Get to know the family tree

Sit down together to tell your children about their ancestors. Start by telling them something about what your childhood was like, and then see how far you can go back. Do your children know their great-grandparents’ names? Their great-great-grandparents? Talk about the ancestors whose names you don’t know and the places and lives they might have come from. Help your children understand their place in your family and your family’s place in history.

Another fun way to get to know the family tree is to gather fun facts about the lives your family members have lived and have a guessing game to find out who about who each fact is about! Some of the secrets hidden away from relatives might surprise you!

Gather much loved recipes and have a bake off

From Aunt Cindy’s famous pavlova recipe to Nanna Sue’s German potato salad, every person has a wealth of their favourite family recipes tucked away somewhere that deserve some time to shine. Not only does digging out the family recipes help you reconnect with your loved ones (sometimes you just need to double check if that handwritten ingredient list says tsp or tbs), it’s also a great way to try out recipes and broaden your taste buds in the lead up to the big day! You never know, you might discover some new favourites to add to your weekly repertoire.

Take your freshly cooked treats and visit the neighbours

After baking your much-loved family recipes, sometimes your eyes are bigger than your stomach! Take a few sweet treats and use it as an opportunity to check in on your neighbours. Whether you know them incredibly well, or you only know them from a smile and wave when taking the bins out each week, Christmas can be a tough time for a lot of people, so a friendly face and a few delicious peppermint chocolate cookies is a great excuse to pop in for a cup of tea and a quick catch up to let them know you care.

Go for a drive at night and look at Christmas lights

From the streets that try to out do each other each year, to the incredible light displays at your local community hubs, there are so many magical places to drive past that capture the Christmas spirit. Grab your camera, load up the car with snacks, pop on your Mariah Carey Spotify playlist and head out for a drive with the windows down on a warm summer night. There’s truly nothing better.

Movie marathon where everyone picks a movie

If Grandad always wants to watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, but the kids want to watch Elf for the seventh time in one week, then a movie marathon is the way to go.

Whether you want to watch all the movies in one night, or spread them out over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, a movie night is a great way to spend time as a family surrounded by popcorn and to discover new classics.

Have a photoshoot to commemorate the year (pets included)

Whether it’s for your family christmas card, or just to mark the year that was, getting together to have an annual family photo creates memories that can be treasured for years to come. It doesn’t matter if you’re dressing up in reindeer antlers or your Sunday best, all you need to do is gather everyone in the same space, make sure no one is blinking when the flash goes off, and find the perfect frame to hold the photo for years to come.

Create an advent calendar

It’s time to start the countdown! Maybe it’s about being mindful or counting your blessings or preempting your kids asking “HOW MANY DAYS?!?”. But part of the fun of December is building the anticipation for Christmas day. You may prefer the chocolate kind of advent calendar (we don’t blame you), but there are so many fun options to DIY this festive season. From a simple white board with colourful markers on the fridge, to a traditional calendar, all you need to do is pick out 24 fun things to do in the lead up to Christmas and jot them down. From trying a new recipe, to going to the Christmas tree farm, it’s a great way to get into the festive spirit while building the excitement that Christmas is inching closer and closer.

Set up video calls for those far away that you won’t see in person this Christmas

While distance can make the heart grow fonder, it can make the holidays harder for most people. If you have loved ones who can’t celebrate with the family during pivotal gatherings, connect with them via a video call and set them up in an area of the house where they can watch and virtually join in on the celebrations. Don’t forget to pop a Christmas cookie and a Santa hat next to the laptop or phone so they don’t miss out on any of the fun.

Write and deliver a thank-you to someone who brightens your day throughout the year.

From your favorite barista who makes the best almond milk lattes, to the supermarket worker who always tucks away the imported Jaffa Cake biscuits so you don’t miss out, there are so many people who brighten our lives throughout the year just by doing their everyday jobs.

Let them know how much you appreciate everything they’ve done for you this year by picking out a beautiful Christmas card, writing a thoughtful note, and maybe chucking a marshmallow Santa in there as well to seal the deal.

A few kind words can really make someone’s day!

Visit an aged care home and spend time talking with residents.

While you cherish your loved ones and can celebrate Christmas with those closest to you, a lot of people in aged care homes aren’t as lucky. To make someone’s day (or their whole year) put together thoughtful care packages (slippers, blankets, books, chocolates, tea) or just bring yourself and some fantastic conversation topics and visit your local aged care homes to speak with the workers about volunteering your time.

A conversation can truly change a life.