Can you believe we’ve made it to the end of 2020? This year has been full of ups and downs, but if we’re honest, every year can be challenging and our problems don’t magically disappear on New Years Day. This time of year can be cold and dreary, especially after the excitement of Christmas is over. With a lull in parties and events, there is a lot of downtime. We know this season may look different than in years past, but we are here for you every step of the way.
Below are some ways to keep the season bright as we enter into a new year. Try some daily fun activities with our Family Holiday Bingo. Begin processing the year with the Paper Chain Gratefulness Challenge and model what it looks like to set healthy new year resolutions for the upcoming year.
We know your family is looking for fun things to do together over the holidays, so why not try Family Holiday Bingo. Try filling up 4 in a row or fill up the whole board for an extra challenge! Maybe even have a fun incentive for your family for completing a certain number of activities on the board. Take a look at the Family Holiday Bingo activity board to get started.
We have also created some tools to help you and your family process this past year and get ready for the next.
Try the Paper Chain Gratefulness Challenge. The Gratefulness Challenge will help your family remember all of the ways you have been blessed this year. Even if this year didn’t have the same routines or events, there is still something positive that each member of your family can find about this year. All you need is paper, scissors, and something to write with. Over the month of January, write one thing down each day that you are thankful for on a strip of paper. Connect each strip with tape to make a loop. Connect each loop to the day before. Make it a family habit for the month of January and see how long your chain gets. Bonus points if you make it further into the year! Take some time as a family towards the end of the month to review the paper chain together and reflect on all the ways God blessed your family this year.
Now, look ahead to the new year by talking through a New Years Questionnaire. Modeling what it looks like to make realistic new year resolutions for your children can promote good mental and physical health. Start by print off the questionnaire for each person and read through the questions together as a family. Take some time to talk through the highs and lows of 2020 (download the 2020 Questionnaire here). Then talk about possibilities 2021 has to offer (download the 2021 Questionnaire here). Help your children make goals that are achievable and realistic and make some of your own. You can also create goals that you work towards together as a whole family. Here are some other tips to help your family make resolutions for the new year. Share the questionnaire with extended family and friends too!
We hope that these activities help you create peaceful moments in a year that was abnormally chaotic. This past year has been filled with creativity and resilience. May this new year be filled with hope and joy no matter what the circumstances come our way.
