HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES & TRADITIONS COVID STYLE
The holiday celebrations and traditions this year are going to look different from the holidays of years passed. In order to make these holidays as warm and bright as they typically are it can be helpful to spend some time brainstorming, scheduling, and setting expectations together as families.
PLANNING FOR THE WINTER BREAK
Planning for the winter break this year it might be best to err on the side of caution and plan celebrations sheltering in place. It may require a bit more time and creativity, but it can be helpful to schedule fun activities that can be done together at home or safely outdoors. One suggestion would be to sit down with the whole family to brainstorm a list of activities each member would find fun and entertaining. Keep the conversation light and help set expectations about what is possible this year. In creating the list, it is most helpful to focus on what you can do and not on what you can’t. After creating a list together, I would suggest calendaring out activities so that everyone has something to look forward to and has some clear expectations about how they will be spending their time.
WHAT DO ACTIVITIES AND TRADITIONS LOOK LIKE DURING COVID
First and foremost, if possible, get outside! Studies have shown that time spent in a natural environment can alleviate feelings of social isolation and enhance emotional well-being. Since most children are spending more time than ever inside, spending outside, even in a front yard or local park, can help with a child’s ability to regulate their emotions and reduce stress.
Maintaining and creating new traditions can also be a focus this holiday season. Many families have traditions that they can keep or can be adjusted, but there is always room for the creation of new traditions. These traditions can be simple things like crafting, cooking, baking, physical activities (i.e., going on a hike, walk, ride), community service, etc. Family traditions are a worthy investment of time because they can strengthen family bonds, teach your family’s values, offer children support and security, and provide a source of identity.
Ideas for Younger Children
- Making crafts and decorations
- Simple baking projects
- Decorating the house together
- Making a walk part of a daily/weekly routine
- Reading to your child (creating a consistent story hour/bedtime routine)
- Indoor picnic/camping
Ideas for Older Children
- Finding a show to watch together
- Card or board games
- Creating consistent opportunities to read together independently
- Cooking new recipes together or teaching teens family recipes
- Redecorate bedroom
- Movie marathon
- Make a holiday movie/Tik-Tok together
- Rotating chef each night for dinner
Since we have more time together during the holidays than we typically do this time together provides an opportunity to initiate some deeper conversations with older kids. Since this is a unique year and time in all of our lives you might try out one of these conversation starters:
What do you want to do when the pandemic is over?
What important lessons have you learned since March and how do you plan to adjust your life when the pandemic ends?
Is it better to give or receive? Why?
What are some ways, we as a family, can give back to our community this holiday season?
SETTING EXPECTATIONS WITH CHILDREN ON HOW TO STAY SAFE
Before older children come to visit it can be helpful to have a conversation and create a shared agreement about safety precautions you necessitate in your home. For some families it may include getting tested before coming home to visit family members. For other families, it is getting clear about how kids can/can’t socialize outside the family unit. Many young adults returning home are hoping to reconnect with friends and that may not be an option this holiday season.
If limited socializing is an option, then getting specific about what safety measures are necessary should be discussed. Some such measures may include wearing a mask, limiting the number of people they are exposed to, where they can meet with friends, etc. It is important that these expectations be set long before they return home in order to avoid conflict when they arrive.
MAINTAINING HEALTHY FAMILIES
The best way to keep your family safe during COVID-19 is to routinely check the most recent CDCs guidelines. The statuses of our communities are constantly changing. In general, limiting interactions with people outside of your family, wearing a mask when outside the home, routinely washing hands, and covering coughs and sneezes are a few solid ways to protect yourself, your family and others you come in contact with.
