This year, we'll all be having a Christmas like no other. While some countries are locked down, and others have travel restrictions in place, travelling back home to celebrate with your loved ones is not an option. As adults, we're more likely to compromise with the current situation. Still, for children who are used to celebrating with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, it might be much more complicated. So here are some tips for getting your children into the Christmas spirit amid the pandemic.
Plan family activities
Although some countries are planning to ease their restrictions during the Christmas week, you're probably not likely to plan your outings as you used to. Forget about spending the festive season with your family back home, or about travelling to some exotic place for holidays. With your children at home, all this can sound stressful, but there are many ways to spend quality time together. First, put up your Christmas tree and get your children to help you decorate it. DIY decorations can be an enriching experience for them while keeping them busy. Consider other family activities, such as board games, riddles, puzzles, craft workshops, etc., for the whole week. Internet is your best friend, so do some research and search your drawers for the DIY material you had kept. Don't forget to immortalise those special moments through photos. If you have a backyard, a candy hunt is another great idea to keep the kids busy. And if you're lucky to have snow for Christmas, make a snowman and have a snowball fight together.
Make a list of Christmas carols and movies
Have you ever imagined Christmas without the Christmas carols? Perhaps you won't get the chance to listen to the Christmas carols at your doorstep, but you can have your own choir. Pick your favourite Christmas carols and plan your rehearsals until Christmas Eve. How about a special Christmas karaoke? You can also pick up a couple of Christmas movies that you can watch with your children with some hot chocolate and home-made cookies. You can also plan a movie marathon for your children with your friends or with your family back home. It's a great way to spend quality time online.
Online get-togethers
Your children will probably find it hard to imagine Christmas without their grandparents, cousins ​​or friends. In many countries, family gatherings will be very limited this year, but online get-togethers are an option. Try to set up different time slots for the different groups of people your children would love to spend time with. Decorate their space, such as their bedroom or the living room, to help them get into the festive mood, and share the spirit with their dear ones. So take out the Santa hats, the fairy lights and the jingle bells.
Make their favourite meals
This Christmas, with all the current restrictions, you're probably not keen to give your children a treat at the restaurant or to invite people over for dinner. But you can still make it special to strengthen your bond. Ask your children what they would like to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bake their favourite cakes and cookies and get them to help you as much as possible to help them get into the festive mood. Have you thought of having a small cooking workshop with them? Put on some nice Christmas songs, look for some recipes and try them out together.
Add on foreign Christmas traditions
If you recently relocated to your host country, maybe you're not familiar with the local Christmas traditions. Break the routine by researching foreign Christmas traditions, whether those of your host country or other countries and try to merge them with your own traditions. It's a great way to enrich your children's cultural knowledge in a fun way. Consider listing these traditions and applying each of them every day before Christmas.
Take safe outings
If your host country has eased its restrictions, you will probably be tempted to take the children out for Christmas. But it's best to avoid crowded places like malls and restaurants, although children are usually fond of them. Outdoor places, such as gardens and parks, are ideal for kids activities in these COVID-19 times. If wearing a mask is mandatory, make sure your children feel comfortable doing so. Keep hand sanitiser within hand's reach and ensure your children's safety at all times.
Sharing is caring
Christmas is the time for sharing with family, friends or with the community around you. There are many ways to teach your children the value of sharing. For example, you can encourage them to make postcards and small gifts for family and friends, for the less fortunate children in or around your neighbourhood, to hospital patients or the residents of elderly care homes. How about sharing candy or DIY Christmas decorations with their little neighbours on Christmas eve? This will not only make them happy, but it can also put a smile on the face of children who are going through a difficult time during this festive season.
Create memories
Hoping that Christmas will be different next year, make sure your kids enjoy every moment spent together. Besides taking photos, encourage them to document each of the activities mentioned above in a journal.
