Fun Activities for the Holidays

Planning the Holidays

Whether there's snow in the air or a warm breeze gently stirring, the oncoming approach of the holidays is filled with enticing thoughts of holiday treats and fun for every single girl and boy. No matter where you live, an entire array of exciting holiday events, movies, and activities are available almost any day of the week.

However, the best way to make sure that you get to enjoy a sampling of the holiday fun to be had is to plan for it. Make a list and check it twice to set up your own Christmas holiday fun times. The approach of Christmas typically means at least a few hours in the kitchen baking Christmas cookies.

My kitchen area for the meeting place.

Have each family bring along the ingredients and recipes for a few of their favorite Christmas cookies. Once everyone is finished baking these delicious holiday treats, divvy them up so that each family gets a sampling of each type of Christmas cookie.

Movies to Watch

Once you have your cookies made, why not plan a holiday movie night at home? Of course, it wouldn't hurt to have a holiday tin of popcorn to go along with the Christmas cookies. Either check the TV listings or rent a few DVDs for an evening of smiling, laughing, and reminiscing.

A few of the great Christmas movies include:

• It's a Wonderful Life
• Miracle on 34th Street
• A Charlie Brown Christmas
• The Muppets Christmas Carol
• Holiday Inn
• Scrooged
• Home Alone
• The Grinch
• A Christmas Story

You can even rinse out the holiday in and save it for next year to store your Christmas cookies. Lots of activity kits are available for families who love arts and crafts. Plan an afternoon of fun with a few Christmas ornament kits, Gingerbread House kits, or similar types of kits with a holiday theme. This type of being able to find enough variety so that every member of your family can participate except for newborns and infants.

Holiday Fun in the Outdoors

One of the most enjoyable activities to participate in during the holiday season is to take a ride and view glittering displays of holiday lights Couples or families can make a day of this simply by checking the local listings for the best displays and asking friends and neighbors if they know of any fantastic displays in the area. It's best to create a plan of attack with a list of the holiday-light displays that you Would like to see.

List each location in the best geographic order for your travels.

Plan a stop at a coffee shops nearby or diner for a hot cup of cocoa afterward. Read more about making a Healthier Cup of Cocoa. Whether you go to an outdoor rink or an indoor one, ice skating with the family during the Christmas holiday season can be tremendous fun. Skate rentals are inexpensive so you everyone either. Plus, quite often afternoon prices are less expensive, and some ice skating rinks might even advertise discounted rates on specific days of the week.

Even if you have an artificial tree that you put up each year, there's nothing quite as enjoyable as watching the movie, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and then going out to find your own "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree to decorate. If you really don't have the space in your home or apartment, why not purchase a small Christmas tree from souvenir store and place it on your front lawn or donate it to a woman's shelter, retirement home, or elderly neighbor?

More Holiday Fun Ideas

The holiday season offers multiple opportunities for enjoying some family time together. Enjoy a trip to a local theater for an enjoyable afternoon watching The Nutcracker Ballet. Lots of other holiday plays are typically offered this time of year, so you can always plan on going to more than one show. If the children are older and up for walking for an hour or two, consider taking them for a bit of Christmas caroling.

Alternatively, you can contact a retirement facility and offer to spend an afternoon singing for the residents. To make it even more enjoyable for everyone, invite and bring along other family members, friends, and neighbors.

It is the season to be jolly, so get out there and spread a little laughter and cheer not only for yourselves, but for everyone else as well. Check your local newspaper or visit the websites of local schools and malls for an entire array of Christmas holiday ideas for your family to enjoy this holiday season.