What a fun time of year to be young! So many lights – on trees, hanging from roofs, wrapped around deer and snowmen…everywhere!
This season, be sure to get outside as a family, on foot or in the car, and see up close how the neighbors decorate for the holidays. Many families may already make such a trip to see the local lights, so consider trying this new idea and make this activity a little more interactive this year.
Print out a scorecard, using the following guide (or make your own) and assign grades to the houses you visit. Pick 5-10 homes to grade (you cannot grade them all – the novelty will wear thin for sure).
You can use the following 3-point system:
House #1
Family: (Name of your neighbor – if you know it)
Street Address:
1) Illumination (circle one)
1 (totally dark)
2 (a few candles)
3 (lively, bright and festive – not going to keep the neighbors awake)
4 (yikes – must have been a sale on lighting!)
5 (this house acts as a lighthouse despite being hundreds of miles from the coast! Must own stock in the electric companies!)
2) Decorations (circle one)
1 (just leftover leaves from Autumn)
2 (one or two tasteful outdoor decorations – a wreath, a Santa flag hanging from the mailbox, etc.)
3 (illuminated snowmen, candy canes, or reindeer dotting the front lawn)
4 (multiple huge and/or inflatable lawn decorations)
5 (displaying one of every decoration their local store stocked – on the roof, in the trees – made no decisions, simply bought everything available!)
3) Overall Display (circle one)
1 (on vacation or just a grinch!)
2 (subtle, very minimal effort)
3 (bold yet tasteful)
4 (enthusiastically bright and fun – an energetic effort)
5 (totally off their rockers! An over-the-top display of lights, decorations, and ornaments)
Total Score Between:
1-5 (needs to try a little harder to show their Christmas spirit)
5-10 (maybe perfect!)
10-15 (maybe a little too much happening. – colored lights, white lights, blinking lights!)
When you get back home, compare grades and talk about the best houses you saw, the most outrageous, the prettiest, the best single decoration, etc.
Laugh about those with way too much going on!
Think about ways you can spruce up your own Christmas display by borrowing ideas from your Holiday House Tour winners!
Related Links:
Check out some Christmas Decoration Ideas