Memory-making Holiday Activities

Any time can be the right time to enjoy memorable moments with family members, but the holidays present a special opportunity to have meaningful conversations and interactions with loved ones.

One of the best ways to generate memories is through shared activities. This holiday season, consider these creative ideas to encourage families to facilitate new conversations and bonding. You can find more suggestions at talkofalifetime.org, an initiative that encourages family members to talk about the things that matter most to them before they pass on.

Gratitude tree

Start a new tradition by creating a gratitude tree, a simple decoration you can look forward to using each year as a reminder of what you and your family are thankful for.

To make a gratitude tree, collect twigs or branches, dry them out and cut them to the desired lengths. Put the branches in a vase or decorative container. Punch holes at the tops of fall-colored paper to be used as tags. Then instruct guests to write what they’re grateful for on each tag.

Take turns reading the tags and tie each to the branches. When you take down your gratitude tree, keep the handwritten tags in a safe place until they can be read again the next year. Over the years, as the tree fills up, you’ll enjoy “re-remembering” the memories.

Time capsule

Making a holiday-inspired time capsule can help strengthen family bonds while preserving treasured memories and creating opportunities for future holidays when it’s time to reopen the contents.

Use a sealed container or plastic bag to protect items from moisture and mold, then place the container in a box that can be decorated and stored in a safe place with related holiday decorations. Mark on the container the date it was created, and pack it with items like family-favorite recipes, notes about significant events like births, weddings and graduations, copies of newspapers detailing high-profile happenings, and pictures and drawings from the year.

If you’re patient enough to wait, try leaving the contents undisturbed a few years to give the memories even more meaning when the time comes to relive those special moments.

Memories tablecloth

To help keep important family footnotes front and center during future celebrations, a memorial tablecloth provides each person an opportunity to personalize a piece of popular decor. As you gather around the table for holiday meals, ask each family member to jot down a favorite memory or something he or she is thankful for along with a signature and date.

You can make it an annual event by using the same tablecloth each year and, before long, it will be filled with personal memories as a way to cherish relationships as time goes on. Just use an appropriately sized, inexpensive white canvas drop cloth. Place fabric markers in the center of the table before inviting guests to participate, and to help distinguish each year, use different colored markers.