Here are a few ideas that can help you make staying at home this holiday fun as well as safe for yourself and everyone in your family:

Make Decorations

Aim to make this holiday season a bit more hands-on and craftier than you might normally. Decorating the house for the holidays is fun all on its own, but why not add to that by making some of the decorations by hand? 

Try cutting snowflakes out of construction paper. Or string some popped popcorn or cranberries to make a tasty-looking garland. Using cookie cutters, cut out, bake and paint some salt-dough ornaments for the tree. Make a wreath out of leftover tree cuttings on a bent wire hanger, decorated with ribbons and ornaments. 

Bake Cookies

A big part of the Christmas fun any year is all the goodies. This year is no different. But bring the kids in on the fun. Have them choose their favorite cookies, and then help to make them. Enjoy them yourselves, or put together a variety of home-baked cookies to give as gifts.  

Holiday Movie Marathon

There are A LOT of holiday movies out there. Whether you tend toward Hallmark or like your Christmas movie a bit edgier, you have all kinds of choices to have a nice long film festival. Include some of those cookies you just baked and a hot drink, and settle in for a cozy afternoon or evening.

Have a Virtual Party

The big holiday get-togethers are pretty much off the table this year…at least in-person, that is. Many people have gone the video chatting route to stay in touch with loved ones. It’s a great option this time of year, as well. You could host a simple conference with extended family, or set up a holiday happy hour with friends. 

Play Games 

Bring some of that friendly competitive spirit to the holidays with board games, trivia games, ring tosses, etc. that have a holiday theme. Not only are games fun year-round, they can be a great way to bond with the family and bring a little extra action to the holiday season. 

Christmas Light Tour

Sure, this one isn’t at home. But it can still be safe when it comes to social distancing. If your town has a neighborhood known for going all out with their lights, hop in the car and go for a tour. If not, you can take this time to explore and go hunting for impressive lighting displays.

Feeling festive yet? Even those this Christmas is going to be different from years past, that doesn’t necessarily have to mean that it has to be bad. As it turns out, you actually have a lot of options to make this holiday season just as warm and bright as always, all from the comfort of home.