By: Katy Baer, MPH, RD, IBCLC
WIC Program Director
The winter holidays are a great time to create new traditions with your family that become lasting memories. Put away the tablets & electronic devices for a few hours and spend some time together!
- Cook/bake seasonal foods and favorite recipes such as cookies, tamales, or latkes. Young children can be included in some cooking activities – just keep their hands clean and avoid cutting with knives or scissors. Pouring in measured amounts of ingredients, stirring, rolling out dough and decorating can be fun!
- Bundle up, head outside and find some snow – build a snowman or snow girl or snow dog! Finding sticks, rocks, and old clothing to decorate your snow sculpture is a fun way to get everyone’s creative energy running.
- Go sledding or skating. Alamosa has a great ice skating rink at the Parks & Recreation Center, with affordable rates.
- Make a gingerbread house – if you’re not sure how, some grocery stores sell kits with everything you need!
- Make hot chocolate or flavored coffee or tea mixes to put in jars and decorate the jar/lid/label.
- Sing (holiday) songs & dance – go caroling if you are so inclined. Make up your own songs and dances!
- When the weather outside is frightful, play indoor games. Games that make people move are good to help balance all the extra foods we eat during the holidays. Games like hide & seek, charades and Twister. And yes, grown-ups can play these games too!
- Take photos and share them with friends & family – show them off in inexpensive or handmade frames. Children love having small photo albums to remind them of these fun times with family & friends.
The best thing to remember when making holiday plans is – this season is a time to enjoy time with the people you care about most. Your holiday activities don’t need to be expensive, complex, or “Insta-worthy” to create memories you’ll cherish for years to come. Happy holidays!
