With the holiday season upon us, airports, train stations, and freeways across the country are filling up as families travel near and far to spend quality time together. Once the initial thrill of being reunited with each other has faded a bit, some families find it challenging to keep the momentum going.
Here are a few suggestions to banish boredom from your holiday family get-togethers!
Family game nights. Regardless of the ages of your holiday crew, you can’t go wrong by stocking up on an assortment of group-appropriate games. Choose from Rated G options like Scrabble, Monopoly, or Clue or more adult-oriented selections like Never Have I Ever, CLR, or Poker. Everyone loves to partake in some fun, friendly competition!
Family dinners. Families typically share special meals on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. But what about all of those in-between days? Consider creating a dinner menu for the holidays to encourage your group to dine together – and even cook together. Without a plan, folks often end up doing their own thing and missing out on the opportunity to enjoy meals together.
Family outings. When cabin fever sets in (and it probably will), grab the family and do something special. Depending on where you live and what you love to do, consider going bowling, ice skating, or roller skating; going to a movie or drive-in movie; going hiking; going fishing; packing a picnic; etc.
Family movie marathon. Speaking of movies, they’re a staple of many family holidays. One night, why not order pizza, snuggle up in the living room, and binge watch Netflix or Red Box movies?
Family volunteering. As you and your loved ones are gathered together enjoying a welcome break from work and school, keep in mind that the holidays are not happy for all. There are people (and pets) that don’t have homes of their own, senior citizens who are isolated in their homes or lonely in their nursing homes, patients and their families who are in hospitals… volunteering your time to lift the spirits of others will reinforce to you and your family just how fortunate you are this holiday season!