Ten Free, Fun Things Your Family Can Do

Ten Free, Fun Things Your Family Can Do
at Christmas Time

1. Is there an outdoor decorating contest in your town? Take family, friends and someone from a nursing home to view the winning houses. (If no contest, ask around for houses or neighborhoods to view.) Serve healthy drinks and snacks afterward.
2. Take a walking tour of your neighborhood. If some of the displays are ostentatious, discuss why. Help children to develop a critical eye so that the meaning of the display and its effects on the Earth are not lost amid the "magic."
3. Check with local hotels for decorated lobbies. While there, sing a few "Carols with Justice." All have familiar tunes. Take a few extra carol books and encourage passers-by to join in. Be careful not to compete with "canned" music.
4. Large department stores have animated/mechanized winter displays in their windows to attract shoppers. Dillards in Minneapolis, for example, often chooses a children's story and uses part of one floor to tell that story visually. As you appreciate this sight, don't be tempted or guilted into buying something. Have the group repeat, "We like this but we don't need this stuff. Thanks but no thanks."
5. After Christmas Day, invite friends over for a potluck "Afterglow Holiday Season Party." Everyone can bring left over food items that they have in abundance. Besides playing your favorite music, sing some "Carols with Justice" and play "The Christmas Game."
6. Before December 1, participate in a healthy cookie/snack/recipe exchange. Invite six-to-ten others who bring three-to-four of their favorite cookies or holiday/party snacks. Each also brings a empty container to take home a mixture of the shared treats. Either share the recipes there of later. Rather than photocopying and handing out the recipes, each person hand copies the ones they want. We tend to treasure the personal touch.
7. Have a "decorating family party." Put on Christmas music. Have warm, real cider and munchies. Those who don't want to hang ornaments can make helpful comments.
8. After Epiphany (Jan. 6th) take down the decorations together. Remember, the "12 Days of Christmas" BEGIN on Christmas Day. If you bought or received additional ornaments this season, give away to Goodwill an equal number of less meaningful items (that are in good condition) now. Do not store them or they become the seeds of clutter.
9. See the ideas at FAMILY FUN in this issue.
10. Brainstorm more ideas at a family meeting.

- Rita Iversen

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