Christmas in a Multi-generational household

There’s nothing quite like a big family Christmas, especially if you have a multi-generational household where people of all ages are spending the holidays together.

Christmas can be fun and exciting, but it can also be tough, especially if you have a lot of family members with different needs to take care of.

If you have a big family with lots of different ages mixing together then here are Family Annex’s top tips for having Christmas in a multi-generational household.

1. Have A Plan of Action

If there are going to be a lot of people in the house, then you might want to make a plan of action. It doesn’t have to be an intensive schedule but it’s always a good idea to have some sort of plan in place so you can keep track of the day.

Make sure you know when everything needs to be cooked and when that needs to be done by. If you have the timings down, you can spend more time with your family and people know to be ready for the time you have arranged to eat.

2. Make Sure That You Cater For Everybody and Have a Few Options

When you are entertaining a lot of people, especially if there is a big age gap, then you might want to have a few options available for people to choose from.

Be sure to have a choice of food, such as a sweet and a savoury dessert option so that everyone is catered for. People’s tastes can change wildly between age groups and the sweet sugary desserts the kids love might not be to your wine and cheese-loving grandma’s taste.

You should also have a range of activities and entertainment available. Older people tend to get tired a lot quicker than young people, especially children who seem to have boundless energy on Christmas. Try and have a range of options so that everyone’s needs can be catered for, and no one is left feeling uncomfortable.

3.  Remember To Respect Peoples Wishes

Everyone is different and your loved ones might all want to spend Christmas in different ways. As nice as it is to have a big family Christmas with all your family close, you might find they want to do different things.

If this is the case then you need to remember to respect peoples wishes and understand that your families happiness is what matters the most.

4. Try and Make Time for Everyone

Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends, but this isn’t easy when you have a lot of said family and friends. Try and make time for everyone. Yes, you want to make sure the kids are having a good Christmas and that they have everything they need, but you mustn’t forget to spend time with the other member of the family.

Older people can find Christmas particularly lonely, especially if they have lost someone, they would usually spend Christmas with. Remember to try and make time for the older people in your life and sit down with them, have a conversation, and reminisce about Christmases passed.

5. Make Sure Everyone Has Their Own Space

Christmas can be very overwhelming, especially for older people.  Children tend to get a little over-excited and boisterous at Christmas time and this can cause problems for other members of the family.

If you have an older loved one that can get easily overwhelmed or exhausted trying to keep up with the grandkids, then you might want to make sure that there is a space for them to relax in when it all gets too much.

Having a granny annexe is a great way to make sure that your elderly parents have a space that they can retreat to if the big family Christmas gets too much for them. the granny annexe makes a perfect sport for a relaxing peaceful Christmas, whereas the main house can serve as the perfect place for the younger generation to tire themselves out.

Plus, with a granny annexe you’ll always have a spare oven for Christmas, and isn’t that what we all really want.

Get In Touch

If you would like to find out more about granny annexes, get in touch with Family Annexe. We have six unique annexe models available, each providing a safe and cost-effective solution to elderly care.

Family Annexe has an efficient seven-step process, designed to make your annexe experience stress-free and enjoyable. This starts with a free, no-obligation consultation!