10 Activities to Make the Holidays Even More Special

Try these activities with your own children, or with young people you see during the holidays like cousins, nieces and nephews. And if you have a child in your life whom you mentor, like a Little Sister or Little Brother, get together and create some holiday memories for both of you!

1. Make your own wrapping paper. Take a roll of big paper, or some big sheets. Get markers or crayons, glue or glitter, or cut out pictures from old magazines. Make some “one of a kind” wrapping paper to show someone on your holiday gift list that you’re one of a kind — and so are they!
2. Talk about holiday traditions. Not everyone celebrates the same holidays, and even those who do celebrate the same holiday you do may not celebrate in quite the same way. Talk about traditions with a young person. What songs do you sing? What foods do you eat? Where do you like to go? You may even find that your relatives don’t celebrate in exactly the same way you do.
3. Do some holiday baking. Baking holiday breads, cakes, or cookies is even more fun with a young person. And learning to cook is an important skill, especially for teens. How do you separate an egg? What’s the difference between baking soda and baking powder? Bake with a young person, and you’re sure to end up with some sweet memories (and sweet treats). 
4. Volunteer together. Some shelters and soup kitchens accept young people as volunteers, if they go with you. Make some calls and find out where your help may be needed. Volunteering truly honors the spirit of the holidays, and helps show your young person that he or she can make a big difference (just like you)!
5. Rent a classic movie. Remember those holiday specials you used to love, with Charlie Brown, Rudolph, or Frosty? Most of them are available for rental. Watch them with a young person, and you’ll feel like a kid again.
6. Make a papier mache bowl for Kwanzaa. Here’s a fun activity to do with an older child or teen. Click here to learn how to make a papier mache bowl to hold the ceremonial Mazao (fresh fruits and vegetables). 
7. Have a “wrap” party. What a great reminder that the holidays are really about giving. Spread out the gifts you’re giving along with wrapping paper, scissors and tape, and let your young friend help. Talk about the gifts you’re giving and why. Who is Aunt Flossie? Who is getting the Chia Pet? How do you make ribbons curl? Having a young person with you to talk and help makes the time (and the wrapping) fly by. 
8. Eat something sweet. During Eid, celebrated by Muslims, there are 13 obligations … and one is to eat something sweet! If you live near an international market, take a young person with you and sample some dates or pistachio cookies or toasted vermicelli noodles with sugar! Mmmmmmm!
9. Read the Chanukah story. The story of Chanukah is the story of a holiday miracle. You can find it online or at the library. Enjoy it with a young person!
10. Take a walk. If it’s not too cold where you live, one of the nicest things to do after a holiday feast is to take a walk, and take young people with you. If you’re back in your old neighborhood, talk about the ways it’s changed. Or sing songs while you walk. Then go home and make some hot cocoa!

Spending time together during the holidays is a terrific way to help young people. But what about the young people who don’t have role models and mentors like you? Supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of the nicest things you can do at holiday time. And by making a secure online donation now, you can help make matches for the holidays … and get a holiday tax-deduction, too! Donate now.