This year, our family is choosing to care for our extended family by limiting in person interactions during the holiday season. This has been a difficult decision we haven’t taken lightly. I’m guessing a lot of you may choose to do Thanksgiving and Christmas differently too.
Or perhaps geography and budgets limit you from celebrating this year. If so, it doesn’t mean that you can’t still make memories and share special time together. Consider these family distance holiday activities that are affordable and ripe for connection during the holiday season.
Puzzles
Putting together a puzzle with grandparents is a long standing tradition in my family. This year, I’m considering buying the same puzzle for both my girls and our parents so that they can continue the tradition from a distance. Set up a designated time, clear the table, and turn on FaceTime or make a phone call.
- Preschoolers: O Holy Night Nativity Scene 24-Piece Wooden Christmas Jigsaw
- Elementary Kids: 500 Piece Michael Storrings Bow Bridge in Central Park Jigsaw
- Grown Children, Teens, & Tweens: Silent Night – 1000 pc Jigsaw
Family Recipes
Sharing favorite holiday recipes doesn’t have to stop this year or any year you’re apart. Whether it’s Grandma’s apple pie, homemade noodles, or another family favorite, you can make those things together from afar this year. Order or deliver the ingredients necessary. And then let the fun begin over Zoom or another platform. Want to step things up? Here are a few holiday fun items to add to your list.
- 2 Pack Christmas Funny Elf Aprons
- Make Me Smile Matching Adult and Child Aprons
- Fall Themed Recipe Cards
- Blank Recipe Book
Holiday Movie Marathon
From Charlie Brown to Elf, there are some classic holiday movies that never grow old. This year, choose a movie to watch together. Either send a DVD or find a common platform to use. “Watch” together using the Netflix Party, Disney+ Group Watch, or Hulu Watch Party. And maybe drop off some identical snacks or a blanket to snuggle under that looks just the same.
Holiday Coloring Books & Crafts
You never get too old to color together. And most of us love some good old fashioned art therapy! If you’re like me and totally uncrafty/uncreative, you can purchase pre-assembled kits. But even a simple free internet printable and set of coloring crayons can do the trick. Here are a few items in case you’re on the prowl.
- Free Printable Thanksgiving Coloring Sheets from Crayola
- Thanksgiving Would You Rather Game
- Free Printable Christmas Coloring Sheets from Crayola
- Christmas Craft Kits
Cookie Decorating
Nothing is more classic than decorating Christmas Cookies. This year, why not work on cookies at the same time that Gramps and Gram do! Again, you can send all the ingredients needed in advance or drop them off at the door. Or if they have what they need already, you can just get to work. Here are a few of my Christmas cookie favs.
- Frozen pre-cut cookie dough from GFS
- Snowman Make & Bake Cookie Set
- Kids Holiday Chef Hats and Aprons
- Thanksgiving Cookie Cutter Set
No matter what you choose to do this year, make memories! It doesn’t have to cost anything at all to do something meaningful with the people you love.
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