It’s wintertime and the holiday season, which means families with fire places are going to be buying lots of wood and stoking fires — but what do you do once you’ve got the kids gathered around. Staring at flames for two or three hours, as interesting as fire may be, still seems a bit unproductive. But, with the right activities, a nearby cozy fire can help make an evening with the family fly by.
Telling stories around the fireplace is one of the oldest activities of human beings. In the past, they may have been about the hunt of the day, or the movement of the sun or moon. Often, around a camp fire, the stories are spooky; ghost stories seem to work well under settings of low light and crackling, flickering flames. However, the joy of the holiday season may not lend itself to ghost stories. In that case, the family could tell stories about the family. It’s an excellent time to let children know the adventures of their parents when they were kids, reliving the more interesting or exciting times of life. Sharing these memories (the positive ones, at least) can be a real bonding experience for a family. Why not bring out your old photo albums and scrapbooks while everyone is gathered around the fireplace? There’s nothing more entertaining than looking at old photographs and sharing forgotten memories. This activity can help to bring you closer as a family.
I remember, too, toasting marshmallows in the fire place on untwisted wire coat hangers (although I’d be hard pressed to find wire hangers in my home today). Still, making molasses cookies (a favorite of my father’s) or heating up some hot chocolate — essentially, bonding with food, seems like a decent way to go, as long as you’re not eating this way every night (in the past, we never thought about the calories, but today, it seems, it’s essential).
Consider card games or board games, too. These activities are excellent ways to spend time with each other at a level on which everyone can relate, the spirit of friendly competition. Considering how much time we spend on our computers and video games, we may find actual cards and boards a welcome break.
Time gathered around a hearth fireplace is not only a way to heat your house, but it’s also a way to warm up the relationships you have with your friends and family.
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