Do you have traditions you do with your family each year? Here is a list of twenty one ideas to do with your family this holiday season!
1. Make Salt Dough Ornaments – here is a great step by step tutorial to make these ornaments! For easy painting for young kids, water down the acrylic paint and let them paint the ornaments with a larger paintbrush or sponge!
2. Follow an Advent Calendar -advent calendars start on December 1st and count down until Christmas day. Kids (and adults!) love the visual for counting down the days until Christmas!
3. Bake and Decorate Cookies – traditional cut-out cookies are the best! I’ve used this icing and let my kids brush it on the cookies with paint brushes!
4. Pick out Your Own Tree – whether you chop it down yourself or pick it out from a Christmas Tree Farm, this can be a special tradition to do with your family each year! Check out this list: Columbus Christmas Tree Farms
5. Visit the LEGOLAND at Easton – Get your tickets in advance for a fun day at LEGOLAND over Christmas break!
6. Take a Drive to Look at Christmas Lights – if you want to go big, try Butch Bando’s Fantasy of Lights, or just explore your surrounding neighborhoods to see what you can find!
7. Visit the Holiday Train at Columbus Metropolitan Library – this beautiful display is a great Columbus holiday tradition! It will be installed mid November and remains up through New Years!
8. Give your Kids a Book a Day until Christmas – find books at thrift stores to keep this affordable!
9. Do a Hobby Lobby craft – I love looking at Hobby Lobby for their seasonal crafts because they often have everything you need in one package! This makes it easy for the craft-averse mama!
10. Make Candied Almonds – this recipe is easy to make and great for wrapping up in individual gift bags for hostess or thank you gifts!
11. Adopt A Family – contact Hands on Central Ohio to be connected to local agencies in order to adopt a local family who needs a little extra help at the holidays! This can include buying gifts and/or providing a holiday dinner for a family in need!
12. See Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium – this spectacular light show starts Friday, November 16, 2018 and runs through January 1, 2019!
13. Watch Christmas Movies – pick at least one night a week for Movie Night and watch a classic Christmas movie! Some of our favorites are Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Polar Express and A Charlie Brown Christmas! If you need more ideas, here’s a great list!
14. Check out Christmas Books from Your Local Library – if you don’t have room to store books you only read once a year, check them out from the library, and return them when the season’s over! You can look online to reserve the exact ones you want and then pick them up at your closest branch!
15. Make a Gingerbread House – pick up a pre-made kit and all the pieces and parts will be in one place! Add in your own candy for extra trimmings!
16. Attend a Candlelight Service – many area churches hold candlelight services on Christmas Eve, which can be a peaceful way to put aside the hustle and bustle of the season for just a little bit and take time to reflect.
17. Make Homemade Christmas Cards – kids can get in on the action by using stickers or stamps or try this idea for toddler-made Christmas tree cards!
18. Volunteer with Seeds of Caring – this local organization offers easy ways to volunteer even (and especially) with young children!
19. Visit with Santa – Santa is a busy man, making appearances all over town! Keep an eye on Columbus Moms Blog for upcoming events where he will be in attendance! Here’s a list of locations for Photos with Santa.
20. Make Your Own Hot Cocoa Mix – the Pioneer Woman offers a simple recipe here!
21. Participate in a Cookie Exchange – gather a group of friends, make a bunch of cookies, trade them around and come home with a huge variety to last throughout the season! Or follow Martha Stewart’s fancy instructions!
Happy Holidays from Columbus Moms Blog! We hope you enjoy this time with your family!
