Whenever I go to my parents’ house I take my spot on edge of the fireplace. Regardless if there is room on the couch or any of the plushy chairs, I sit in front of the raging fire. Not only because I am perpetually cold, the fireplace holds lots of great family memories for me. Thankfully I have a fireplace in my home that I am using to share many of the same family bonding activities with my children.
Family fun in front of the fireplace
Fire safety lesson
Even if your children have been around fireplaces their entire life, it does not hurt to have a safety lesson each year. Go over the basics, how to clean the fireplace, open the damper, choose the wood and safely start the fire. It is also a good idea to go over how to use a fire extinguisher. A year makes a big difference in what children remember. Continue to give them expanded fireplace duties as they grow. When they are little, they can help stack kindling and bring logs over.
Cook dinner
Set up a baked potato bar while foil wrapped potatoes cook in your fireplace. When the potatoes are soft, peel back some of the heavy foil and top with cheese, sour cream, butter or a scoop of chili. Everyone can enjoy the fire while eating around the flames. If you are not interested in potatoes, roast hot dogs or sausage. Follow up with marshmallows with or without the graham cracker and chocolate.
Roast nuts
You may have sung the line, “Chestnuts roasting on a open fire” but have you ever tried to do this? It can become a special annual tradition for the family. You will need chestnuts, a very sharp knife and a roasting pan with a lid. Rinse the chestnuts and then cut an “X” shape into each shell. The cut needs to go through the shell right to the meat of the nut. Put the nuts in the roasting pan and then directly in your fire. Shake it occasionally so all the nuts roast evenly. It takes approximately 20 minutes to roast and you can remove the pan and pour the nuts on a baking sheet to cool slightly. Open the warm nuts by peeling back the “X” to reveal the sweet nut meat. You can sprinkle salt, cinnamon and sugar or herbs over the nuts if desired.
Go back in time
Dim the lights, start a nice fire in the fireplace and settle in to watch a classic old movie. Depending upon the age and temperament of your kids you can introduce the Three Stooges, Shirley Temple or maybe a classic Christmas movie. Fresh popcorn can add to the cozy feel. Oh, and like a theater, be sure to have everyone silence their cell phones and shut the laptops!
More by Sylvie Branch:
Four Fun Ways to Burn Energy with Your Kids
Messy room? What you can do as a parent
9 Ways to Encourage Creativity