Five Family Bonding Ideas for the Holidays

Ideas for spending more time as a family when the holidays get busy

The holidays can be hectic, whether you are hosting family, getting treats for the kids’ holiday parties or shopping for gifts. Yet, all the chaos can feel isolating, even when surrounded by family. So here are five ways to take a break and connect with the fam. 

1. Cooking

The holidays call for plenty of cooking, so why not take advantage of this and cook as a family? Nothing brings people together quite like food, and who can think of a better way to bond than creating and enjoying a family recipe?

Purdue University Nutrition Education Program states, “Cooking together creates closer bonds and helps build lifelong memories. You can also use the time to listen, share and talk with your child.” Cooking can take a majority of our time, but it gives us a window into each other’s lives to share stories, talk about our days and get to know each other better.

You can also use cooking to teach your children about your family’s heritage and the importance of the holidays you celebrate. Not only will your kids learn a new recipe, but they’ll also have something fascinating to share with the class on their first day back to school.

2. Baking

The holidays and baking practically go hand-in-hand. Who doesn’t think of the holidays and remember baking cookies with mom and grandma? Baking is a great way to get off the sofa and into action. Plus, baking comes with plenty of skills-building and learning opportunities!

Modern Parenting suggests that baking together strengthens family ties, provides teachable moments, boosts self-esteem, encourages socialization and aids in creativity. Of course, we all want our children to be confident, friendly and creative, and getting to make tasty treats while instilling these skills is just the cherry on top. So whether you’re baking gingerbread houses or sugar cookies, there are plenty of opportunities to have fun and bond with your children. 

3. Crafting

Crafting is a great way to escape our busy days and focus on being present and having fun as a family. Plus, it’s a cheap and easy way to spend time creating and enjoying each other’s presence. You’d be surprised at how much you can make with a stack of construction paper and scissors. 

According to Families for Life, working on arts and crafts “emphasizes the importance of teamwork and cooperation.” The holidays are all about coming together and sharing the spirit of unity. Working on crafts together can help the family get into the spirit, and your kiddos can gift their crafts to neighbors, family and friends. 

Crafting doesn’t have to be elaborate either; you can grab out the markers and start decorating all those Amazon boxes you have lying around from Cyber Monday. And plenty of other crafts can teach your little ones about winter and the holidays. Whether you do a quick Google search or scour Pinterest, you’ll find crafts the whole family will enjoy. 

4. Reading

Reading is an essential life skill, and storytelling truly brings us together. So stop by your local bookshop or library after school and have the kids pick out holiday books that can be enjoyed as a family. Then, find the perfect time to read and snuggle up with your new books. 

Scholastic suggests that “one of the easiest ways to make reading time with your child fun and enjoyable is to really immerse yourselves in the story.” Reading can be a fun way to introduce your children to holiday traditions and teach them new things.

Using different voices and acting out stories is a memorable way to connect with your child; that’s fun for them and you too. Storytime can continue even after the book is over, too. Instead, you can ask your children questions about the story and get to know them better.

5. Watching Movies

While the activities above are great for family bonding time, sometimes, when you have a busy day, all you want to do is sit down and relax. One of the easiest ways to relax and still spend quality time together is by popping on a movie and curling up on the couch. 

According to Premiere Outdoor Movies, having a family movie night helps build bonds, increases self-esteem, makes memories, lessens sibling rivalry and creates greater happiness. Sitting around the living room watching a movie and eating popcorn and pizza can help us feel closer to our family. 

Putting on a movie can be a fun and easy way for the family to come together. Everyone has a favorite holiday movie, and sharing it with our families helps us learn more about each other and reminds us of our favorite holiday traditions. 

While the holidays are hectic, there are plenty of ways to get the family together and enjoy each other’s company. Whether you decide to cook, bake, craft, read or watch a movie, as long as you do it with your family, you’re guaranteed to have a good time.