Due to pandemic-related health and safety concerns, many families are choosing to stay home this year and only spend time with their household members. Although this may not sound like a very exciting alternative to larger group celebrations, there are still lots of fun activities that you can do to make immediate family holidays special.
Here are some holiday-themed pandemic activities to help you pass the time at home with loved ones in the most fun ways possible.
Really Get into Festive Decorating
There’s no better time to make your home festive than when you’re spending more time at home. Whether you put up a Christmas tree, floating candles, a menorah, advent calendar, long strands of LED lights, or something else, make this the year you go “all out” with your decorating.
Schedule Video Chats with Extended Family
If in-person visits are off the table or on hold for a little while, make sure to not lose touch with loved ones. Plan to get on video calls with extended family members and friends who live near and far. If you have a loved one in an assisted living facility or nursing home, check with the staff to see if they can set up a video call for you.
Watch Holiday Performances Online
Attending live performances of “The Nutcracker” and local holiday plays is part of many families’ annual traditions. Fortunately, you can still get your arts and culture fix this year by watching virtual versions of your favorite performances online.
Bake Some Delicious Things
Indulge your sweet tooth and spend some quality time together in the kitchen around delicious foods. From cookies to homemade breads, cupcakes, and traditional sweets, cooking together as a family is a fun way to celebrate a pandemic holiday season.
Break Out Some Board Games
Let’s face it…some pandemic days stuck at home feel excruciating long and boring. A great way to pass the time while spending that time together is to bring out some board games and card games. To inspire, you consider ordering a new family-friendly game online so that you have something new to look forward to playing around the holidays.
Plan an Arts and Crafts Day
Another great way to pass the time while also stimulating the imagination and taking a much-needed break from screen time is to plan an arts and crafts activity. Some Christmas activities for kids to try include making wreaths, doing a paint-by-numbers kit, making friendship bracelets, or simply coloring with crayons in a fun coloring book.
Send Cards to Cheers Up Others
Lots of people are feeling lonely around the traditional family holidays right now because of sickness or trying to avoid sickness. Something positive you can do with your kids is to send holiday cards to family members in other households, friends, and even senior citizens you don’t personally know in local nursing homes. Whether it’s store-bought or homemade, a festive card with a handwritten note is often all you need to brighten someone’s day.
Finding Help with Kids Around the Holidays
There’s no denying that keeping kids entertained during the pandemic is a challenge, let alone during the holidays!
At Household Staffing International, we are making the health and safety of the community our top priority as we to assist families with finding responsible domestic staff members who provide assistance when needed and adhere to COVID prevention protocols. Whether you could use a nanny, a babynurse, or a housekeeper, we thoroughly interview and background-check all potential candidates to give you peace of mind when you let someone new into your home.
To learn more about our practices or to start your family’s search, contact us online or at 212-683-7722.