Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/family-celebrating-christmas-while-holding-burning-sparklers-5778892/

The holidays are always an exciting time. Families and friends are reunited after being months apart, stores and streets are decorated with bright colors, schools and some offices are on break and - except the Grinch and haters of fun and cheer – people are generally happier and more hopeful. But it’s not all carols and eggnogs during Christmas. Buying everyone gifts, keeping them entertained and in high spirits cost parents a lot of money – not to mention the anxiety that accompanies the pressure of expectations. 

There are several ways to create beautiful experiences for your family while bringing them together without drilling a hole in your pocket. Some of the activities suggested might require as little as buying a cookbook, subscribing to your favorite streaming service or learning the Uno flip rules. What is important is focusing on activities that everyone can enjoy. 

Create Your Own Holiday Games

There are several game that can be played as a group or as a family. The usual considerations are usually how many people can be included in the games, if it’s what the group finds entertaining and if it is age appropriate.

As a family, competitions that encourage healthy competition are advised. Games like charades, musical chairs, song association, uno, monopoly, Jenga, scavenger hunt, would-you-rather and guess the song can become even more interesting when you make them holiday-themed. The great part is while you can retain or alter the classic rules of the games as you want, you can infuse whatever holiday element you please to suit you. Guess the song, for example, could feature a selection of classic Christmas songs only, Jenga could be made with edible items and charades could be on things associated with Christmas.

Whichever way you want to do it is up to you and your family. Just have fun with it.

Cook together

Cooking as an activity during the holidays is not intended to make you or everyone in your family Bobby Flay or Giada De Laurentiis, but to bring everyone together to have fun in the kitchen. In other words, the process that involves everyone in the family is itself the goal, so you don’t have to worry about the meal being perfect.

To include everyone in the cooking during holidays, the cooking process can be broken into smaller, more manageable bits and assigned to members or groups in the family. If there are so many meals and sides to cook, each member can handle one or more meal. But be ready to offer guidance and assistance, especially if your family is not filled with gifted chefs.

Playing music and having a light conversation while you cook can also keep everyone in a great mood and make the activity more enjoyable.

The fun and excitement aside, cooking as a family has several benefits for both individuals and a family so this is an activity worth the try!

Watch Christmas Movies

Watching Christmas movies is one of the most common holiday activities across the world. It’s no wonder why they are so successful. The Grinch (2018), for example, grossed over $500,000,000.00! 

But why are Christmas movies so great and why are they a great activity for your family to try out? For one, Christmas movies are timeless. Even though there are usually stand-out Christmas movies in different generations, they end up being enjoyed years and generations after. This is because Christmas movies are built on timeless themes like family, love and sharing. They are also usually funny, feel-good movies that put everyone in a lighter and happier mood. 

You and your family can select from the wide array of happy Christmas or holiday movies and enjoy a cozy evening with popcorn and laughs.

TikTok Videos

Love or hate it, TikTok will be here for a while. The social networking site has both the power to bring families together or tear them apart. In the case of the former, there are so many wholesome videos created by families who attempt viral trends or create some themselves. And the best part is that no one expects them to be perfect.

The process of learning lines or choreography together for make lighthearted reenactments of movie scenes or dance videos is an opportunity to spend time together and enjoy one another’s company without pressure or judgement.

Start a New Holiday Tradition

Holiday traditions vary across the world and across families – even though there are more common ones. In many ways, a family’s tradition is reflective of who they are, their roots and what is important to them. 

The Christmas tradition in some families or groups could sometimes involve spreading joy through caroling or acts of generosity towards strangers such as feeding the homeless, donating clothing items or performing some other act of kindness. For others, it might include visiting their ancestral home as a family and connecting with other members of their extended family. Family traditions could also be as simple as the unique way families decorate their Christmas tree or who places the star at the top of the tree. Whichever it is, it has to be an activity that the family enjoys and would not mind being defined by.

Make Memories!

While many of these activities might be seen as corny to some, they are great opportunities to make memories and strengthen your bond as a family – and that’s what the holidays are about.