn, create a build your own hot coco bar, snuggle up by the fire and enjoy a quiet night together.
TIP: PopCorn bar: popcorn, m&ms, nuts, caramel corn, cheddar corn, cinnamon and sugar shaker. etc. Hot coco bar: Hot chocolate, mini marshmallows, mini chocolate chips, candy canes, whipping cream, straws.
Day OUTside
- Pack a sack lunch, lots of snacks, a thermos of hot apple cider/ or hot coco and some Christmas cookies and head to the mountains.
TIP: Sandwiches, apples, carrots, and pre-made salads, both pasta and green are great for on the go. If you have multiple thermos’ hot soup is also another favorite of ours to take on the road.
-Find a hike that you have been wanting to check off your list, if snow is in the forecast find a place with a good sledding hill, if you are a family that enjoys outdoor sports, head to your local ski resort for a fun day out.
Favorite things gift exchange
-For those of you who do not have kids, or have older kids, this is another one of our favorites. Invite a group of friends/family over to the house for cookies and coco and ask them all to bring “X” amount of their favorite things. (For example, if you have 5 friends joining, everyone brings 5 of the same item to give.) For each gift being given, have the giver explain why the item is their favorite. By the end of the evening, everyone leaves with “5” new favorite things that hopefully they too will love.
TIP: If you are worried, set a price point (ie $10 per gift), or set a theme (ie Kitchen, Spa day, outdoors etc). If you have more people joining, then ask everyone to bring 3-5 gifts, they won’t each get one of everything, but everyone will leave with the same amount of gifts.
Serve Together
-Find a local shelter, church, or organization that you believe in and spend an afternoon serving them together.
-Collect socks, shoes, blankets and coats and deliver them to those in need.
-Fill ziplock bags with non-perishable items and deliver them to homeless in or around your community.
TIP: Things to add to bags: hand warmers, hand sanitizer, toothpaste, toothbrush, bandaids, socks, gloves, granola/ protein bars, apple sauce squeeze pouches, nuts, crackers, fruit/fruit snacks, water bottle.
Still needing a few more ideas?
Go see a Christmas show (Like the Nutcracker!)
Go see a Christmas movie in theaters (Like the Grinch!)
PJ’s and Christmas Lights, drive around with the family finding the best Christmas lights in your city.
Write letters to Santa
Go Visit Santa
Let each kid decorate their room with snowflake cut outs, and other Christmas crafts they have created this year.
Read the Christmas story
Act out the Nativity story
Go Christmas Caroling
Go to a Candle Light Service at your local/or home church
We hope this Christmas season is filled with memories that last a lifetime!