PALZ Newsletter: November
Hello PALZ friends! Our whole team wishes you and your family a joyful holiday season!
We know some of you will be preparing to move or just moved to a new place during the holidays. So our team put together ideas to create fun holiday experiences while you are moving or waiting for your new house.
Activities
Miss Kitty’s Intel
Many military families have early holiday celebrations with extended family and friends. But you can also have a virtual holiday celebration! Ask your parents if you can connect with family and friends online or find online games where everyone can play together and chat. Here are some more virtual holiday ideas:
*Watch a holiday movie at the same time and talk about it online.
*Open presents together online.
*Share things you are grateful for or tell a holiday story.
* Hold an online contest for who can sing all the words to a favorite holiday song.
* Play charades or family trivia with others online.
Mr. Lucky
Ask your parents to help you make a list of games, activities and crafts that can be done while traveling. Then your parents can help you create an activity backpack to take on your trip to your new home.
Here are some things you could include in the backpack:
Small holiday decorations
construction paper
spiral notebook
scissors, glue or tape
a deck of cards or small games
Some craft ideas are: Make paper chains to hang up in a room. Create turkeys, snowmen, snowflakes and Christmas trees out of construction paper to decorate walls wherever you’re staying. Be sure to use tape that will not damage the walls!
New Africa/Adobe Stock
As Miss Kitty said, family game nights are a terrific way to create new holiday memories. You can play fun games like Go Fish, Rummy, or Hand and Foot Canasta with a deck or two of cards.
Smilla’s Adventures
Talk to your parents about keeping one or two holiday traditions while traveling or staying in temporary lodging for the holidays. A tradition is an activity that is passed down from older family members to younger family members.
My owner’s family likes taking a ride to look at Christmas lights and also watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on television.
FotoAndalucia/Adobe Stock
You might even be able to start some new traditions. Here are some ideas you can ask your parents about:
· Volunteer to help serve a holiday meal at a local charity, church or synagogue, or community shelter.
· Adopt an older person from a nearby assisted living center and have a holiday meal together.
· Connect with the local USO chapter and help at a holiday event.
· Learn about the holiday customs in your new location and try one out.
The PALZ team hopes all these ideas will help you to have the best holidays possible with your family. Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!
