The holidays are all about spending time with those we care about most

No matter how old your kids might be getting or how many years it’s been since you’ve had the whole gang around for Thanksgiving dinner – it never gets old! There is just something so warm and inviting about having people in our homes at this special time.

This is the season for families everywhere to come together, spend quality time with one another, and create lasting memories. What better way to do this than by starting family traditions that everyone can enjoy? It doesn’t matter if you’re new parents or grandparents, there’s always something fun and exciting that can be done as a family.

Here are five unique holiday traditions every family will love:

1. Choose a culture to explore and celebrate

Explore and celebrate your culture and heritage when preparing meals this holiday season. Search Pinterest for healthy recipes or cook the meals you ate as a kid.  Cook together, learn new words and phrases in a different language, share the stories you were told, and read about the history behind the food. Don’t be afraid to explore other cultures as well. If you don’t know much about the history and richness of different cultures, this is the perfect time to explore them as a family.  Once you’ve completed your meal, take a picture of your spread, post it on Instagram and use #WilcoWellnessEatBetterEatTogetherChallenge so we can share your holiday traditional meals!

2.  Create a family activity to serve others

Every year, we find a charity or cause to pour our hearts into. Choose a charity based on your values and vision as a family.  Giving to a cause together can help your family become closer as you learn to count your blessings a little bit more. Whether you give time or money to a charity that takes care of animals or donate clothes to a shelter, choose to do it together.  Select an organization that serves a purpose that is important to you. Regardless of what it is, do it together, get creative, create memories, and make it fun. Make it a family day!

3. Create a family game

Many families love to play games together but can be a little picky about what games to play. Why not create a game this holiday season? Yes, create a family game together. Maybe your children are super talented at drawing or coloring.  Encourage them to draw and color the game pieces for your family board game while you help create the rules.  If they are interested in music, create a game where music is at the center.  Be creative and get out of the box! When you spark your family’s creativity, there’s so much you can do together.

4. Get outside

Of course, you should schedule some time in the family room together.  However, don’t be afraid to get outside.  Whether you’re going for a walk or a hike, get outside as a family to get a breath of fresh air.  Better yet why not create a tradition that you can enjoy every year? Play football or soccer and invite other families to join in. Go on a camping trip and spend each beautiful night in a tent together. Whether it’s in the backyard or the living room, take some time to move together while soaking up some Vitamin D.

5. Weekend movie nights

Why not create your own family theater together and choose the night that you want to watch a movie? Movie night is common, but you can have an outdoor movie night under the stars! Everyone will get to choose one movie for everyone to enjoy. Get some popcorn together and make a bowl of snack mix with healthy ingredients such as raisins, dates, and dried bananas. Get comfortable, press play, and enjoy.  Whether the room or yard is filled with laughter or amazement, this is something special you can do together every year.

 No matter where you live, this time of year is a special one. Families everywhere come together to create lasting memories and start traditions that everyone can enjoy.

Have you started your own tradition yet?

Share it with us! We’d love to hear about how your family spends quality time together and what makes these moments so special for all involved.

#WilcoWellnessEatBetterEatTogetherChallenge

#familytraditions