Things to Do with House Guests for the Holidays

Are you expecting house guests this holiday season? Are you panicked that you won't have enough for them to do and they will get bored? Are you searching for things to keep them busy so you do not feel you have to entertain the entire stay? Well, you have come to the right place then!

Holidays are a wonderful time! You spend them with your friends and family, but inevitably it is hard to keep everyone busy and happy. Here are a few things you can do as a host to keep your friends and family busy this holiday season:

Attend a Tree Lighting Ceremony: Tree lighting ceremonies are so much fun! They

embrace the holiday season with lights, laughter, and usually fun activities for little ones. The best part? It is a way to show visiting relatives your community and everything it has to offer and it is usually free!

Take a drive and view the lights! This is a tradition that my family has had since I was a little girl. I have always enjoyed going around different neighborhoods and seeing the lights. Everyone's unique style is displayed. It only costs gas and yet everyone, no matter their age, loves to go see the lights.

Go ice skating! Ice skating at an indoor or outdoor event is going to bring back nostalgic memories for everyone. It is a fun thing that my children love to do despite the fact that they only get to do it once a year on average. They enjoy being on the ice and I enjoy creating those memories that I know they will share with their children one day.

Make Gingerbread Houses. My family and I like to buy the kits from Wal-Mart or Target and use them as templates for our own gingerbread houses. We do a little competition on whose is the most creative, whose fell apart (needed a home inspection), whose is the prettiest, etc. It is a good time and we all enjoy doing our part.

Holiday Movie Night. This is another staple in our home and it turns out to be a lot more than just one night. We love holiday movies! I recommend getting everyone in their pajamas, popping some popcorn, getting out your favorite candy, and snuggling up and enjoying the show! I personally love The Santa Clause, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Polar Express.

Mail a Letter to Santa. Did you know that if you live in or near Summerville, you can drop off your child's letter to Santa into the big Santa mailbox near Hutchinson Square? Writing a letter to Santa is a wonderful tradition. Encourage your little ones to be imaginative and to be thankful for anything that they receive on Christmas morning.

Enjoy Your Local Holiday Parade. Many towns have Christmas or Holiday parades. Get outside and enjoy your local holiday parade. Make notes on your favorite float and compare your favorites with friends and family. Enjoy local flair while celebrating the holiday season.

Make a Homemade Gift. Draw names and have plenty of craft material ready. Each member can make a homemade, heartfelt gift for the person whose name they drew. This is a fun way to spread holiday cheer, be creative, and be thoughtful. If you are not crafty, think about donating used toys to a women's and children's shelter. Those there will be so appreciative of the thoughts and goodwill, especially during this holiday season.

Attend a Religious Service. It doesn't matter what holiday you are celebrating this year. Go to a religious service and celebrate the real reason for the season. Gather with those in your community and enjoy the season.

These are just a few ideas of things you can do to help keep holiday guests from getting too bored with staying indoors. Enjoy your holiday season!

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