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It's always a good time to start a new family tradition. Kids and teens can initiate these new traditions too. Here are some suggestions, but the sky is the limit.
  1. Look at Christmas lights - in your city or local neighbourhood. 
  2. Christmas cooking - gingerbread, shortbread, rocky road, rum balls...
  3. Go to a Carols By Candlelight - Australia's hot summers are perfect for an outdoor Christmas concert. The candles are usually battery operated these days, but when I was a kid we had traditional candles.
  4. Make your own Bonbons - You can buy kits from craft and department stores. Add treats from you local discount store, and chocolates or candy canes too.
  5. Donate some things to charity - choose some things that you have outgrown and don't use any more and donate them to a local charity.
  6. Invent your own version of elf on the shelf. Pop a Santa hat on a Barbie doll, or use a teddy bear. Set them up in cheeky scenarios each day.
  7. Have a family Christmas movie marathon - you could even set the telly or a projector up outside and have an outdoor cinema.
  8. Have a Lego challenge or other family competition - my daughter has a large Lego collection so we drag it out at Christmas and have a competition to see who can make the best Lego models. You could have play a board game or computer game too.
  9. Play beach or backyard cricket, kick the footy, play frisbee, or volleyball in the ball. 
  10. Wear funny Christmas shirts - you could even design your own.
  11. Make a family Christmas playlist
  12. Go to a Christmas Eve Church service - this is one of my favourite things about Christmas.
Published on
The Christmas holidays are romantically portrayed as a time of friends, family, laughter, gifts and good times. But the reality can be quite different with busyness, boredom, loneliness, and financial stress. Spending more time with your family often  means getting on each other’s last nerve. Here are some tips to help survive the silly season:
1. Spend some time outside
2. Have some device free time each day
3. Move your body
4. Do something creative
5. Practice self care 
6. Eat good food and drink lots of water.

Be mindful and pay attention to what's going on around you. Be present with the people around you and enjoy some meaningful connections. Be creative and open to fun, new experiences. 

Helping out more at home might ease some of the tensions too - it doesn't cost anything except a bit of time and energy.

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