Safe and Happy Family 2020 Holidays
As the winter holidays approach, many Canadian families are trying to balance healthy choices and a sense of traditional celebrations. There are several factors to consider as you plan your 2020 family events.
Canada’s Public Health Service strongly recommends “You should keep holiday gatherings and celebrations within your immediate household.”
You will need to consider who constitutes your immediate household:
- Do you have a live-in nanny or elder caregiver? Will they celebrate the holidays with your family as part of the household or will they leave your social bubble to spend time with their families?
- What are the holiday plans for caregivers that come into your home? How do they plan to protect themselves and other families during the holidays?
If you choose to expand your gathering, or if members of your family support team plan to spend holiday time away from their normal routine, here are some tips from the Public Health Service to consider.
Limit non-essential travel and activities 14 days before attending planned gatherings or celebrations to reduce your risk of exposure to COVID-19 and the risk of exposing others.
Those returning home for the holidays, like students, nannies or caregivers, need to consider what steps they can take to protect themselves and loved ones.
If you’re usually the host for celebrations and holidays, it’s okay if you’d prefer to protect yourself and those in your household. Let your loved ones know ahead of time if you don’t feel comfortable gathering. Continue reading below for tips on how to celebrate differently.
Should you want to proceed with hosting a celebration, follow public health measures to limit spread.
- Check with your local public health authority on gathering size limits.
- Have a gathering that’s as small as possible to keep everyone safer.
- Ensure that you have enough space so guests can consistently keep 2 metres apart.
- Ask guests to take a COVID-19 self-assessment before attending your celebration.
- Have a plan for how you’ll safely care for any guests who become sick during your gathering.
- Have everyone wear a non-medical mask in shared indoor spaces. Masks should only be removed while eating and drinking. A 2-metre distance must be kept from others while masks are removed for this purpose.
- If sharing a meal, ensure a 2-metre distance can be maintained between members of different households.
- Have separate tables for each household if necessary.
- Serve pre-portioned appetizers, rather than dips and shared snack bowls that many people will touch.
- Keep noise levels low (for example lowering music volumes), so guests can hear each other without needing to speak loudly or shout.
- Open windows (as weather permits) to allow for fresh air and to increase airflow.
Consider a few new ways to celebrate
Food is a big part of many holiday traditions. Even if you’re not participating in a big family gathering, you can still find ways to share favorite holiday treats and the special memories triggered by the delicious smells and flavors.
- Take the time that you would normally spend cooking a big meal to teach your kids a special family recipe. This year they can create new memories of the time spent together in the kitchen.
- Package up family favorites to share. Even if sitting down around the table isn’t a good option, you can still share that side dish or dessert that everyone loves.
- Make several smaller pies instead of the big one and drop them off to relatives.
- Portion out that special cranberry sauce or other side dish into small containers.
- Put the extra special holiday cookies in tins this year.
Consider what family traditions can go virtual.
- A webcam or mobile phone can be set up at the table for prayers and stories.
- Consider packaging up supplies for a craft project to send to extended family and craft together online.
- Streaming services like Netflix, Sling, Amazon Prime, and Hulu all offer watch party options so you can still share a favorite holiday movie together.
- There are tons of party games that can also by played virtually. Online.com has curated a list of everything from card games, board games, and trivia that can be played together.
However you choose to celebrate the holiday season in 2020, we wish you all a safe and healthy season and a very happy new year.
