December is Here! Have Some Fun!

 

            As darkness sets in earlier in the evening and winter weather brings some gloomy days, doing activities together can make the lead-up to the holidays brighter.

            Whether you have a family with younger or older children, are a  couple without kids or a senior duo, these budget friendly suggestions can add some cheer this December, giving you a variety of ways to spend time with your family.

·         Build a gingerbread house. Many stores carry reasonably priced kits with pre-cut pieces ready to put together then add the embellishments to make a colouful (and delicious) display.

·         Purchase an assortment of supplies such as buttons, beads and other accessories at the dollar store along with wooden picture frames that have a wide margin. Each person can glue craft pieces around their frames to make a one-of-a-kind creation. These make super Christmas gifts or find a special place to display them in your home.

·         Volunteering is something that can be done year round but it is especially important during the holiday season when more bodies are needed. Contact your local volunteer association to find out where help is needed most.

·         Gather any board games you have (or, perhaps, borrow some from the library) and plan a family or couples, game night with no electronics such as phones or tablets allowed. You may want to add extra treats for this family night of fun such as cookies or candies. It can be extra special if the snacks are not usually allowed, making them an exciting addition.

·         After dark and closer to Christmas, drive around your local area and enjoy the outside lights and decorations.

·         If there is a good snow base, dust off your toboggan and slippery sliders and find a safe hill for sledding. Slippery sliders are usually available at dollars stores at a reasonable price. Bring along some hot chocolate in a thermos and cookies to share when you need a break. If you happen to have a trailer hitch on your vehicle and can park backed up to the sliding hill, you can attach a rope for people to hold onto, making the haul back up the hill less arduous.

·         Gather together in the kitchen and get out the baking supplies. There are plenty of easy cookie recipes to be found on the Internet. Let everyone help in the process of baking cookies base on their ability level. Decorate the cookies to eat yourselves or give as gifts in a paper bag fastened with a fun sticker or decorated by the kids.

·         Seniors can call local service clubs to find events geared toward their generation. You will be sure find special concerts, bingos, craft classes, afternoon teas and ways to spend a fun time making new friends.

·         Check local arenas for public ice time family skates which are either free or reasonably priced. If you need skates, someone at the rink or your community’s recreation department should be able to tell you where you can get the best second-hand selection and deals.

·         Gather funny accessories from around your house and use them to take silly family photos. Make a collage of the printed pictures to display in your home or as a unique Christmas gift.

·         Contact your local library or look online for a list of holiday themed events. Note that many of these may be free or charge a nominal fee but pre-registration is often required.

·         Two words. Christmas parade!

·         Go to a matinee movie at your local theatre. Matinee ticket prices are generally cheaper than the evening showings. You may also want to check online for special plays being put on by schools that your whole family can enjoy.

·         Make your own Christmas tree ornaments. Purchase plain wooden cut-outs from the dollar store along with paints and brushes to decorate them. Make old fashioned chains from strips of colourful construction paper. String cranberries or popcorn together using a tough thread. You can also alternate a cranberry and then a piece of popcorn. Paper snowflakes are also fun and there are easy to print designs that can be found online or simply come up with your own.

·         Call nursing homes to see if you can visit with the residents. If it is okay, ask the staff for names of residents who get few or even no visitors. Besides chatting, you can offer to read to them or play a game of cards (Crib is a favourite to learn how to play before you go!). Seniors will also appreciate a homemade craft or a simple coloured picture to hang in their room.

·         Parents – create a candy cane scavenger hunt for younger kids. Hide candy canes then watch your kids have fun looking for them. You could even hide a few special treats or small gifts.

·         Clean out your closets, drawers and toy boxes. Donate things you no longer need, such as clothes, blankets, towels, books and toys to a local homeless shelter.

·         For couples, go to a wine tasting that includes each of you making an original paining that you can display as a pair in your home. This activity is become more popular so check online for an event near you.

·         If you have younger children, make the tree substitute for a bon fire and the stars while camping in your living or family room. Gather around the tree with sleeping bags, snacks and books. Take turns reading and telling or making-up funny stories then ‘camp out’ by the tree overnight sleeping under the glow of a starlit night – the lights on your Christmas tree.

·         Write a letter to a member of our Canada Armed Forces. Send your card or letter to: Any Canadian Armed Forces Member, P O Box 5004 Stn. Forces, Belleville, Ontario, K8N 5W6. Submissions can be sent year round and members love getting unexpected mail.

·         Barbeque some hotdogs! Food cooked on the BBQ out of season tastes awesome – even the lowly hotdog!

It would be fun to start by making a list of the activities you want to do then

scheduling them on your family calendar so everyone knows what to look forward to and when it will happen.

      As December fades and January brings in 2026, there are still plenty of non-holiday related fun you can have making memories together.