7 Home Holiday Activities to Do With the Family

‘Tis the season for spending time with the family and enjoying all sorts of fun festivities from the comfort (and warmth) of your home. Need some inspiration? Mental Floss has partnered with Pizza Hut to share some of the best at-home holiday activities to do with your loved ones, from crafting homemade decorations to game-night ideas and more. Each is sure to keep boredom at bay for families of all ages.

1. Host a family game night.

If you’re pressed for time and fresh out of ideas, you can never go wrong with a classic board game, holiday-themed trivia, or even a spirited bout of charades. These tried-and-true games will get the competitive juices flowing and are easy on the wallet. To incentivize everyone to stay engaged and motivated, consider purchasing a small prize for the winner, such as a gift card or a new pair of earbuds.

2. Put together a holiday donation box.

Channel the holiday spirit this year by putting together a donation box filled with clothes, books, non-perishable foods, and more. This is something that you can get the whole family involved with—and for extra brownie points, consider getting a small stocking stuffer for the person with the largest donation box at the end of the night.

3. Hold a holiday movie marathon.

Everyone has a favorite holiday movie. This year, when family comes over, pick a few options out of a hat and hold a marathon from your living room. To make the night even more comforting, skip the cooking and go for an easy win like Pizza Hut’s Triple Treat Box®, which comes complete with breadsticks, two medium 1-topping pizzas, and an order of Cinnabon® Mini Rolls. Remember to get the whole thing delivered right to your home so you don’t have to miss your favorite part of the movie (or change out of your pajamas).

4. Make your own wreaths.

Let each of your family members express their personalities by having them make a unique wreath decorated exactly how they want. You only need a few essentials (think: wires, pruning shears, floral tape, and pins) and some decorations that speak to everyone’s particular taste. Once they’re finished, have everyone hang their wreaths on their bedroom doors to give your home a festive personal touch.

5. Host an ugly sweater contest.

Encourage your family to get creative by hosting an ugly sweater contest this year. Invite everyone to come downstairs dressed to the nines in their best (read: ugliest) holiday garb, and have an impartial judge on hand to award a prize to the winner. You can always don a store-bought sweater, but extra points should go to anyone brave enough to decorate their own.

6. Organize a holiday-themed scavenger hunt.

If you’re looking for an interactive game aimed at the kiddos in your home, you can’t go wrong with an old-fashioned scavenger hunt. All you need to do is wrap a few stocking stuffers and leave clues to where each gift is hidden throughout the house. Have the kids work together to track down the presents before time runs out—but don’t be shocked if a few adults want to get in on the action, too.

7. Make your own holiday cards.

Instead of spending money on store-bought holiday cards, have your family whip up their own. You can decorate blank cards with festive stickers and stamps, or have everyone draw their favorite scene from a holiday movie. To top it off, put each card in a decorative envelope and mail them out to your extended family and friends. You can also spread extra holiday cheer by sending some off to a local nursing home.

Don’t forget to take some time to reward yourself this holiday season—and if pizza is your go-to comfort food, Pizza Hut’s Triple Treat Box is packed with pretty much everything you could want. Loaded with breadsticks, two medium 1-topping pizzas, and an order of Cinnabon® Mini Rolls, it’s the perfect way to get into the holiday spirit.

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