While the holidays may not be the same this year, there are still ways to make them memorable for everyone. Thanks to the gift of ever-advancing technology, there are still ways to celebrate together while socially distancing. Here are five co-parenting ideas to celebrate your holidays virtually this year.
1. Plan an Online Virtual Celebration
First, think of how your family typically celebrates the holiday season, whether it be a celebration with your other co-parent, family, or friends. You may typically enjoy the festivities on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or even the weekend before or after. This year, pick your day and time and send an invite to everyone to celebrate online with you. This allows those willing to participate to link in via Skype, Zoom, or other online platforms. This is a great way to visit and share time together during the holiday season and keep a little bit of normalcy for the holiday.
The best part about a virtual celebration is that it doesn’t matter which parent the child is with on the date the family plans for a get-together. They can join from either home. Make sure the day and time doesn’t conflict with your co-parent, and then ask if it’s possible to allow the child to join in on the celebration.
2. Dress the Part
Pick out your favorite ugly sweater to celebrate the holiday season. You can even set up a challenge with awards for the best ugly sweater categories, such as most unique, most festive, and funniest. Prizes could include e-gift cards, which are deliverable immediately via email. Make arrangements with friends or family to get together virtually to share outfits or vote on favorites. Add a few games to add to the fun, such as Wrap Battle, where players have 60 seconds to wrap themselves completely in wrapping paper. Add some snacks for your visit, and you’ve got an ugly sweater party.
Another fun way to celebrate is to get all dolled up in your fancy holiday attire. Plan a virtual tea party to share the fun. Again, whether the child is with mom or dad for the day, arrangements can easily be made to include them in any virtual get together.
3. Open Gifts Together
In previous holiday years, you may not have enjoyed the gift of seeing everyone open their presents. This year you can take advantage of the available technology and create a time for everyone to open gifts together. Make arrangements ahead of time for gifts to be mailed or dropped off on the porch so that everyone is ready on the day you pick to share. You can participate in the gift opening with grandparents, friends, and extended family.
Virtual gift opening could also be a time for a child to have the opportunity to open presents with both parents. Co-parents can make arrangements to watch the child open a few gifts, perhaps even purchased jointly, together online.
4. Secret Santa
If this tradition is one that your family typically participates in, Secret Santa can still happen this holiday season. You can purchase and ship gifts online as a gift to open together in real-time, thanks to modern technology. There are apps where you can add everyone’s name, and the system will generate your person for you. Send your Secret Santa gift and then open it together when you usually would. A few apps we enjoy are Elfster, Simple Secret Santa Generator, and Secret Santa Service. Secret Santa is a tradition that can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age.
Anyone can participate in a virtual Secret Santa gift exchange. Ask your co-parent if they would like to join in on the fun by helping your child with selecting a gift and allowing them to participate in an online exchange.
5. Play Games
With more and more people getting together via the internet and celebrating virtually, playing games together can be a fun way to celebrate any holidays. A few game ideas include Would You Rather, Simon Says, or even a well-planned Scavenger Hunt. No matter which games you play, you and your children are sure to make memories that will last a lifetime. If your child has an extended visitation with the other parent over the holidays, plan an e-visitation to share in a few games for some special time together.
Whether this is your first year or tenth year being co-parents, deciding what is right for you and your family during this challenging year can be difficult. We hope this list of ways to celebrate virtually comes in useful. If you have any questions about your holiday schedule or would like to discuss how to implement virtual visitations, feel free to reach out to a family law attorney at Family Matters Law Group for a consultation today.
