Make something together
Turn paper already used on one side into greeting cards. Draw, write down a memory or add a little riddle. A card made for one particular person already has a purpose, even if the drawing goes a little outside the lines.
For decorations, cut out paper snowflakes or make a garland of small shapes. Younger children can trace and colour while someone more comfortable with scissors handles the cutting. Set aside a corner of the home for your shared creation.
Cook, tell stories, taste
Choose a recipe someone knows well. Divide up the tasks: reading the steps, measuring, mixing and setting the table. While it cooks, ask where the recipe comes from and who it brings to mind. Write those memories beside the ingredients to keep more than a list of quantities.
For something particularly simple, try our applesauce idea. The pleasure is also in the preparation and the moment you sit down together.
Make room for quiet
- Read aloud. Everyone chooses a passage or takes a turn inventing what happens next.
- Spend an evening with memories. Bring out a few photos and let the people who were there tell the story.
- Play a team game. Use clues to guess household objects, songs or characters.
- Take a short walk. If conditions suit, look at the neighbourhood decorations and come back to warm up.