Writing by Gia Miller and Serena Norr
Artwork by Justin Negard
In addition to getting (and giving) presents, the holidays are a special time of year. It’s when you can reconnect and bond with your family. You might go on vacation, watch your favorite movies together or enjoy certain holiday traditions. But this year, we also encourage you to try something new. Below are several ideas that you can do as is or tweak to you and your family’s preferences. Let us know if you complete them all during your holiday break.
Build your own escape room
Whether it’s for friends or family (or both), building your own escape room isn’t as hard as it seems. First, create a theme — do you want your guests to solve a mystery or go on an adventure? Then, develop your plot, including the main characters. Next, gather and/or create any props you’ll need to set the scene and make your puzzles. Finally, create all the clues and test your escape room before inviting your guests to participate.
Enjoy a family hike
Whether your family prefers mild or rigorous exercise, our area is full of beautiful hikes. Some local favorites include Ward Pound Ridge Reservation, Westmoreland Sanctuary and Teatown Lake Reservation. Then, explain to your parents that the perfect family hike always ends with a family pizza party at your favorite pizzeria.
Make your own holiday cards
A great holiday card can be even better than a gift, but finding those cards can sometimes be impossible. So why not make them? It’s not as difficult as it seems once you know how. Begin by thinking about the person receiving the card—do they like to laugh or are they more serious? What are their hobbies, musical preferences, etc.? Next, think about the cover. Animals dressed in costumes or doing unusual things are great for funny cards, while favorite quotes work well for more serious cards. Inside, keep it brief. If you’ve set up the joke on the outside, get right to the punchline inside. If you’re taking a more serious approach, still keep it brief—no more than two sentences. Finally, decorate the card as much as you’d like.
Try a new recipe
Is there something you’ve really wanted to make or try? Here’s your chance. Spend the day working with one or several family members to create the perfect dinner. And if you have a big family, make a family feast, letting everyone make a dish.
Volunteer
Did you know that volunteering can actually make you happier? It’s true. Studies have shown that volunteering can also make you feel less stressed, improve your anxiety or depression and even make you feel more relaxed. Ready to begin? Here’s the best way to start:
Write down your skills and what interests you. Do you like food, pets, shopping? Are you a talented artist or great at sports? There are local opportunities for all these things (and more).
Research. Look up local charities, community groups and religious organizations that offer opportunities based on your interests. Reach out to the ones you like.
Don’t overcommit. Start by volunteering just once to see if you enjoy it. If you do, sign up for more. If you don’t, then think about what you didn’t like and look for another opportunity you might like better.
Find other ways to help. Once you begin volunteering regularly, notice how it makes you feel and think of other ways you can help. It could be as simple as helping your neighbor with a small project.
Every so often, reflect. Every few months, think about your volunteer experience. Are you still enjoying it? Do you want to do more or try something new? Is it overwhelming or do you have more free time? Adjust accordingly.
Make a family art project
Pick a fun and immersive project for everyone to try. This could include painting a canvas, making a collage or teaching your parents how to make friendship bracelets.
Create your own journal cover
Journaling is an incredible way to connect to your thoughts and emotions. Get started by creating a personalized cover to showcase your personality and favorite things. You can decorate your journal by making a collage, sketching a beautiful drawing, adding stickers or simply doodling. It’s up to you what you do, as long as you make it your own.
Have a screen-free day
Your parents have been saying this, for, well, forever: get off your screens! While it might sound like a punishment, you now have an entire list of things you can do instead. Putting your screens down for a day is actually a great way to do something different and maybe, just maybe, find a new hobby. If a full day seems like too much, start with just a few hours and build up to a full day. You can do it, and you might even like it.
This article was published in the November/December 2024 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
To read other articles in this special 18 and under guide to surviving the holidays, click here.
Gia Miller is an award-winning journalist and the editor-in-chief/co-publisher of Connect to Northern Westchester. She has a magazine journalism degree (yes, that's a real thing) from the University of Georgia and has written for countless national publications, ranging from SELF to The Washington Post. Gia desperately wishes schools still taught grammar. Also, she wants everyone to know they can delete the word "that" from about 90% of their sentences, and there's no such thing as "first annual." When she's not running her media empire, Gia enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, laughing at her crazy dog and listening to a good podcast. She thanks multiple alarms, fermented grapes and her amazing husband for helping her get through each day. Her love languages are food and humor.
Serena Norr
Serena Norr is a freelance writer, playwright, and founder of Let’s Make a Play, a playwriting program for kids and adults. Her plays have been performed at the Omaha Fringe Festival, White Plains Performing Arts Center, the New Deal Creative Arts Center, Westchester Collaborative Theater, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, The Players Theater with the Rogue Theater Festival and the NYC Short Play Festival, The Tank, The Flea, the University of Alabama as well as various productions over Zoom. She is also a teaching artist with the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival and Caramoor Center for the Arts. For more information, visit http://www.serenanorr.com/
Justin is an award-winning designer and photographer. He was the owner and creative director at Future Boy Design, producing work for clients such as National Parks Service, Vintage Cinemas, The Tarrytown Music Hall, and others. His work has appeared in Bloomberg TV, South by Southwest (SXSW), Edible Magazine, Westchester Magazine, Refinery 29, the Art Directors Club, AIGA and more.
Justin is a two-time winner of the International Design Awards, American Photography and Latin America Fotografia. Vice News has called Justin Negard as “one of the best artists working today.”
He is the author of two books, On Design, which discusses principles and the business of design, and Bogotà which is a photographic journey through the Colombian capital.
Additionally, Justin has served as Creative Director at CityMouse Inc., an NYC-based design firm which provides accessible design for people with disabilities, and has been awarded by the City of New York, MIT Media Lab and South By Southwest.
He lives in Katonah with his wonderfully patient wife, son and daughter.
