This is our last issue of 2020 and like most of you, I am shouting “Hallelujah!” as I leave this year in the rearview mirror without a second glance. Though we’re all more than ready for a new year, let’s make sure we end this one on a high note.
Winter Break starts next week for school families. The days between Christmas and New Year can be a great time to recharge with your loved ones with some simple yet memorable activities. Here are some easy ideas to get you started.
Hot Cocoa Bar – Clear off the kitchen counter and make a hot cocoa bar that lets the kids concoct their own special creations. You can make your own hot cocoa mix, set up a collection of packets to choose from or use K-cups. Put out some mugs and containers of marshmallows, chocolate chips and flavored morsels, cereals, cinnamon, sprinkles, caramel sauce, whipped cream, peppermint sticks, and anything else you can dream up and start stirring! Up the ante with a competition for different prize categories (Most Creative, Best Spin on a Classic, etc.)…loser has to clean up! *Bonus: DIY bars can be great for dinner or nighttime snacks as well. Try a baked potato bar (think sour cream, chives, bacon bits, cheeses, etc.), a quesadilla bar, pasta bar, popcorn bar, etc.
For the Birds – It’s no secret that kids (and cats for that matter) love watching birds and other backyard creatures. Treat your feathered friends to a peanut butter bird feeder. There are many different takes on the classic homemade bird feeder, but this easy recipe is my family’s go-to: use a cookie cutter to cut out the middle of a piece of bread (older bread works best), poke a pipe cleaner through the top of the shape, spread peanut butter over the shape, coat with birdseed (dip facedown into a bowl), and hang on a tree branch or hook. Enjoy watching the birds!
Get Moving – Local families love the Cleveland Metroparks for many reasons, and the Emerald Necklace only gets better in the wintertime. Apart from hiking, tobogganing and sled riding, the Cleveland Metroparks offers other ways to have fun and work off those cookies and rich Christmas meals. Snowshoe and cross-country ski rental are available at various sites. Snowshoes can be rented from Big Met Golf Course and Hinckley Lake Boathouse & Store. Cross-country ski rental is available at Big Met Golf Course. Note that four inches of snow is required. Safety/sanitation measures have been put into place. Check clevelandmetroparks.com for more information and rates. Note that our nearby Cuyahoga Valley National Park also has ample options for fun wintertime activities: ice fishing, tubing, skiing, etc. Visit nps.gov/cuva for more information.
DIY Projects – The options are practically endless here. Kids love crafting, so do an online search that matches their interests and ability levels. A few neat ones I came across include DIY blessing/prayer/gratitude jars, DIY home/bedroom décor like wreaths and centerpieces, string light art, care packages and jarred baking mixes.
Think Spring and Get Cleaning – With everyone home (and possibly bored), task each family member with cleaning out their closets and packing unused items into boxes for donation. A great general rule of thumb when deciding whether to keep or get rid of something: if you haven’t used it/worn it in a year, donate it (or toss it if it’s unusable). There are tons of organizations throughout Greater Cleveland that accept donations, even more so in these challenging times.
See the Lights – If you haven’t had time to cruise the holiday lighting displays in neighborhoods and town squares, get your car keys. This is by far the cheapest and easiest form of entertainment for families. In some locations, you can park and walk through the displays (many are even timed to music!). Hop online for a quick list of Cleveland’s top Christmas light displays or scout out your own route with recommendations from friends and organizations on social media.
In closing, a Facebook friend of mine posted the best message recently about 2020: “This is not the year to get everything you want. This is the year to appreciate everything you have.” As 2020 draws to a close, ring in the new year with a grateful heart. There’s no better way to usher in a new year.
By SARA MACHO HILL
Contributing Writer