5 Holiday Activities That Will Become Your Little One's New Favorite Traditions

It probably goes without saying, but we'll say it anyway: It's a very different kind of holiday season this year. Although some elements of your celebrations might be put on pause, like traveling to see extended family, caroling for neighbors, or attending a religious service in person, we have a unique opportunity this year to create some new holiday traditions — and we have a feeling they're going to stick around.

In partnership with Highlights, a company that's always mixed creativity, learning, and fun, we've put together some ideas to help you spark new family moments and seasonal routines that are sure to become some of your little ones' favorite memories for years to come. Built around the themes of curiosity, creativity, caring, and confidence, these activities will unleash their inner artists, expand their minds, strengthen their hearts, and bolster their courage.

Spending quality time together and helping them become a happy, well-rounded little human? That's the greatest gift any of us could ask for.

1. Try Out An "Around the World" Holiday Tradition

This year has made it easy to get stuck in our own bubbles. Expand your kids' worldview by learning about a holiday tradition from another country, then trying it out for yourselves. You'll instill a sense of curiosity about other people and places, open their minds, and give them trips to dream about for the future. Highlights is a great resource for ideas to get your children to think about the world beyond their little bubbles.

Our first example comes from the Philippines, where people display paper and bamboo lanterns called parols around Christmas. They're commonly created in star shapes, but can take many forms. After you learn about the tradition, try it out by crafting lanterns in whatever design you'd like, using popsicle sticks and crepe paper.

Another option comes from Mexico. Mexican Hannukah is known as Januca or Lucenarias – the feast of lights — and is celebrated much like it's celebrated here, by doling out little chocolate coins, or gelt. Similar to spinning a dreidel, a game of toma todo (or "winner take all") is played by spinning a top that has six sides, instead of four. This six-sided dreidel is known as a pirinola. Try playing a game of this with your little ones, using a dreidel you've made at home with safe, bakeable clay.

2. Go On A Holiday Lights Tour

This one's especially great because someone else already did the heavy lifting. Bundle up for a refreshing walk, or pile into the car and take a tour through the neighborhood to see the twinkling holiday lights and decorations. You can have conversations about creativity ("How did the displays make you feel?" "Did you see anything you'd never seen before?" 'What was your favorite display you saw and why?") and dedication ("What equipment and tools do you think they used to put all those lights up?" "How many hours do you think it took?").

You can also talk about the collective joy of widespread traditions that are enacted in part for other peoples' pleasure, too. Keep the magic going when you get home by turning it into a craft: draw or print out an outline of a house, and have your kids use markers, glitter, and any other craft supplies to create their own displays.

3. Encourage Caring And Teach Your Little Ones To Give Back

We could always use a reminder that this time of year is about sharing and giving, not just receiving. Encourage your children to help choose items from your own household to give to those in need, or research a local shelter and purchase a gift for one of the children there as part of your holiday shopping. It's the perfect time to have a conversation about what we can do for others with what we have, and why we should always care about other people (even if they're strangers for now!).

4. Give A Classic Story New Life

Wrap up a classic holiday story like "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" — it could be a new book, or a worn old favorite (the wrapping adds a sense of surprise) — and read together for the evening. Once the story has settled into their minds, take it to the next level: Work together to turn it into a performance!

Let them be creative and choose their medium. Will it be a musical? A costume drama? A puppet show? They'll get to meet their inner playwright or marquee star, and feel the confidence that comes with a successful (and fun) "opening night."

For even more fun, explore Highlights' "'Twas The Night Before Christmas." The classic Christmas poem has been illustrated with Hidden Pictures scenes throughout the story, and even the hidden objects are holiday-themed!

5. Create A Signature Recipe From Holiday Leftovers

Inspire the next generation of chefs — or just spend some happy, messy time in the kitchen — by turning your holiday leftovers into new recipes. Can challah bread turn into bread pudding? Can Christmas ham become a ham-and-pancake breakfast? Are waffles just as good with turkey as they are with chicken? Don't forget to write down your new recipe, complete with a special name for the dish, so you can do it all again next year. (Bonus: Your fridge is now empty.)

This article is sponsored by Highlights.