It is now the aftermath of Christmas morning. Wrapping paper and ribbon have been collected from every square foot of your home, a delicious lunch has been consumed and the house is now back in order. Now what? Sitting on the couch for the rest of the day is not your idea of a good time. Perhaps it is time to adjust your family’s holiday routine a bit.
The Aitken Home Team presents 9 family activities to enjoy on Christmas Day:
Beach Time
Consider heading to the beach with a warm thermos of hot cocoa, cozy blankets in hand. End a beautiful holiday with a gorgeous sunset while surrounded by those you love. If you plan to enjoy the beach earlier in the day, take a frisby or volleyball along with you. There’s nothing like a little friendly competition to bring the family together.
Soup Kitchen
Many soup kitchens and local charities are looking for people to volunteer on Christmas Day. This is a great teaching opportunity if you have children and an even greater experience with grandchildren. Here are a few suggestions for places that might be in need of volunteers: local children’s hospitals, VA hospitals, homeless shelters, retirement villages, or nursing homes.
Get Your Game On
Board games or card games are a great way to have fun on an otherwise sleepy Christmas afternoon. Charades can also be a great source of entertainment for an adult crowd. Monopoly, Uno, Settlers of Catan and Phase10 are just a few family favorites. Add to the excitement by allowing children to select a game. If you are hosting, ask your guests to bring their favorite games and be willing to learn something new.
Go for a Walk
A long walk or leisurely hike can be a great way to relieve some of the “fullness” of the holiday. Weather permitting, consider going for a jaunt through your local state park or a scenic neighborhood. Perhaps you could incorporate a scavenger hunt into your hike for the kids.
Showtime
Children love to pretend, so a reenactment of the Nativity or a play about a favorite book or fairy tale can be a great way to enjoy the rest of the day. Provide costumes or have the kids make their own props. This is a great opportunity to establish an annual tradition or create a storyline to be added to each successive year.
Photo Opp
Ham up your holiday with a photo session. Incorporate leftover wrapping paper and bows or a shiny curtain along with a camera and tripod to create a family photo booth. Encourage the subjects to be as goofy and creative as possible with costumes and props. Many props can be purchased at your local dollar store. After the photos have been printed, have the kids make their own picture frames with markers, stickers, festive cut-outs, and sparkles.
Slide Show
Christmas time is full of nostalgia and stories reminiscent of years past. If you own a slide projector, consider inviting your children to take a trip to the past with pictures of their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins and narrate your slide show with your favorite family stories. You might be surprised at how enjoyable this tradition could be for children as they grow up. This is a fun way to pass on a legacy of family history to the next generation.
Set Goals
Christmas can often be a time of reflection on what has transpired in the life of a family over the past year. Christmas is also a great opportunity to sit down as a family and create goals for the upcoming year. Have your children write down tasks that they would like to accomplish in 2018. Save these goals in a special box or jar to be reviewed next Christmas as you reflect on the events of 2017.
Craft Contest
Ever wonder what to do with all the leftover shredded wrapping paper, ribbon and bows? Consider having a craft contest using the leftover wrappings. Perhaps you could suggest constructing a Christmas tree or building a wrapping paper snowman. Just add some large pieces of cardboard, glue, and maybe some buttons or glitter to incorporate into your contest. This can big a hit for all ages!