The holiday rush can be stressful. There’s so much to do. You need to decorate your house, prepare food, mail out the Christmas cards, shop for gifts, and wrap them up. And when the big day comes, there’s more stress to bury you, especially if you’re hosting the family dinner this year. You have to clean up all the mess, wash the dishes, stash away the opened gifts, and worry about all the leftovers.
Before grumbling and worrying about everything, remind yourself that this holiday season is particularly special. The world has been battling the pandemic for two years now and has killed millions. You’re lucky to be spending the holidays with your family.
The holidays anyway, is a great occasion to spend quality time with your loved ones. It’s more than just about exchanging gifts. This year, it’s about connecting with friends and family once again. It’s about taking the time to cherish your moments with people you love.
And speaking of people you love, they may be spending a few days with you this holiday, especially if they’re from out of town. If you’re worried about how to entertain them and keep them busy while they’re staying with you, that’s perfectly valid. Not to worry, though. You’ll learn about how to become an excellent host to them in this article.
Make the most out of your loved ones’ stay and take the stress away through various activities below.
Prepare Your Home
To make your guests feel at home, start prepping your house even before they arrive.Leave a welcome note in your guest’s room, even if they’re your kids. If they’re bringing in their spouse, all the more reason to leave a note saying you’re more than glad that they’re staying for the holidays. You can add in some helpful tips with your note to make it easier for them to find essentials in the house.
If you’ve got your children coming in from college, and they’re bringing a friend or two, you can provide information about your Wi-Fi password, the nearest coffee shop, or any place where young adults hang out. In your guests’ bathroom, leave some essentials like towels, bath soap, shampoo, toothpaste, and plenty of toilet paper. If you can, provide them with a laundry basket, even if it’s a small one.
At their nightstands, leave something that’ll make them even more welcomed – a scented candle, a carafe, or a vase of fresh flowers. Meanwhile, a spare phone charger, a tiny Bluetooth speaker or earphones, and a USB lamp would make the young adults love their stay even more.
Don’t Leave Your Guests Hungry
In the kitchen, make sure that your pantry is well-stocked, as advised by Food and Wine magazine. Snacks go a long way, especially during long nights or when your guests are in the mood for a Christmas movie marathon.
You don’t have to cook snacks in advance. Filling healthy snacks would make a great stock item in the pantry. However, according to Food and Wine magazine, what you need to cook in advance are hearty meals that can be easily reheated when your guests are hungry. Soups, cookies, pizza, and dips for chips would be great.
Doing all the prep will make it easier to entertain your guests when they arrive. You can focus on organizing activities instead of worrying about stuff they need.
Keep Them Entertained With Winter Activities
One of the best things about the holidays is the decorations, not only in houses but also in city or town centers and streets. Take your guests to see the Christmas house decorations around your town or block. If there’s a tree lighting ceremony you’re looking forward to, bring your guests with you to witness it.
You can also bring your guests to holiday shows like Christmas carols, orchestra, or choir. Some movie theaters show Christmas movies during the holidays, too.
Organize a game night for your guests. Awaken their spirit of competition with exciting games. Add some drinks and savory snacks to keep your guests refreshed while playing.
You can also take your games outdoors. Winter sports such as sledding, fat biking, ice skating, and snowshoeing would help your guests break a sweat. You can also go ice fishing or show them how to do it right and what equipment to use. Show them how to use a Daiwa electric reel, one of the best electric reels for ice fishing.
If your guests would rather stay at home and relax, have a bonfire in your backyard. Make this activity even more meaningful with roasted marshmallows as you share stories until it’s too cold to stay outside.
Give Them Space
However, if you don’t have a spare room for guests, make sure to make space for them where they can still have their privacy. They’ll need their own space after all the activities you’ll do. Fortunately, though, you know now how to entertain your guests for the holidays using the tips above.