{"id":104298,"date":"2020-12-11T09:47:01","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T16:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/?p=104298"},"modified":"2020-12-11T09:47:01","modified_gmt":"2020-12-11T16:47:01","slug":"stuck-at-home-for-christmas-15-ideas-to-make-it-brighter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/articles\/topics\/holidays\/featured-holidays\/christmas\/stuck-at-home-for-christmas-15-ideas-to-make-it-brighter\/","title":{"rendered":"Stuck at Home for Christmas? 15 Ideas To Make It Brighter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Home for Christmas. It pulls forward images of chestnuts, open fires, snow, mistletoe, love light gleaming (whatever that is). It\u2019s the most wonderful time of the year!<\/em><\/p>\n

Or \u2026 there\u2019s the real <\/em>home for Christmas.<\/p>\n

Homebound kids bored to tears. Sibling squabbles rising above mood-lifting Christmas music. A year without grandparents as teens inch closer to flying the nest or as grandparents decline or age. Parents with wrapping-paper-thin resources after a year of financial stress, working with kids at home, and\/or navigating life with a compromised family member.<\/p>\n

At times, it\u2019s as if this never-ending malaise has crushed us into a state of inertia. \u201cWanna make cookies?\u201d No thanks. <\/em>\u201cBuild a snowman?\u201d Maybe later.<\/em><\/p>\n

Translation: I\u2019d rather be anywhere than home for Christmas.<\/em><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve got a few creative ideas to help this be a \u2026 more<\/em> \u2026 wonderful time of the year\u2014and help you create some unforgettable moments<\/a> that don\u2019t involve an overcooked turkey.<\/p>\n

Home for Christmas? Grab these ideas<\/h2>\n

Before you begin, here\u2019s a pro tip: Even a few well-placed, short bursts of activities (like the indoor s\u2019mores, Sardines, or snow ice cream below) throughout the break can help kids feel like being home for Christmas is special. And if you’re an exhausted parent who\u2019d love to settle in for a long winter\u2019s nap, don\u2019t feel the need to turn backflips to make Christmas sparkle.<\/p>\n

Choose just a doable-for-you ideas that make \u201chome for Christmas\u201d uplifting.<\/p>\n

1. Make gingerbread houses.<\/h3>\n

My kids\u2019 eyes perked up when I mentioned our local library\u2019s gingerbread house competition this year. Because they\u2019re teens and preteens, I offered a budget and asked them to make a list (Financial management! Organization! Things to do!).<\/p>\n

For younger kids, pre-make a simple graham-cracker version of a house to decorate, with bowls of candy at the ready.<\/p>\n

(If you\u2019re new to gingerbread houses and want your houses to last longer, use a recipe for royal icing. This acts as \u201cglue\u201d for gingerbread walls and candy, and eventually hardens. Just plan on either not eating it or on using those dental insurance benefits before the end of the year.)<\/p>\n

2. Bring the kids together for a taffy pull.<\/h3>\n

This is a lot easier, cleaner, and faster than you think!<\/p>\n

My family has used a vinegar-taffy recipe, but you might also enjoy a recipe incorporating those leftover red and green sprinkles.<\/p>\n

3. Grab a free, Christmas countdown paper chain.<\/h3>\n

Download<\/a> FamilyLife\u2019s Christmas Countdown paper chain with small, doable activities for every day leading up to Christmas!<\/p>\n

4. Do some sneaky planning to bring happiness to someone else.<\/h3>\n

You likely have downcast relatives, neighbors, friends, or a vulnerable family God\u2019s put in your path. Have fun scheming the contents of a mailed package. This could also be a care basket left outside their door, or just socially-distanced family caroling\u2014to remind them of a God who lived among us (see John 1:14<\/a>).<\/p>\n

First, brainstorm with your kids to show them effective love is unique and tailored.<\/p>\n