It’s that time of the year when Autumn is about to make way for a chilly winter. With the festive season turning out to be a damp squib due to the global pandemic, the good old holiday spirit is not at its usual best. So what can be done to get the festive cheer on? Some fun family activities of course. We’ve got you a list of things you can do with the family this autumn and kickstart the holiday season on the right note. So gather your flock and get ready to have some fun!
Movie Night
There’s nothing quite like a good movie that everybody can enjoy. With restrictions on movement firmly in place, a movie night is a perfect idea to relax with the family and enjoy the chilly autumn evenings to the fullest. The experience can be enhanced further if you throw in a family bonfire and some marshmallows on a stick. All you need to do is pull out the patio furniture covers, set up a screen or your TV on the patio, have an endless supply of popcorn, marshmallows and sticks, and you’re all set for some movie magic. Don’t forget to take a vote on which movies the “audience” would like. Holiday classics like Click and Collect, Clash of Santas, or an American classic like Home Alone can get things warmed up nicely.
Family BBQ
Whether it’s pork ribs, burgers, or hotdogs – or all three, a family barbeque can never go wrong in lifting the spirits before the holidays. With kids finding it difficult to adjust to the restrictions of schooling at home, a backyard barbeque is a great activity to take their minds off the negativity. Plus, they’ll spend that much less time glued to their phone screens. To involve the kids, have some easy to prepare dishes like store bought burgers that can be cooked to their liking, have them arrange the veggies and sauces as per their taste, and let them create their own burger masterpiece. The other way to do it is if you let them become your sous chef for the day and help them understand the nuances of food preparation and grilling. Throw in some stories of how you did it with your dad or your secret sauce recipe to add a bit of charm to the whole activity. Also, have your waterproof sofa cover ready to steer clear from any spills and splashes.
Garden Games
Have small kids that can’t sit still? Worry not. An hour or two of garden games and they will spend their energy doing fun stuff that mom and dad can enjoy as well. There are scores of options to choose from, be it giant Jenga, soft archery, backyard rugby or football, or even tennis ball cricket, you will never run out of ideas to have some fun family time with the rustic autumn backdrop in your garden. These games also provide a great opportunity to teach your kids some lessons on sportsman spirit and fair play, and while you’re at it you can also teach them responsibility by having them clean up the backyard after the fun and games are over.
Indoor Garden
Give your green thumb some exercise this autumn and have a family project that is both fun and creative. While this activity doesn’t just get over in a couple of hours like the others, the time you will spend together with the family will be just as great. For an indoor autumn garden start with herbs like Cilantro, Rosemary, Thyme and Parsley. After the herbs, you can move on to flowering plants like Begonia, Pansy, and Dahlia. You can ask the kids to create a pot with their favourite plant and take care of it; this will teach them some life lessons and also keep them occupied with something other than TV and phones.
Christmas Decoration
It cannot be considered a fun activity unless there’s some Christmas decorating involved. Bring out those twinkling lights, holly, ivy, and mistletoe, and give your kids a freehand with their imagination. You’d be surprised how the little ones and their creativity will add a touch of something special to your Christmas decorations. Let them have their own corner where they can set up their fantasy land and decorate it to their heart’s content. Once the lights are switched on you will beam with joy and the kids will be excited to show off their creativity. Now that’s some way to spend a late autumn afternoon with the family.
These troubled times have shown us yet again how important the concept of family is for our overall well-being. With the holiday season upon us, it is the right time to pull away those patio chair covers and get together with your loved ones to enjoy the last few days before it gets too cold to do anything.
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