The holidays are full of opportunities to extend hospitality as a family. This family-friendly season is a great time to bring our kids alongside us as we get involved with our community and practice hospitality. Here are some ideas for spreading a little joy through hospitality this holiday season.
1. Host a happy hour
I love a good Christmas house party. I put so much effort into decorating my house most years, and I want to share the beautiful space with others. But throwing a full-fledged Christmas party as a family with little kids is quite the commitment. Both in terms of time and effort. As an alternative, consider hosting a holiday happy hour at your home for neighbors and friends who live nearby. Supply the space and maybe a few nibbles. Let your guests bring drinks to share. Finding a weekend date in December to host a Christmas party can be hard. The whole month is full of family-friendly holiday activities, work parties, and other family events. The beauty of a happy hour is it can take place on a weekday and requires minimal effort.
2. Volunteer with your kids
Whether it is cooking a meal for someone in need, participating in a toy drive, or volunteering in person with a charity, there are almost endless ways to volunteer and extend some warm hospitality to your community as a family this holiday season.
3. Reach out to those who are alone or grieving
As magical as the Christmas season can be, for many people the holidays are a tough time of year. Think about those in your community who might be experiencing loneliness or grief during this holiday season. Brainstorm with your children the ways you can reach out and connect with someone who may be struggling.
4. Parades, Tree Lighting, and City Lights
Most cities and towns in the US put up Christmas lights. Zoos and botanic gardens will often light up this time of year as well. Some cities have parades or hold a tree lighting event. Invite another family to walk around and look at the lights with your family. Bring hot cocoa and cookies to share. Looking at Christmas lights is something your family may already enjoy doing. Inviting another family to join you requires little additional effort.
5. Host a Christmas Party
I have fond memories from my childhood of Christmas parties at other people’s houses. The Christmas house party seems to be a dying tradition, but is not one I am ready to let go! You can approach a Christmas house party many different ways. Potluck style, small bites, a cookie exchange, snacks and drinks, a simple continental breakfast – the options are endless.
One year we hired a couple teenagers to supervise the basement playroom during our Christmas party so any parents attending our party would not be stuck in the basement watching their young children. It was not the cheapest option, or something we plan to do as the kids get older, but it did work well. Setting out some crafts for the little kids is also a great way to keep them entertained.
We have had to skip hosting a Christmas party some years due to new babies, house floods, etc., but decking our halls and inviting others over is a tradition I plan to keep alive as a family.
Have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!
