Collaborative post
Christmas is just around the corner. It’s a time of year that’s particularly magical for households containing children. You can lean into all the good things that come with the season by involving your kids as much as possible – not only in the activities themselves but in the planning and preparation.
Décor
If your residence isn’t suitably decorated, then it might not feel much like Christmas. Draping Christmas lights up and down the stairs, and around living spaces, will do the job nicely.
If you don’t want to risk involving the kids with the main, downstairs Christmas tree, then you might give them a miniature tree of their own. Encourage them to create their own, personalised decorations. Paper chains and hand-painted baubles often do the job nicely. Get it right, and you’ll end up with décor that evokes not just the spirit of the season, but family nostalgia, too.
Food
Are your children picky when it comes to food? If so, you’re not alone. The problem tends to be more acute at Christmas time when there are lots of new and exotic foods in the house.
Involving children in the actual preparation of food can help to avoid the worst dinner-table temper tantrums. If they’re actually choosing what goes into the food, then they’ll be more likely to accept it. Of course, you might also be a little bit more lenient when it comes to the big day itself.
Days out
A few days out here and there can break up the season, and make sure that you have something to look forward to other than unwrapping presents. Check what’s going on in your location, and ask your kids which events they’d like to attend. Christmas markets and lights-on events often cater to children of all ages. And, of course, there are visits to Santa’s grotto. In some cases, you might even allow them to stay up after their usual bedtimes.
Presents
Of course, many childhood memories come from present unwrapping on the day itself. To get the best from this occasion, however, you’ll want to make sure that you’ve bought the presents your children really want – budget permitting.
This is why writing letters to Santa is such a useful exercise. You’ll get them excited about the occasion, and you’ll also gain valuable intel on what they really want.
As well as deciding what they want for themselves, you can also persuade children to help you decide what you’ll be buying for other people. Get them to help you with the shopping list, and then with the actual shopping. This way, they’ll view the season as one of giving, rather than just taking.