Many grandparents want to spend as much time as they can with their grandkids.

For many, the holidays are about family and being together. Many grandparents love the time around Christmas because that means the grandkids are out of school. Many grandparents want to spend as much time with the little ones as possible, making memories that will last forever. Here are some ideas for what you can do with your grandchildren this holidays.

1. Watch some holiday classics.

Many families enjoy gathering together to watch a holiday movie. Some of the classics include “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Good Housekeeping created a list of 72 holiday-themed movies in case you are looking for something different to watch this year.

While you’re all gathered to watch the movies, don’t forget the snacks! Looking for an easy way to please everyone’s palate? Make a charcuterie board! While the traditional charcuterie board has slices of deli meats and cheeses, the possibilities are endless as to what you can use to create yours. Add some crunchy vegetables, which are both good for you and your teeth, fresh fruits, or even something crunchy like pretzels or breadsticks. The possibilities are endless!

2. Glow on the Austin Trail of Lights.

Now in its 58th year, the Austin Trail of Lights is a must-visit for Texans and lovers of lights. The display features over two million lights illuminating Zilker Park. The trail includes more than 70 holiday light displays and nearly 100 trees decked out in holiday lights. Many Central Texas residents visit the trail every year, so make it a tradition for your family, too!

3. Get outdoors.

We can all use some fresh air, so why not take the grandkids and explore what Bee Cave has to offer?

A family favorite is the Sculptures of Bee Cave. The 7-acre park features rotating sculptural exhibits from local and national artists. The area is also home to many native Texas plants and there is even a pond on the property. Grab the grandkids and explore the newest exhibits and take in nature’s beauty.

Looking for more space to run? Check out Bee Cave Central Park. The park boasts over 2 miles of paved hiking trails, perfect for the entire family, and even a stroller or wagon. The park has basketball courts and fields for playing soccer or other sports. There is a pavilion for picnicking and, of course, a playground for all ages that includes an interactive area with tube drums and vibration pipes. As an added bonus, there is a dog park, so feel free to bring the family’s four-legged friends, too!

4. Try some new holiday recipes.

The holidays are a great time to get together and make new recipes!

Have you ever tried to make homemade applesauce? This recipe is a guide, but there is a lot of wiggle room to add in your favorite flavor profile and make the applesauce as sweet as you want it. Have the grandkids help out by peeling the apples, either by hand or by using a hand-cranked peeler. Experiment with different spices, like apple pie or pumpkin pie spice mix. You can also get creative by adding other fresh fruits for different flavors and colors.

Want to make your cooking time educational? You can throw in a math lesson by having the grandkids work with fractions as they measure the ingredients needed for making the recipe. What happens if you want to double the recipe? Let the grandkids figure out the math for you.

Another fun snack to make with the grandkids is a snowman cheese ball. This recipe is as easy as combining the ingredients to taste, mixing it all together and then refrigerating until it’s ready to eat. Let the grandkids measure and mix the ingredients. They can even mold the snowman. You can serve this with crackers as a healthy snack that is rich in calcium, which helps build strong bones and teeth, or with crunchy vegetables, which are also tooth-friendly.

Happy holidays from the staff at Tomasik Family Dental!

We hope you have a wonderful holiday season with friends and family. But we also want to remind you to stop by and see us for your biannual checkup if you haven’t been by in the past six months. We’re here to make you smile!