Holidays are the perfect times to create traditions for your family that everyone will look forward to each year. They present so many opportunities for togetherness that sometimes get lost during the year. In contrast, they also tend to carry more chaos and stress. The best way to combat that is to embrace it and turn it into something special and meaningful.
Below are a few ideas for family holiday traditions. Pick and choose the ones you like, adapt them to fit your family and adjust to fit various ages. Just remember to keep the fun and festive spirit alive, and you can’t go wrong!
Turn Trimming the Tree Into a Meaningful, Annual Family Event
When my oldest daughter was a toddler and I was a single mom, we started a tradition of decorating the tree while having a Christmas movie marathon and drinking hot chocolate. It turned what sometimes felt like a chore into a fun time. We both looked forward to it every year! Now that our family has grown, we’ve incorporated all into this fun day.
Start the Season with a Family Adventure
Instead of kicking off the busy holiday season with stress, plan a family day trip or even a weekend trip. If you need an idea of where to go, check out this month’s Getaway Guide! Whether you want to have the trip before Thanksgiving or after, plan it for right before your family calendar gets too busy.
Turn Holiday To-Dos into Family Fun
As moms, we tend to carry the burden of all that needs to be done. This is especially true during the holidays. Instead of doing it all, find a way to get the family involved. Before the season kicks off, as a family, create a list of everything that needs to be done. Then, divide up the items. Put multiple people on items that are harder or to incorporate younger kids. Make it a festive, fun time with playing holiday tunes.
Give Back & Spread Gratitude Through Service
A great way to remember gratitude through the season and enjoy family time is volunteering together. If you have a teenager, you tend to have more options for physical volunteer work; however, even little ones can get involved with simple tasks.
Stir Up Holiday Fun & Delicious Food in the Kitchen
Baking and cooking is a great way to spend time as a family and make traditions. You can keep it as simple as making cookies together. Or, make it elaborate and create a holiday family meal together. Another fun cooking idea is making a bunch of appetizers and having that for dinner instead of a traditional meal. There are so many festive food options to cook up!
Bring Everyone Together for a Holiday Celebration
The holidays never seem complete without parties. Try hosting one this year instead of just attending one. This could be a big party for all your loved ones or even just a simple, small family party. No matter which you choose, it’s a way to join together and celebrate the season.
