How to Spend Time With Family During Hanukkah

Hanukkah is a time for family to draw near and spend time together, whether it be entertaining at home or visiting family members. However, it isn't how much time we spend with family during Hanukkah; it's how we spend that special time together. So, unplug the kids from their video games, get mom out of the kitchen and truly enjoy this time with family during Hanukkah.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• List of holiday supplies, including grocery items
• Hanukkah decorations
• Games of choice

Discover How to Spend Time with Family During Hanukkah

1. Get the entire family involved in ushering in Hanukkah when you spend time sprucing up the house and decorating for the holiday. Children can help hang handmade Hanukkah drawings and set up the holiday table decorations, while perhaps Dad can string blue and white lights around the interior and exterior of the house.

2. Arrange transportation for family members who live outside of your local area to visit your home, or offer to pick them up, if possible. Older family members will especially appreciate this gesture, particularly if they are unable to drive to your destination themselves.

3. Get organized. If you take the time in the days before the arrival of Hanukkah to shop for necessary supplies, you'll spend less time running around during holiday and more time with your loved ones.

4. Plan meals well in advance, especially if family is coming to stay with you during Hanukkah. Knowing what to serve and even cooking certain dishes ahead of time will save you from eight days of heat in the kitchen and more free time to spend enjoying the company at the family table.

5. Stock up on board games--nothing brings the family together during Hanukkah like classic games such as Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit or Monopoly. Of course, there's always the vintage variety of board games for the younger folks to consider, such as Chutes and Ladders and Spill the Beans. Don't forget a few dreidels and some gelt!

6. Spend time sharing the miracle of Hanukkah with the family, especially the children. After lighting the Hanukkah menorah each evening, read stories and sing songs that illustrate the significance of the holiday and how the Hanukkah message is intended to shed illumination on injustice and oppression in the world.

Tips & Warnings

• It's an honorable and kindly gesture to extend an invitation to your neighbors to spend time with your family during Hanukkah, especially if they are alone.