Holiday coziness for kids
November 13, 2019 8:49 AM Subscribe
Life is chaotic right now, and we need some coziness and together time. Unfortunately, I'm not in the easiest place, mentally, for making that happen effortlessly. I need a list, and I need inspiration. Can you share your favorite seasonal activities for creating a cozy atmosphere?
I have young children, a lot of demands on my time, and there's some stressful issues happening around holiday planning right now. My favorite holiday memories from childhood involve watching Frank Capra movies on TV while making crafts with my mom - I want to plan some activities like this with my kids, and do some other decorating and cooking and similar holiday-ish things as a balm for cold nights after stressful days. I need help and strategies for doing things low-budget, last-minute, emphasis on "together", and am turning to the hive mind to ask for help in curating a list of things to do that make a good, cozy atmosphere at home (the goal being celebrating the holidays, but extra coziness all winter long will certainly not hurt).
I have young children, a lot of demands on my time, and there's some stressful issues happening around holiday planning right now. My favorite holiday memories from childhood involve watching Frank Capra movies on TV while making crafts with my mom - I want to plan some activities like this with my kids, and do some other decorating and cooking and similar holiday-ish things as a balm for cold nights after stressful days. I need help and strategies for doing things low-budget, last-minute, emphasis on "together", and am turning to the hive mind to ask for help in curating a list of things to do that make a good, cozy atmosphere at home (the goal being celebrating the holidays, but extra coziness all winter long will certainly not hurt).
baking cookies is the top of my list. For that you just need to make sure your pantry has the ingredients and that you have an oven and cookie sheet and parchment paper around. Luckily cookie ingredients are generally very shelf/fridge stable. So leaf through some cookie lists, stop at the cheapest store and make sure you have flour, butter, sugar, and whatever less common things your favorite might need -- molasses, spices, candy canes, cream cheese, whatever your recipes need -- so they're ready to go when you have time. (Note you can bake for fun and then freeze, so you have cookies available for movie watching nights.)
Re movies, identify a list (not long, like 2-4 movies) that you want to cozy up with and rent them from iTunes if you don't have a copy around. Costs like $4, good for 24 hours once you start watching. Look at the calendar and see what evenings suggest themselves and mark them, then when you come to those evenings, if there's no good reason why not, just go ahead and do it.
My kids love "picnic" nights which is when we move dinner into the living room and eat it sitting around the coffee table, watching a movie together. This requires a meal that can be eaten without making a mess. I usually use premade Trader Joe's stuff like chicken salad and California rolls for this.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:58 AM on November 13, 2019 [8 favorites]
Re movies, identify a list (not long, like 2-4 movies) that you want to cozy up with and rent them from iTunes if you don't have a copy around. Costs like $4, good for 24 hours once you start watching. Look at the calendar and see what evenings suggest themselves and mark them, then when you come to those evenings, if there's no good reason why not, just go ahead and do it.
My kids love "picnic" nights which is when we move dinner into the living room and eat it sitting around the coffee table, watching a movie together. This requires a meal that can be eaten without making a mess. I usually use premade Trader Joe's stuff like chicken salad and California rolls for this.
posted by fingersandtoes at 8:58 AM on November 13, 2019 [8 favorites]
We always do a session of drawing seasonal pictures to decorate our living room. We break out the xmas cds for that. Virtually no prep time (I hate baking) and nicely meditative.
posted by Omnomnom at 9:00 AM on November 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by Omnomnom at 9:00 AM on November 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
Sounds like you're in need of hygge! We do a gingerbread house thing every year. Usually with kits, but the kits are just bit (stale) sheets of graham cracker, some small tubes of icing, little baggies of gum drops, etc. In our house, this has turned into something of a contest (hence the kits, so everyone's starting from the same place). We do a lot with candelight when it gets seriously cold. Also a lot of baking. Cookies are good for little ones to help, especially simple sugar cookies. We do a lot of pizzelles, too.
posted by jquinby at 9:01 AM on November 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by jquinby at 9:01 AM on November 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
My go-to holiday cozy kid craft is salt dough ornaments. The bonus is that this can be a multi-day crafting process:
Day 1: Make the dough, roll out, cut, and bake the dough.
Day 2: Paint the baked ornaments.
Day 3: Glue sparkles on (some of ) the ornaments. Glue pompoms on them. Glue whatever you can find!
Special extras:
On tree shaped ornaments: have the kids use their fingers (dipped in bright paint) to make christmas tree light 'light bulbs'. Connect the prints with black sharpie marker 'wire'. Add the year on the ornament to make an heirloom.
On mitten shaped ornaments: Use ink to make kid hand prints. This is kid hand size dependent.
posted by Sauter Vaguely at 9:02 AM on November 13, 2019 [10 favorites]
Day 1: Make the dough, roll out, cut, and bake the dough.
Day 2: Paint the baked ornaments.
Day 3: Glue sparkles on (some of ) the ornaments. Glue pompoms on them. Glue whatever you can find!
Special extras:
On tree shaped ornaments: have the kids use their fingers (dipped in bright paint) to make christmas tree light 'light bulbs'. Connect the prints with black sharpie marker 'wire'. Add the year on the ornament to make an heirloom.
On mitten shaped ornaments: Use ink to make kid hand prints. This is kid hand size dependent.
posted by Sauter Vaguely at 9:02 AM on November 13, 2019 [10 favorites]
You can get a few boxes of cookie mix -- Betty Crocker makes both gingerbread and brittle mixes -- and make those together any night, or make it a Friday nights tradition. You can do a movie night and watch a Christmas movie on the couch under blankets and do an "intermission" with hot chocolate (and some of your baked stuff!) You can start a tree decorating tradition where everyone makes one decoration each year or make gifts -- we do crafts from Sostrene Grene, I'm not sure what the US go-to is.
posted by DarlingBri at 9:07 AM on November 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by DarlingBri at 9:07 AM on November 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
Baking cookies or other treats together and then eating -- or delivering as gifts -- the produce.
Stringing (popped!) popcorn on thread using a needle, which you then put out for the birds was fun: everyone commiserates when you prick your finger and shout, and a young person has to thread the needle when the Olds can't find their glasses :7)
At Thanksgiving, we drew a turkey head & body, and then cut out lots of oval-shaped pieces of paper as feather. The turkey s hung up on the wall, and everyone takes turns writing out whatever they're thankful for on the feathers. It stays up from mid-November into December, and is a nice reminder of the good things that are going on among all the fuss.
Making a bunch of quickbreads: some get frozen (thereby making breakfast easier in the future), one is wrapped up for the following morning, and a couple are given away.
Some years we take a walk outside in the snow, then come home and have hot chocolate.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:09 AM on November 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
Stringing (popped!) popcorn on thread using a needle, which you then put out for the birds was fun: everyone commiserates when you prick your finger and shout, and a young person has to thread the needle when the Olds can't find their glasses :7)
At Thanksgiving, we drew a turkey head & body, and then cut out lots of oval-shaped pieces of paper as feather. The turkey s hung up on the wall, and everyone takes turns writing out whatever they're thankful for on the feathers. It stays up from mid-November into December, and is a nice reminder of the good things that are going on among all the fuss.
Making a bunch of quickbreads: some get frozen (thereby making breakfast easier in the future), one is wrapped up for the following morning, and a couple are given away.
Some years we take a walk outside in the snow, then come home and have hot chocolate.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:09 AM on November 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
Snuggling up on the sofa with the kids while you read them a holiday or winter themed book is very nice. Your library may have all the Christmas books pulled together into one section to make them easy to find.
posted by Redstart at 9:10 AM on November 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by Redstart at 9:10 AM on November 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
My kids are 1 and 4.5, and last year for cookies I honestly just bought a roll of the Pillsbury "Christmas" cookie dough, a can of frosting, and a bunch of sprinkles, and baked the cookies and let my oldest smear frosting around and absolutely drench the cookies with sprinkles. He was only interested in the decorating + eating parts of it anyways. This year we will do some more actual baking since he likes to help with the mixing now, but there is zero shame in just buying a roll of cookie dough at the supermarket.
My eldest is fascinated by having little Christmas decorations here and there, especially the ones that light up, or snow globes, or candles. So we do a lot of Christmas lights indoors, and have candles after dark. Even just little tea candles in the dark make it feel cozier.
Holiday window clings (like this) are cheap and an easy way for little kids to decorate windows or the refrigerator door.
If your kids are old enough to string beads, you can make garlands for birds (well, squirrels, really, but who cares) and string dry popped popcorn and cranberries into a big long rope, then drape it on trees outdoors.
Advent calendars are an easy way to get kids really pumped for the holidays. Or you can have them make their own Christmas Countdown chain, by cutting out and gluing together construction paper links of red and green, 24 links for the 24 days before Christmas. Then each night they cut off another link.
If you get sick of holiday music, I have found classic Frank Sinatra tunes, Bing Crosby, etc. all feel like Christmas without being too CHRISTMAS.
posted by castlebravo at 9:14 AM on November 13, 2019 [8 favorites]
My eldest is fascinated by having little Christmas decorations here and there, especially the ones that light up, or snow globes, or candles. So we do a lot of Christmas lights indoors, and have candles after dark. Even just little tea candles in the dark make it feel cozier.
Holiday window clings (like this) are cheap and an easy way for little kids to decorate windows or the refrigerator door.
If your kids are old enough to string beads, you can make garlands for birds (well, squirrels, really, but who cares) and string dry popped popcorn and cranberries into a big long rope, then drape it on trees outdoors.
Advent calendars are an easy way to get kids really pumped for the holidays. Or you can have them make their own Christmas Countdown chain, by cutting out and gluing together construction paper links of red and green, 24 links for the 24 days before Christmas. Then each night they cut off another link.
If you get sick of holiday music, I have found classic Frank Sinatra tunes, Bing Crosby, etc. all feel like Christmas without being too CHRISTMAS.
posted by castlebravo at 9:14 AM on November 13, 2019 [8 favorites]
- Cooking breakfast for dinner
- Toast (with cinnamon, butter & jam, smashed avocado, peanut butter, etc.) as the default answer to "what should we do???"
- Turning old socks into stuffies
- Paper garlands - distribute the prepping and making over several days. Cutting the strips while you watch Elf one night Gluing the strips while you watch Charlie Brown's Christmas another night, etc.
- DIY snow globes.
- Nature shrine - go for a walk in a spot where you may fine pine cones, milkweed, brightly colored fall leaves, rocks, etc. and spend some time together when you get home making a small shrine someplace in your house. Add a couple of tealights (battery operated if your kids are too young for candles left lit).
- Wrapping twigs with yarn or embroidery thread
posted by cocoagirl at 9:15 AM on November 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
- Toast (with cinnamon, butter & jam, smashed avocado, peanut butter, etc.) as the default answer to "what should we do???"
- Turning old socks into stuffies
- Paper garlands - distribute the prepping and making over several days. Cutting the strips while you watch Elf one night Gluing the strips while you watch Charlie Brown's Christmas another night, etc.
- DIY snow globes.
- Nature shrine - go for a walk in a spot where you may fine pine cones, milkweed, brightly colored fall leaves, rocks, etc. and spend some time together when you get home making a small shrine someplace in your house. Add a couple of tealights (battery operated if your kids are too young for candles left lit).
- Wrapping twigs with yarn or embroidery thread
posted by cocoagirl at 9:15 AM on November 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
I like listening to gene autry Christmas songs with them in the car. Read some Christmas book. Give them hugs when you stop to look at something christmassy and cosy.
posted by catspajammies at 9:17 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by catspajammies at 9:17 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
Making paper snowflakes and then hanging them around the house. Here are some basic instructions.
posted by mcduff at 9:19 AM on November 13, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by mcduff at 9:19 AM on November 13, 2019 [7 favorites]
One of those gingerbread house kits sounds like it would be fun for you and the kids. You can also buy ready-made sugar cookies and frost them yourself.
Make hot chocolate with marshmallows and watch A Christmas Story on TV (best holiday movie ever).
How about one of those kits found in craft stores of plain tree baubles with various paints, glitter, etc. so everyone can make their own special bauble.
Christmas Karaoke!
posted by essexjan at 9:23 AM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
Make hot chocolate with marshmallows and watch A Christmas Story on TV (best holiday movie ever).
How about one of those kits found in craft stores of plain tree baubles with various paints, glitter, etc. so everyone can make their own special bauble.
Christmas Karaoke!
posted by essexjan at 9:23 AM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
How about warm apple cider or hot chocolate to drink while doing all of the great home activity suggestions above? Also, crock pot applesauce (example here) is super easy and makes the house smell super yummy and cozy while it's cooking, especially if you add some cinnamon and vanilla.
posted by somanyamys at 9:24 AM on November 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by somanyamys at 9:24 AM on November 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
I remembered something else: You could celebrate St. Nicholas Day on December 5th; it's tradition for kids to leave their shoes by the front door with a treat in them for St. Nicholas' horse, like carrots or hay or an apple, and St. Nicholas will "visit" in the night and his horse will eat the treats, and St. Nicholas will leave a little surprise in their shoes, like candy or a small toy.
(it's understandable if you don't want to add yet another Holiday Thing to the rotation, usually once you try this with kids they will expect it EVERY YEAR, but it's a fairly easy thing to do with a couple carrots + some leftover Halloween candy).
posted by castlebravo at 9:25 AM on November 13, 2019 [5 favorites]
(it's understandable if you don't want to add yet another Holiday Thing to the rotation, usually once you try this with kids they will expect it EVERY YEAR, but it's a fairly easy thing to do with a couple carrots + some leftover Halloween candy).
posted by castlebravo at 9:25 AM on November 13, 2019 [5 favorites]
Royal icing Christmas ornaments are nice too. Royal icing is 150 g confectioner's sugar for every egg white, and a quarter tsp cream of tartar for every two egg whites, beat for a very long time (like, minutes) with an electric mixer until very very stiff and bright white. The color change is noticeable -- it starts off kind of off-white, and then gets much brighter and whiter when it's ready.
And then you can draw big snowflake shapes, and pipe the royal icing onto wax paper in the shape of the snowflake -- making lines at least a quarter inch thick, maybe thicker? Let them dry for a couple of hours and they're sort of hard-candy like and you can hang them on the tree. If you have decorative sugar crystals, they'll make the snowflakes glittery.
posted by LizardBreath at 9:27 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
And then you can draw big snowflake shapes, and pipe the royal icing onto wax paper in the shape of the snowflake -- making lines at least a quarter inch thick, maybe thicker? Let them dry for a couple of hours and they're sort of hard-candy like and you can hang them on the tree. If you have decorative sugar crystals, they'll make the snowflakes glittery.
posted by LizardBreath at 9:27 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
Yes, St. Nicholas Day, YES!! That's one of the traditions that I miss most about holidays here in New England: not enough Germans to make St. Nicholas a Thing. In elementary school the nuns would have us put our shoes out in the hallway in the morning to get candy; at home my parents did the same, so it was a two-fer for a few years there until I switched to public school.
Also, depending on your kids' or your own skill with scissors, there are the Star Wars Snowflakes: http://www.anthonyherreradesigns.com/starwarssnowflakes
posted by wenestvedt at 9:35 AM on November 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
Also, depending on your kids' or your own skill with scissors, there are the Star Wars Snowflakes: http://www.anthonyherreradesigns.com/starwarssnowflakes
posted by wenestvedt at 9:35 AM on November 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
Similar to baking, try making cinnamon ornaments. Or if that's too much, add to the holiday feel by simmering orange peel, cinnamon sticks and cloves on the stovetop (I use my little appetizer crockpot).
posted by sarajane at 9:38 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by sarajane at 9:38 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
Our Swiss exchange student, on St. Nicholas Day, made very simple knot rolls in the shape of pigeons (just as a variation on Grittibänz), and then served them alongside an orange at breakfast.
If you mix the dough and leave it to rise, the kids can portion it out, roll it into ropes, and then form the birds and finish them (Annemarie used raisins for eyes and an almond sliver for the beak).
A similar recipe is here: https://www.helvetickitchen.com/recipes/2017/12/4/grittibanz
Picture of the bird roll technique: http://www.sugarampsprinkle.com/2017/04/bird-shape-dinner-rolls.html
posted by wenestvedt at 9:44 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
If you mix the dough and leave it to rise, the kids can portion it out, roll it into ropes, and then form the birds and finish them (Annemarie used raisins for eyes and an almond sliver for the beak).
A similar recipe is here: https://www.helvetickitchen.com/recipes/2017/12/4/grittibanz
Picture of the bird roll technique: http://www.sugarampsprinkle.com/2017/04/bird-shape-dinner-rolls.html
posted by wenestvedt at 9:44 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
Bake. Pies for Thanksgiving(in the US), and make/buy extra pie dough so kids can make jam tarts - small ball of pie dough, use thumb to make an impression, add jam, bake. Pumpkin pie is so good and doesn't have to be crazy sweet. Apple pie requires lots of apple peeling, so make cherry. Cookies, all the cookies. Peanut butter cookies or oatmeal cookies are easy, and you can add chocolate chips if you like. Make brownies from a mix even though scratch brownies are easy. Gingerbread from a mix is fine and smells heavenly. Make a lemon glaze with lemon juice and confectioner's sugar. gingerbread isn't super sweet and is very fall/winter cozy.
Make and decorate gingerbread boys and girls. I did this with my son's kindergarten class - super messy and fun.
Go for walks. In Maine, it's dark pretty early, so walks allow for stars and moon. Come home and have fresh cider and brownies.
Read aloud. The Library will help you choose cozy books for your kids interests. Play music you can sing to; for me (boomer, don't @ me) that's Beatles, folk/protest, and classic Motown, but any music that you can get lyrics for is great. Look at karaoke lists if you need inspiration.
Make Christmas or other holiday cards for family. Make or buy advent calendars.
Get some holiday/ fall/ winter candles; bayberry, pine, etc. - votives will do nicely, and 3 or 4 votive candles on a lie tin for safety feels festive. Look at your pictures of past holidays together. Drink hot cider (microwave) or hot chocolate.
I'm sorry you're having a hard time; it can be a brutal time of year. This ask is full of joy, so Thanks.
posted by theora55 at 9:48 AM on November 13, 2019 [6 favorites]
Make and decorate gingerbread boys and girls. I did this with my son's kindergarten class - super messy and fun.
Go for walks. In Maine, it's dark pretty early, so walks allow for stars and moon. Come home and have fresh cider and brownies.
Read aloud. The Library will help you choose cozy books for your kids interests. Play music you can sing to; for me (boomer, don't @ me) that's Beatles, folk/protest, and classic Motown, but any music that you can get lyrics for is great. Look at karaoke lists if you need inspiration.
Make Christmas or other holiday cards for family. Make or buy advent calendars.
Get some holiday/ fall/ winter candles; bayberry, pine, etc. - votives will do nicely, and 3 or 4 votive candles on a lie tin for safety feels festive. Look at your pictures of past holidays together. Drink hot cider (microwave) or hot chocolate.
I'm sorry you're having a hard time; it can be a brutal time of year. This ask is full of joy, so Thanks.
posted by theora55 at 9:48 AM on November 13, 2019 [6 favorites]
I'm not a crafty person but find making and baking things is pretty fun, especially if you all don't do this together all that often. Some ideas that are pretty simple:
-Build gingerbread houses from a kit (you can buy them at the store; maybe remove the package showing what they could look like so you just have fun)
-String popcorn on thread to decorate
-Cut mittens or trees or snowflakes out of paper and string them together with yard and hang across doorways
-Go outside and find some big pine cones and then decorate them with glue and berries and such
posted by bluedaisy at 9:50 AM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
-Build gingerbread houses from a kit (you can buy them at the store; maybe remove the package showing what they could look like so you just have fun)
-String popcorn on thread to decorate
-Cut mittens or trees or snowflakes out of paper and string them together with yard and hang across doorways
-Go outside and find some big pine cones and then decorate them with glue and berries and such
posted by bluedaisy at 9:50 AM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
Last year our (my) snow fort plans didn't really pan out due to unreliable snow, so this year we've got a tent up in the yard as a supplemental fort until/unless snowpack manifests. I understand that that's more cold, not less, but the true delight is of course 1. exporting novelty items like electric candles, treats, blankets, etc. to the yard for use/consumption before the cold sinks in to one's bones and then 2. retreating to the blissfully warm house for the rest of the evening.
posted by teremala at 9:52 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by teremala at 9:52 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
I always enjoy making potato print wrapping paper. A bit messy depending on how young your kids are.
posted by vespabelle at 10:09 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by vespabelle at 10:09 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
starting an indoor garden. can be very low maintenance and not too expensive if you focus on very hardy indoor plants like pothos and spiderwort. If you're on any sort of community group, you can usually ask for a few cuttings and plant-happy neighbors will offer these in droves. I find that plant care is not only soothing and fun solo or shared activity but also really creates a cozy atmosphere. I currently have a small obsession (25+ plants in my bedroom, oops) and guests really remark on how cozy my space is
posted by seemoorglass at 10:13 AM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by seemoorglass at 10:13 AM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
I would repeat the traditions you did with your mom. Watch the Frank Capra movies, and others, and do some low-maintenance activity with the movie in the background --like coloring books or felt ornament kits.
I celebrate Christmas. I'm low-maintenance and could never be bothered to do elaborate things when working full-time. I remember being overwhelmed when my kids were little and things had to be simple. These are things I do and did, all are inexpensive, and I notice many are food-centric:
String a strand of colorful Christmas lights in the kids' bedroom. It's festive and easy and is fun for them at night when the lights are off.
Christmas music easy way to make things feel festive. Like others have mentioned, I also like classic Christmas carols. Play when you have free time at home and while you decorate the tree.
I make simple desserts for movie nights -- like apple crisp or brownie sundaes from a box brownie mix. I always make the giant cinnamon rolls from the can on Christmas morning, which is not particularly special or healthy but we always have a full day of eating with relatives and it's a tradition and easy. The kids expect them. Christmas is about the only time I buy orange juice, so that's a little special. I don't buy orange juice throughout the year because it's high in sugar and we don't need more sugar during this month of eating. I serve the cinnamon rolls on Christmas china I bought twenty years ago from Target.
Let the kids help you stir the brownie mix or cookie mix and let them decorate with holiday sprinkles.
Reading The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve was a tradition when they were small.
If you have a car, you could go for a ride to look at Christmas lights. Living in Florida, we always get ice cream from McDonalds or Dairy Queen. Hot chocolate might be more appropriate. Christmas carols on the radio a given.
Buying a Christmas tree as a family. Another opportunity for Christmas music, ice cream, or hot chocolate.
Speaking of hot chocolate it's a winter staple for us even if it's not cold where I live. Buy the whipped cream in the can and sprinkle with crushed candy canes or just stick a candy cane in the mug to make it festive.
Find inexpensive things in your community where you can get out of the house-- like free concerts, or discount movie day, or going to see the big Christmas tree at the mall or town square or whatever.
posted by loveandhappiness at 10:13 AM on November 13, 2019 [5 favorites]
I celebrate Christmas. I'm low-maintenance and could never be bothered to do elaborate things when working full-time. I remember being overwhelmed when my kids were little and things had to be simple. These are things I do and did, all are inexpensive, and I notice many are food-centric:
String a strand of colorful Christmas lights in the kids' bedroom. It's festive and easy and is fun for them at night when the lights are off.
Christmas music easy way to make things feel festive. Like others have mentioned, I also like classic Christmas carols. Play when you have free time at home and while you decorate the tree.
I make simple desserts for movie nights -- like apple crisp or brownie sundaes from a box brownie mix. I always make the giant cinnamon rolls from the can on Christmas morning, which is not particularly special or healthy but we always have a full day of eating with relatives and it's a tradition and easy. The kids expect them. Christmas is about the only time I buy orange juice, so that's a little special. I don't buy orange juice throughout the year because it's high in sugar and we don't need more sugar during this month of eating. I serve the cinnamon rolls on Christmas china I bought twenty years ago from Target.
Let the kids help you stir the brownie mix or cookie mix and let them decorate with holiday sprinkles.
Reading The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve was a tradition when they were small.
If you have a car, you could go for a ride to look at Christmas lights. Living in Florida, we always get ice cream from McDonalds or Dairy Queen. Hot chocolate might be more appropriate. Christmas carols on the radio a given.
Buying a Christmas tree as a family. Another opportunity for Christmas music, ice cream, or hot chocolate.
Speaking of hot chocolate it's a winter staple for us even if it's not cold where I live. Buy the whipped cream in the can and sprinkle with crushed candy canes or just stick a candy cane in the mug to make it festive.
Find inexpensive things in your community where you can get out of the house-- like free concerts, or discount movie day, or going to see the big Christmas tree at the mall or town square or whatever.
posted by loveandhappiness at 10:13 AM on November 13, 2019 [5 favorites]
Even just adding seasonal treats in, and making a big deal of them helps. Warm apple cider, clementines, navel oranges, Egg nog, hot chocolate etc.
I used to make "special milk" for my kids. Heat up a mug of milk (1 minute in microwave for lukewarm), stir in a short tsp of sugar, and a couple drops of vanilla. Mine are older now, but they still enjoy it.
A no screen time. Put on some background music (our choice is often Yoyo Ma), and grab a book. Spend 1/2 hour quietly together.
Gingerbread houses as above (our local bulk barn has pre-assembled ones, and frosting in tubes. Its a LOT less aggravating than trying to build them)
We normally watch Polar Express as our first Christmas movie together. Often with another family, and pizza.
I make mincemeat every year and chase the kids around trying to get them to try it. Used to be a big NO, and now they are coming around.
Holiday Festive special from Swiss Chalet.
I tend to make a lot of cookies, and its not really a group event, but my kitchen looks into the tv room so we hang out and I tease them. They do help me decorate. It turns into a big snark fest of love. They fight over the lobster cookies, and the moose.
Fondue Christmas Eve always. And Bacon and Egg Pie.
Thin pancakes at least once in December
posted by Ftsqg at 10:15 AM on November 13, 2019
I used to make "special milk" for my kids. Heat up a mug of milk (1 minute in microwave for lukewarm), stir in a short tsp of sugar, and a couple drops of vanilla. Mine are older now, but they still enjoy it.
A no screen time. Put on some background music (our choice is often Yoyo Ma), and grab a book. Spend 1/2 hour quietly together.
Gingerbread houses as above (our local bulk barn has pre-assembled ones, and frosting in tubes. Its a LOT less aggravating than trying to build them)
We normally watch Polar Express as our first Christmas movie together. Often with another family, and pizza.
I make mincemeat every year and chase the kids around trying to get them to try it. Used to be a big NO, and now they are coming around.
Holiday Festive special from Swiss Chalet.
I tend to make a lot of cookies, and its not really a group event, but my kitchen looks into the tv room so we hang out and I tease them. They do help me decorate. It turns into a big snark fest of love. They fight over the lobster cookies, and the moose.
Fondue Christmas Eve always. And Bacon and Egg Pie.
Thin pancakes at least once in December
posted by Ftsqg at 10:15 AM on November 13, 2019
My Mom's "I am too low energy to plan but want to do something" was to pack us kids into the car and drive around looking at Christmas lights while playing holiday music. We loved it, we'd often get some drive through fast food at the beginning (only time of year we'd do that!) and then spend an hour or so in some nice neighborhoods singing along to carols on the radio. As an adult I still like to get a hot chocolate and walk around my neighborhood looking at lights.
posted by lepus at 10:17 AM on November 13, 2019 [12 favorites]
posted by lepus at 10:17 AM on November 13, 2019 [12 favorites]
A mix of holiday music on YouTube, for atmosphere, of course.
Ready-to-bake cookies, optionally decorated with colored icing.
Classic holiday movies – Peanuts, Rankin-Bass, etc.
Apple cider, heated on the stovetop with spices (cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, etc.), and slices of orange.
The smell of pine sap, however you can get it. A full-size tree will obviously do the trick – but you can also use a small tree, a pine wreath, or even the artificial spray.
Those big paper snowflakes that you make by folding white paper, and cutting triangles and such into the folds with scissors.
Making garlands out of strips of construction paper, taped together into chain links.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 10:23 AM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
Ready-to-bake cookies, optionally decorated with colored icing.
Classic holiday movies – Peanuts, Rankin-Bass, etc.
Apple cider, heated on the stovetop with spices (cinnamon stick, nutmeg, clove, etc.), and slices of orange.
The smell of pine sap, however you can get it. A full-size tree will obviously do the trick – but you can also use a small tree, a pine wreath, or even the artificial spray.
Those big paper snowflakes that you make by folding white paper, and cutting triangles and such into the folds with scissors.
Making garlands out of strips of construction paper, taped together into chain links.
posted by escape from the potato planet at 10:23 AM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
How old are your kids? Do you already have any holiday traditions? I like to ask mine what holiday things we should remember to do every year, and we make a list. A lot of things from the list are already covered above, but we always have things like reading Christmas books, watching Christmas movies, going for walks at night to look at lights, building a snowperson, making certain kinds of cookies we only have at Christmas, pajama days with hot cocoa with whipped cream in a blanket fort. We get out our tubs of Christmas decor, which includes a few extra-cozy throw blankets and pillows picked up on clearance a few years ago. We make a day of getting the tree and decorating it. We make a paper chain to count down the days to Christmas. We pick out gifts and wrap them, sometimes with brown paper the kids have decorated. I think a big part of the cozy feeling is saying things like "oh my goodness, how cozy this is! Aren't we so lucky to be together having so much fun right now?"
posted by SeedStitch at 10:25 AM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by SeedStitch at 10:25 AM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
I love this question! I haven't even read all the answers yet and we are going to have the most hyggeligt Christmas ever!
DarlingBri's mention of Sostrene Grene led me to this cute holiday to-do list.
Might be just the thing to give a bit of structure and things for the kids to look forward to.
posted by libraryhead at 11:27 AM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
DarlingBri's mention of Sostrene Grene led me to this cute holiday to-do list.
Might be just the thing to give a bit of structure and things for the kids to look forward to.
posted by libraryhead at 11:27 AM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
I didn't see you specify "Christmas" as your celebrated holiday, but assuming it is...
Muppet Christmas Carol is the definitive best version of the Christmas Carol story. Watch it and sing along. (We still get together to watch this every Christmas and we "kids" are in our 20s and 30s.)
Decorating cookies (make the dough or use a mix or buy the roll) while listening to the Muppet Christmas Carol soundtrack, John Denver and the Muppets "A Christmas Together," and A Charlie Brown Christmas album by Vince Guaraldi Trio (all 3 of these are on Spotify).
Possibly make hot chocolate and marshmallows? Read Pigs at Christmas while sipping hot chocolate.
If you're in an area where there are neighborhoods that take holiday decorating seriously a night of driving around to look at lights with music playing in the car was always fun as a kid too.
posted by kochenta at 11:48 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
Muppet Christmas Carol is the definitive best version of the Christmas Carol story. Watch it and sing along. (We still get together to watch this every Christmas and we "kids" are in our 20s and 30s.)
Decorating cookies (make the dough or use a mix or buy the roll) while listening to the Muppet Christmas Carol soundtrack, John Denver and the Muppets "A Christmas Together," and A Charlie Brown Christmas album by Vince Guaraldi Trio (all 3 of these are on Spotify).
Possibly make hot chocolate and marshmallows? Read Pigs at Christmas while sipping hot chocolate.
If you're in an area where there are neighborhoods that take holiday decorating seriously a night of driving around to look at lights with music playing in the car was always fun as a kid too.
posted by kochenta at 11:48 AM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
EASY things my (single) mom (of 4) did when we were young:
-decorate sugar cookies - doesn't have to be fancy - you can get slice n bake cookies from the store, a can of vanilla cake frosting + sprinkles + food color.
-lighting helps A LOT with coziness - turn the lights down low and use battery-powered lanterns or candles,star projectors, etc.
-Make trailmix - back in the day, my mom used to basically throw together whatever was left in mostly-empty boxes of generic cereals and mix in chocolate chips and maybe mini marshmallows if we were living large. Eat in your jammies in the living room.
-Go to the library and get some special holiday/winter-themed books. My family was big on both picture books, and getting photography/art books we'd just flip through together listening to music or watching TV or whatever
-Make a paper chain and hang it up
-Make holiday/new years cards together for loved ones - crayons, markers, or finger paint (if you're feeling up for cleaning that up)
-Hot chocolate
-As others have said -drive around and look at lights
-Special pajamas, slipper socks, or some other cozy clothing that you get to wear in the evening
-Something easy you can cook together - breakfast for dinner (pancakes!) is great for this
It sounds corny, but just spending low-stress time together is a big deal and your kids will remember that.
posted by nuclear_soup at 1:03 PM on November 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
-decorate sugar cookies - doesn't have to be fancy - you can get slice n bake cookies from the store, a can of vanilla cake frosting + sprinkles + food color.
-lighting helps A LOT with coziness - turn the lights down low and use battery-powered lanterns or candles,star projectors, etc.
-Make trailmix - back in the day, my mom used to basically throw together whatever was left in mostly-empty boxes of generic cereals and mix in chocolate chips and maybe mini marshmallows if we were living large. Eat in your jammies in the living room.
-Go to the library and get some special holiday/winter-themed books. My family was big on both picture books, and getting photography/art books we'd just flip through together listening to music or watching TV or whatever
-Make a paper chain and hang it up
-Make holiday/new years cards together for loved ones - crayons, markers, or finger paint (if you're feeling up for cleaning that up)
-Hot chocolate
-As others have said -drive around and look at lights
-Special pajamas, slipper socks, or some other cozy clothing that you get to wear in the evening
-Something easy you can cook together - breakfast for dinner (pancakes!) is great for this
It sounds corny, but just spending low-stress time together is a big deal and your kids will remember that.
posted by nuclear_soup at 1:03 PM on November 13, 2019 [4 favorites]
Have you ever made cheese fondue? If you can, it's pretty great for this: everyone is sharing a meal, and the biggest ingredient is melted cheese. You all end up full and warm, and then you roll straight into movie time. (I assume it's cold near you.)
The clean-up can suck, though, if you don't wipe it out ASAP.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:14 PM on November 13, 2019
The clean-up can suck, though, if you don't wipe it out ASAP.
posted by wenestvedt at 1:14 PM on November 13, 2019
We used to make wreathes when I was little and I was just missing that the other day, but for it to be economical you need to live in a place where you can just go into the woods and collect pine boughs and Phoenix AZ (where I am now) ain’t that. You need a wreath frame and floral wire and whatever decorations you want, but those are all (except for the floral wire) reusable every year. I’m sure there are tutorials online. It was nice because you do the collecting part (tromping through the snow and working up a bit of a sweat) and then you come inside with it all and put it all together with a warm holiday beverage. It’s kind of a meditative process that doesn’t require a ton of processing thought, so it’s nice for conversations between kids/parents in the same way driving in the car is, if that makes sense?
Once we had the tree all decorated, we’d sit around it and play “I see, on the Christmas tree...” which is I spy, with my little eye but festive.
Nthing baking and/or decorating cookies. Cookies are the best!
posted by Weeping_angel at 1:18 PM on November 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
Once we had the tree all decorated, we’d sit around it and play “I see, on the Christmas tree...” which is I spy, with my little eye but festive.
Nthing baking and/or decorating cookies. Cookies are the best!
posted by Weeping_angel at 1:18 PM on November 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
Yarn crafts (skip the "dream-catcher"), jigsaw puzzles, warm drinks, simmer pot on the stove or via slow cooker, Johnny Mathis music, the sounds of crackling fire even if you don't have a fireplace (or a rainy, blustery night, even if you're in the desert).
Whatever activity you & the kids choose, everyone should be in flannel pajamas -- after warming those pjs in the dryer for a few minutes.
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:01 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
Whatever activity you & the kids choose, everyone should be in flannel pajamas -- after warming those pjs in the dryer for a few minutes.
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:01 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
If baking and crafts involve a bit too much supervision and cleanup for your taste, we have great fun every year with DIY holiday cards - I buy a few packs of appropriately-themed stickers and some blank card stock, dig up some shiny gel pens, and then I let the kids loose. Zero cleanup, usable end product, plus "the kids made it themselves!" so no-one can comment on the aesthetics.
If the kids are old enough to write (or even just copy the letters), let them write addresses on the envelopes, the younger kid(s) can put stamps on them, and voila', that's your holiday greeting card situation all sorted out.
posted by gakiko at 11:58 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
If the kids are old enough to write (or even just copy the letters), let them write addresses on the envelopes, the younger kid(s) can put stamps on them, and voila', that's your holiday greeting card situation all sorted out.
posted by gakiko at 11:58 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
My son's favorite cozy activity is what we call "slumber party on the couch." We do bathtime early, everyone gets into jammies and we snuggle on the couch with blankets and watch movies or tv. Sometimes we have popcorn or animal crackers with hot cocoa or hot cider. Low effort, maximum cozy. (The only problem with this activity is that kiddo asks to do it ALL THE TIME.)
I get those little holiday craft kids from the Dollar Store. You know, a little wooden snowman that comes with paints or markers. Those are always popular, cheap, and small so I can store a few of them to pull out at a moment's notice and seem like Mary Poppins.
I buy pre-cut gingerbread and sugar cookies (I get them at Wegmans). You just have to bake them and then I throw together a quick icing with powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Add sprinkles and it's a cookie wonderland without having to mix (I find sugar cookie dough especially fiddly) or use cookie cutters.
posted by Aquifer at 6:35 AM on November 14, 2019 [3 favorites]
I get those little holiday craft kids from the Dollar Store. You know, a little wooden snowman that comes with paints or markers. Those are always popular, cheap, and small so I can store a few of them to pull out at a moment's notice and seem like Mary Poppins.
I buy pre-cut gingerbread and sugar cookies (I get them at Wegmans). You just have to bake them and then I throw together a quick icing with powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Add sprinkles and it's a cookie wonderland without having to mix (I find sugar cookie dough especially fiddly) or use cookie cutters.
posted by Aquifer at 6:35 AM on November 14, 2019 [3 favorites]
Emmet. Otter's. Jugband. Christmas.
My family is Lithuanian and we have a Christmas Eve tradition of fortune telling after the epic dinner of 13 no-meat (heavy herring) dishes. When setting the table, put a little oat hay (or some other straw-like thing that can have seeds attached to it) under a tablecloth. After the meal, everyone reaches under the cloth and grabs the first straw they touch. Based on what the straw looks like, a designated fortune-teller scries your upcoming year. For example, if your straw is forked, it means you will have a choice of paths to make; if you have a plethora of seeds attached, maybe you will have a baby! (Lithuanians love predicting babies or marriage) Or maybe you will just have a very productive year. It's very free form and fun. We all try to interpret each other's straws and tease people who get sad-looking straws.
posted by ikahime at 1:55 PM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
My family is Lithuanian and we have a Christmas Eve tradition of fortune telling after the epic dinner of 13 no-meat (heavy herring) dishes. When setting the table, put a little oat hay (or some other straw-like thing that can have seeds attached to it) under a tablecloth. After the meal, everyone reaches under the cloth and grabs the first straw they touch. Based on what the straw looks like, a designated fortune-teller scries your upcoming year. For example, if your straw is forked, it means you will have a choice of paths to make; if you have a plethora of seeds attached, maybe you will have a baby! (Lithuanians love predicting babies or marriage) Or maybe you will just have a very productive year. It's very free form and fun. We all try to interpret each other's straws and tease people who get sad-looking straws.
posted by ikahime at 1:55 PM on November 14, 2019 [1 favorite]
In addition to all of the wonderful suggestions up above, how about doing something to remember those less fortunate? Some of my favorite memories include spending time cooking and serving really excellent meals for those experiencing homelessness. If your kids are too young for this or it isn't your jam, how about finding a Giving Tree or some other organization like that, and getting some nice gifts for children whose homes may not be optimal?
Also, if you can find a group that sings carols - preferably in a community center or a church, with warm drinks at halftime, that's a wonderful way for your kids to make some musical memories and enjoy the holiday.
posted by dancing_angel at 11:27 PM on November 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
Also, if you can find a group that sings carols - preferably in a community center or a church, with warm drinks at halftime, that's a wonderful way for your kids to make some musical memories and enjoy the holiday.
posted by dancing_angel at 11:27 PM on November 14, 2019 [2 favorites]
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posted by BrashTech at 8:54 AM on November 13, 2019 [15 favorites]