Create a Cozy Connected Family Holiday

If you’re a parent, you already know the truth: the holidays can feel magical and they can also feel like you’re trying to wrap joy with tape that won’t stick. Between school events, gift lists, and the ever-growing pile of glitter that somehow follows your kids everywhere, it’s easy to slip into “survival mode” instead of savoring the season.

But what if this year could be different? What if your family had a holiday filled with actual connection—not just photo-worthy moments, but ones that feel good on the inside too?

In this holiday guide, you’ll find simple, meaningful tips to help you create a cozy and connected holiday.  I’ll also share a hand-picked gift guide filled with items that spark family connections, slow the pace, and create those warm cozy, under-the-blanket kind of moments every family craves.

Create Cozy Moments- Choose a few moments throughout the holiday season to block the calendar as family time. These moments often don’t just happen by chance especially as children become teens; the moment has to be intentionally planned and prepared. Some ideas to create a cozy holiday moment your whole family will enjoy:

• Lighting a candle or fire, wrapping up on the sofa in a cozy blanket to play a fun game of Do You Really Know Your Family? This game is sure to bring laughs, inside family jokes, and smiles.

• Turn on your favorite holiday movie, bake cookies together, and give everyone warm fuzzy socks to wear while watching the movie together. If you want to give an extra special surprise give your family Snowmen Stuffed Animal Warmies. Kids and teens love Warmies to cuddle up with and keep them extra warm on cold winter nights.

  
  

Plan for Overstimulation- between crowded stores, loud family gatherings, and unpredictable schedules, family members can get overstimulated fast. Give them little gifts perfect for their stocking to help them find calm in the chaos. A couple ideas are the- NeeDoh ice cube squeeze toy and handheld tic-tac-toe two player game- that are small and easy to pack along on all the holiday adventures. These are great when your kids or teens are very overwhelmed but don’t miss out on talking with them after they are calm. Ask how they are feeling and what they would change about a situation. Help them find options to make the experience more manageable and enjoyable when possible.

Build Memorable Connection- One of the easiest ways to create memorable family moments is by doing something hands-on together. Start a holiday or Christmas eve tradition of building Lego Christmas trees or holiday sets together. The finished creations can even become part of your holiday décor, a reminder of time spent together, not just toys built.

Keep the holiday fun going in the morning with gingerbread waffles. Let the family take turns pouring the batter, flip the shapes, and decorate their little “ginger friends” with fruit, chocolate chips, or powdered sugar snow. These small rituals of creating (and eating!) something together become the stories your kids remember year after year.

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Written by: Jennifer Wilmoth, LMFT