The holidays offer so many opportunities for learning, serving, and spending time together. Here are a few of the activities we plan to do this December:
Make Gingerbread Houses
Years ago I purchased the molds to make a gingerbread house, school, and train. Even if you don’t have a mold, you can still make a house from scratch. Search the Internet or holiday cookbooks for recipes and ideas. If you’re pressed for time, you can purchase a kit with the gingerbread and icing ready to use.
Make Ornaments
Every year we like to make some type of ornament to hang on the tree. This year we’ll make some using salt dough. You can find recipes for the dough online, and many use the same three ingredients: salt, flour, and water.
Create Homemade Gifts
My children don’t have a lot of money to spend on gifts this season, so they’ll be making their gifts instead. If they need ideas, look for books at your local library such as Gorgeous Gifts by Rebecca Craig and Gifts for Kids to Make by Cheryl Owen.
Visit the Neighbors
While we know some of our neighbors well, others we haven’t talked with much at all. The holidays are an ideal time for getting to know them. This year, we’ll visit each one with a plateful of goodies.
Visit the Nursing Home
Nursing homes and retirement centers welcome children and families who want to sing to or meet with the residents. To set up a time, simply call your local facility and tell them what you would like to do.
Participate in a Service Activity for Children
In our area, collections have already begun to give toys to underprivileged children. There’s a program in which you can give a shoebox full of treats and toys; we also have “Country Santa” who gathers and distributes hundreds of toys to needy families. Ask around to find the opportunities in your town.
You probably have even more ideas for spending those quality moments with your children this season. Just be sure in the busyness to take the time to enjoy them!
Guest Blogger: Samantha Bell
Photo from Dvorak319
