The holiday season is a time to come together and spend time with family and friends. From decorating our homes to baking signature desserts, each of us has our own set of traditions and holiday activities that we partake in this time of year.

Just because the holiday season may look and feel a bit different this year does not mean that you cannot continue to carry out family traditions and spend time with all members of the family. While getting together in the same space may not be possible due to current social distancing guidelines and recommendations, there are other ways to spend time together and create lasting memories.

The Pavilion Senior Living proudly offers senior living and care services in Tennessee and West Virginia, and we want to help you keep your holiday season special. Here are some holiday activities that children and grandparents – and everyone in between – can enjoy!

Bake Your Favorite Holiday Recipes

Baking is a staple this time of year, so why not encourage your children and parents to bake together? Family recipes are often passed down through generations, and the holidays present a great opportunity to do this. Your parents can guide their grandchildren through the recipe and teach them how to bake a family holiday treat step by step.

Fortunately, this activity is possible even if you can’t physically be together this year. Coordinate with your parent ahead of time to decide on a recipe and set your child up with all the ingredients and tools needed. Set up a video call with your parent, such as FaceTime or Zoom, and watch as a family recipe is passed down to the next generation.

Watch Holiday Movies Together

Holiday movies set the tone of the season, and many families watch the same film year after year. Teleparty makes keeping this tradition possible even when sharing the same screen is out of the question.

“Teleparty is a new way to watch TV with your friends [and family] online.” This program “synchronizes video playback and adds group chat to Netflix, Disney, Hulu, and HBO.” This means that you and your family can still watch your favorite holiday movies together while following current safety guidelines.

Take a Tour of the Holiday Lights

When you think of the holiday season, what do you picture? You may envision lights of every color illuminating the houses and yards of your neighborhood. Plan a drive through town to see the lights.

Caravan with your parents in one car and you and your children in another and tour the neighborhood. Set up a phone call so you can all talk about your favorite displays in real-time along the journey.

Get Crafty

Encourage your parents and children to get in touch with their creative sides. Making homemade holiday cards, decorating ornaments for the tree, and creating paper chains and snowflakes are all great activities for grandparents and grandchildren to do together.

Just like baking together, coordinate with your parents ahead of time to decide which crafts they want to make. Gather up all the necessary supplies and set up a station for your children to create with their grandparents via video calling.

Play Classic Games with a Holiday Twist

Holiday activities do not have to be exclusive to the holiday season. If you and your family enjoy game nights, play your favorite games with a holiday twist. For instance, play Christmas-opoly, Christmas trivia, Clue: North Pole Edition, or a form of holiday charades.

Even though the holiday season may be slightly different this year, it does not mean that you cannot still enjoy your favorite holiday activities with your family. The most important thing is to connect, whether it is in person or virtual.

The Pavilion Senior Living wants to make this holiday season special for all members of your family. Offering senior living services in Tennessee and West Virginia, we are prepared to keep your parents and loved ones safe while helping them connect to their friends and families. For more information on our communities or services, visit our website or contact a member of The Pavilion Senior Living team today.