Creating Your Own Holiday Traditions

For many families in Onslow County and across the globe, the holidays can be a mix of joy and uncertainty—particularly if you’re a military family with a deployed service member or a family unable to travel home to visit extended family this holiday season. 

Although the holidays might feel different this year, there are plenty of things you can do to make the holiday special for you and your family. By creating new traditions you can keep this special time fresh, fun, and meaningful—and help your children stay connected to loved ones near and far. 

Six ways to create a new tradition: 

Host a virtual get-together. 

Over the past few years, we’ve all become much more accustomed to spending time on Zoom or video conferences. Try hosting a virtual get-together with family—but instead of food, encourage all your family members to bring a favorite poem, story, toast, or holiday memory to read aloud or share. 

Schedule a holiday game night. 

Whether virtual or in person, a holiday game night is a festive way to celebrate time together. A few games to try include: 

• Bingo: You can send bingo cards via email and have family members print them off in advance—or you can opt for online bingo.
• Trivia: You can create your own trivia with random facts or even family history, ensuring that it’s the perfect blend of age-appropriate questions for your children. 
• Scattergories: A classic game that both parents and kids love, Scattergories is a great option for families of all generations. To play, you’ll need a dice with letters on each side, or you can find a random letter generator online. Then, fill out a list with random categories, such as actors, colors, things you find in a zoo, foods, etc. To play, roll the dice or generator and then take turns coming up with an answer to each category that starts with the designated letter. If you’re playing online, try this list generator.  

Watch your favorite holiday movie synchronously. 

If you’re spending time apart from a parent, watching a holiday movie at the same time can be a great way to connect and bring everyone together. 

Teleparty is one of the easiest ways to watch a movie or a TV show with your friends online—it synchronizes video playback and includes a group chat, so you can chat while you watch. This works for Netflix, Disney, Hulu, and HBO. 

Send care packages. 

If you’re a military family with a service member who can’t be home for the holidays, sending a care package is a wonderful way to brighten their holiday season. Ask your children what they’d like to send—and then work together to prepare a meaningful care package. 

If you’re a family who is separated from loved ones this holiday season, spend time putting together heartfelt care packages and reconnect with family and friends, near and far. 

Don’t forget: Check the holiday shipping deadlines from USPS so you can ensure your package arrives with plenty of time to spare. 

Create photo books or family videos. 

To commemorate your family and loved ones this holiday season, create a photo book or a video slideshow. Collect photos and videos in advance of the holidays and then watch it together with other family members over the holidays (either over Zoom or in person). 

Give back to your community. 

Lastly, give your time and generosity this holiday season by volunteering or donating to a local charity or organization. 

• United Way of Onslow County: United Way compiles a list of volunteer opportunities in Onslow County. Learn more about how you can support children, families, seniors, and more in your community.  
• Onslow Community Outreach: A nonprofit dedicated to supporting families and individuals through food, shelter, and medical services. Volunteer at the soup kitchen, in the shelter, in their seasonal programs, or in the office. If you prefer to donate, view the list of requested items here.
• New River YMCA: The YMCA offers a variety of programs and resources for children and families. Learn more about volunteer opportunities here.
• Brigade Boys and Girls Club: Dedicate time this holiday season to serving children with tutoring and homework assistance, visual and performing arts, physical fitness, and more. Learn more about volunteer opportunities here.
• Support One Place. A gift to the Every Child. One Hope. One Place Annual Fund to support child abuse prevention and intervention in Onslow County and raise awareness of the role we all play in building strong foundations for Onslow County’s children.

Let us know how you’re celebrating. 

Whatever your holiday plans are this year, spending quality time with your loved ones—either virtually or in-person—is one of the best ways to celebrate. 

Follow along on social media and let us know how you’re creating your own holiday traditions.