Having Holiday Family Time Without Buying Gifts or Presents

Family time during the holidays does not have to revolve around buying and giving gifts. There are things you can do that get the family together and will be able to create everlasting holiday memories. Be sure to have a camera around because there are some things that you want to remember. Here is my list of fun family time without buying gifts. Be prepared, it’s a jumble of ideas. Be sure to leave a comment on some of your suggestions.

Go outside and build yourself a big snowman or an entire city made of snow. Be creative with designs. Use twigs as hands and wooden sticks to help with the snow structures. There are so many creative ways to play with snow and the internet will give you many ideas.

Get the whole family involved. Play tag or tackle football in the snow. Just get some old scraps of bright color cloth and put it on the side of your pants. After some football, everyone will be hungry and ready for food.

Build a gingerbread house or bake cookies together. Get the little kids involved in the whole cooking process. Try a completely new recipe with the whole family. Just don’t cook too much or you will have to learn how to organize your leftovers in the refrigerator. Have competitions on who made the best food and let the kids be the judges.

Activities where large groups can get together are the best. Go ice skating with a huge group. You will be sure to get discounts. Go Christmas lights watching in neighborhoods that love to compete against each other. It is just as good as watching the sun rise but the lights will keep coming.

Gather around a warm heater or fireplace while drinking some warm eggnog. Sing some songs or even better use a karaoke machine. Remember it’s not how good you sound but how much effort and emotion you put into the song. Although someone who sings with a perfect pitch is appreciated.

Play a board game together. Make it more interesting where the winner does not have to do some chores for a week.

Get the family together for a trip to the soup kitchens and volunteer. Food shelters are quite busy this time of year with the influx of donated food. Get everyone to lend a hand. Bring some lively flowers or plants to senior homes. Some elderly don't have anyone to visit them during this time. They will welcome some friendly faces.

Check your chamber of commerce to see if there are any free events just for this season. There could be concerts. Lighting of Christmas trees. Maybe even some ice sculpting competitions.

The holidays or Christmas do not have to revolve around who gets and gives the best presents. Let it revolve around the love if family and friends. So get out there and do stuff. The holidays are definitely here.