2020 has been a strange year for all of us, especially for families with young children. The pandemic has made it hard to keep children educated and entertained at home. Halloween has come and gone with many families opting to stay home and skip trick-or-treating completely this year. But what can you do for the upcoming holiday season?
With most countries still discouraging gatherings or large parties, it’s going to be a difficult season for kids. They’ll probably miss grandma’s homemade cookies and meeting their cousins at family parties. It can be quite hard to keep the spirit of the holidays alive with no family or even friends around. But here are a few ideas to spread the joy and keep the festivities going, regardless of what is happening outside.
Holiday decor
There’s nothing like a DIY project – or two – to perk up the festive spirit. This year, why not choose some simple projects that your children can help out with? It helps you involve the kids and keep them interested despite the gloomy prospect of no holiday parties.
DIY holiday decor projects can also help teach your kids that making something is a rewarding experience in itself. You don’t always need to spend money to get results. A handmade ornament or holiday card can mean so much more to the recipient.
Some fun and kid-friendly holiday decor projects include:
- Holiday wreaths – make them with balloons, felt, candy canes, lollipops, or anything else you can glue or wrap around a wreath
- Custom advent calendars – why buy when you can make your own? Fill the little boxes with candy, toys, or coupons for family activities.
- Table decorations – get the kids to make cute custom place cards or table decor
- Tree ornaments – what better way to create memories than to get the children to make ornaments that they can use to decorate the tree every year?
Holiday music and movies
Nothing gets you in the spirit of the holidays like music and movies. Set aside some time for your favorite holiday movies, complete with popcorn and cozy blankets. Cuddle up on the couch or sit on the floor in front of the TV and enjoy family time with the kids. Don’t forget sweet treats like candy canes, hot chocolate, and eggnog. You can also play holiday music in the background when you’re cooking or baking to keep the fun going.
DIY Gifts
The festive season is a good time to consider homemade gifts, especially in a year when many of us don’t feel like splurging on expensive gifts. The kind of gifts you can make will depend on your child’s age but there is no dearth of ideas online. From DIY hot cocoa kits to arty bookmarks, you can find ideas for whatever hobby your children have. Use beads to make bracelets or simple table decorations. Handmade wind chimes are also a good idea that even quite young kids can create, even if they need some help from you!
DIY gift wrapping paper
Whether or not you make DIY gifts for family and friends, you can always make custom handmade wrapping paper! All you need is some plain wrapping paper, colored pencils or pens, and your children. Encourage them to draw their favorite animals or landscapes, fun shapes, or even just some odd blobs. You will end up with custom wrapping paper that no one else can duplicate!
Holiday cards
The kids may not be able to visit grandma in person but why not send her a handmade card or two? Most holidays, you may not have the time to sit down and create handmade cards. Many of us simply buy cards and mail them out to friends and family. But this year gives us a good opportunity to bring back the tradition of handwritten cards. With fewer gatherings and parties, you can easily have your kids make their own cards for family members.
All you need are some blank notecards and matching envelopes from your local craft or dollar store. Encourage your kids to use everything from paint, pencils, pens, and even glitter to make their card special!
Fun family activities
No matter what, the holiday season is the time for kindness spreading and spending time with loved ones. Why not use these weeks to spend quality time with your kids? Think board games, activities you can do in the backyard, or even an impromptu gingerbread house decorating party.
You may not be able to invite other children but you can also have fun along with your children. Decorating homemade cookies, gingerbread houses or the tree are all opportunities to spend time together as a family. So why not make the most of it?