Pick one night of the week, we chose
Saturday night, to play Christmas
movies, some you own or go rent some, and don't forget to
include popcorn, or hot cocoa, with candy canes - they're
yummy to dip in the cocoa, while you watch together. It's
even more fun, if everyone dresses in their pajamas and
pull out comforters, quilts or blankets to share and snuggle
in while you watch the movie.
Decorate the house and give decorations to your child, so they
can decorate their rooms too! Kids love Christmas
decorations. It's a gift to a child to decorate your
house.
If you're a perfectionist, and the
tree has to be perfect, buy your
children little artificial Christmas trees, and small
decorations, and set them up in their rooms. This makes
their rooms very festive, and they can decorate their own tree! Play
Christmas music during decorating!
Make Christmas presents or Christmas
ornaments to give as presents or to decorate your own house. You can
search the internet for Christmas crafts for kids! Do this with
them, it's a lot of fun, and again, don't forget
that Christmas music in the background!
Spend one evening, wrapping presents
together. You may have to wrap
them in separate rooms, so no one sees their gifts, but it's
fun knowing we're all wrapping presents together. Then
place the presents under the tree! Don't forget to
play Christmas music while wrapping!
Take your kids
Christmas shopping at Dollar Stores. Go to the bank, cash what
you can, I cash $10.00 and give both my children $5.00 each - then
they Christmas shop for their loved ones at the dollar store. They
love this, they pick it out all on their own, and pay for it all by
themselves. Remember, no peeking in their shopping
baskets, as a gift for YOU may be in there! You can shop too, and
don't let them peek in your baskets!
Go visit Santa at
the mall, if you share this tradition with your child! They love
this, and it's fun to watch them! Even if you can't afford the
photo, it's still a gift for your child to visit
Santa!! You can also visit the North Pole online, for a
lot of fun activities. Go here: North
Pole
Drive around the neighborhood at
night, and sight see all the pretty
Christmas lights! Drive slowly and carefully! Take another
adult too, if you can!
Are your children's rooms a little
messy?? Urge them to clean out the trash
into one trash bag, and give them another trash bag to donate
toys and clothes they no longer use to good will, so
other boys and girls can enjoy a Merry Christmas too!
Choose a Christmas charity, in deed of service or financial, or
actual gift contribution. Include your child in these
activities, taking the time to explain the importance of
giving to others.
Sing Christmas Carols together. You can find lyrics to
traditional songs on the internet. You can sing them with or without
music. Either way is a heap of fun! Here's a
web page that supplies both
music and words! Caroling
Page
Share with your
child the true story of Christmas, and share with them the greatest
Gift with Whom God has gifted us. Here's a great story, about a
child who wants to visit the First Christmas for their Christmas
present! See, if they get they're unusual gift: The First Night
If you have neighbors, bake cookies and and let your kids
distribute them, or buy some Christmas Candy and include a Christmas
Card. The kids really enjoy being the bearers of gifts!
Make Christmas cards together, or perfectionists, buy a box for
your kids, that they can give personally from them to loved ones.
When that long
awaited day finally comes and goes, if you can stand it, leave up
the decorations until at least the new year, and light up the lights
each night. You can still do some of the Christmas activities
together and play with your child and their new toys.
This will help both you and your child ease out of, it's all over -
not quite.
Once the decorations are taken down - resume that Christmas movie
night to be a family fun night. Play games on those
nights, or read books, or color in coloring books, or
rent kid movies, and share some fun snacks like popcorn!
Just because Christmas has come to an end again, doesn't mean family
togetherness ends - that should continue on, all year long!!
Enjoy your Child's Journey to Christmas, and see the gift that it's
your journey too!! Merry Christmas, everyone!
