How to Have a Socially Distant Christmas

Christmas is quickly approaching and there is a lot that remains to be seen regarding state restrictions and lockdowns thanks to COVID-19. The CDC recommends having a virtual celebration this holiday season, especially as COVID numbers are on the rise in most states and outbreaks are being attributed to small household gatherings.

At the end of the day, keeping things positive no matter how frustrating the lockdown might be will be the cue to your kids that different is okay. “The key components to enjoying a socially distant Christmas is to stay positive, talk to family virtually or on the phone, and try to maintain as much normalcy as possible,” Kiki McCray of Moodly Modern Therapy, PLLC told Mom.com.

If your family is trying to figure out how to celebrate Christmas and make it a positive memory, here are some ways you can do so.

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Watch Hallmark Christmas specials
Watching Christmas movies is a great way to feel good about the season. Sure things aren’t perfect and we’d all love to go to our normal parties and events. Instead, make the hot cocoa and get the fire going and snuggle up as a family to enjoy a movie. It takes the pressure off of having to entertain the kids every night. If Hallmark isn’t your thing, get one of your favorite Christmas movies to share with the kids. I know my household just can’t call it Christmas if we haven’t watched A Christmas Story multiple times.

Talk to Santa virtually
Razonia McClellan tells us that because she can’t take her son to see Santa, “an intimate video chat with Santa” is designed to keep him excited about the season. This is a creative way for parents to keep the legend of Santa alive and provide young children with a sense of normalcy for the season. Kids can talk to Santa about what they want and Santa can discuss whether kids have been good this year and made it to the nice list. McClellan recommends using Santa’s Club for a great experience.