Create a Kid Friendly Happy Hour: Holiday Edition
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After writing How to Create a Kid-Friendly Happy Hour, I thought, why not create a holiday edition?
A kid-friendly happy hour differs from the half-priced cocktail hour at the local bar or restaurant. It takes the fun social elements of an adult happy hour and applies them to a family version.
For example, if you observe adults enjoying happy hour at a bar, they are laughing, talking, and carrying on conversations. The use of their cell phones decreases while they are socializing.
They are eating appetizers and drinking specially crafted beverages, having fun, and building relationships! You can create this fun environment in your home with your family!
Creating a family happy hour helps kids learn how to take turns in conversations, reduce screen time, and build stronger bonds within the family.
With some planning, parents can create fun mocktails, snacks, and conversation starters for an evening of fun with the kids!
This holiday edition includes resources such as recipes, links, and entertainment ideas to add to any family happy hour plan!
This post contains three main sections: one for drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), one for snacks, and one for entertainment.
You, as parents or as a family, can create your pairings!
Pick a beverage, then some snacks, and finish your pairing by making a choice or two from the entertainment section!
In the photo below, this pairing focused on the Cranberry Mule as the beverage, several snacks, and the game of Clue!
Let’s Get Started!
What makes the drinks unique when you are at a bar or restaurant? Think about…
The glassware or mugs that are used. Do you have some fun cups, glasses, or mugs you can get out for your family happy hour? Decorated paper cups can work, too, if you are worried about the kids using glassware!
Fruit garnishes are fun!
Straws can add an extra element of excitement!
Add decorative touches such as sugar on a glass rim, whipped cream, sprinkles, or whatever you have!
Remember, whatever your kids enjoy drinking works! Apple juice? Soda? Chocolate milk? Smoothies? But below, I highlighted several themed drinks.
I researched for you and linked the recipes. Some links are blogs, so you will need to scroll down to jump to the recipes.
The alcoholic drinks are marked with an (*), and the recipes are numbered to match the photos!
Frosty Rudolph (cherry cream soda)
* Eggnog: Leave out the liquor, and the kids can have some too!
Mimosas are made by mixing orange juice with champagne for adults or sparkling juice for kids.
You can also brew some Peppermint or Cinnamon Spice tea!
Next, let’s talk about food!
Would your family prefer appetizers or more of a “snacky dinner”?
Choose how you would like to approach how much food to offer and start planning!
Add special plates and napkins, or maybe some festive paper plates and napkins?
After the photos, there are links for fun holiday charcuterie boards and other fun holiday-themed food for your Family Happy Hour!
Remember, you can make the recipes and cheese boards as simple or fancy as you like. Here are examples!
15 New Year’s Eve Snacks for Kids (Don’t wait until New Year’s Eve to check this out!)
Let everyone create their snack mix. Put out 3-6 items like Goldfish crackers, raisins, M&Ms, cheerios, or whatever your family likes. Give them each a bowl, and let them mix their snack!
Happy hour entertainment is typically focused on socializing and enjoying the company of others.
The entertainment suggestions here will provide ways for families to connect and enjoy the evening!
Have a Trivia Night. Need some inspiration? Check out these Mentalfloss.com links…
Holiday Mad Libs
Would You Rather Thanksgiving Edition, and Would You Rather Christmas Edition
Traditional board games are fun, but card games may be easier with drinks and snacks…
Pick your favorite holiday movie to watch!
Check out the Guinness Book of World Records for some interesting topics to chat about!
If you are not worried about spills, there are several more ideas for fun in the post Turn the Coffee Table into an Inspiration Station!
Puzzles! Puzzles! Puzzles! Start a large puzzle with older kids or a smaller one with younger kids! Have a word search race. Find tons of free word searches here at The Spruce Crafts site. If you prefer other puzzles and crosswords, check out the Puzzles to Print site! Both have free printables.
I hope you have been inspired to create some happy-hour fun
this holiday season for your family!
Share this with other parents who would enjoy a new creative
way to enjoy conversation with the kids!
If you would like more parenting inspiration, check out these other posts…