Traditions….
In the eyes of a child, Christmas is the most magical time of year. As adults, this magic is somewhat clouded with the hustle and bustle of shopping, baking, decorating, visiting and long to-do lists. However, we need to be reminded what this season is all about. We need to remember to make sure the magic of Christmas is not lost for our children.
Traditions are a special way of ensuring the magic stays close to our hearts and our families during such a busy time of year. Traditions are a way of reminding us that our children are only little for such a short time and it is important to create special memories that they will not only carry on in their lives but possibly generations to come.
These special times also enable us to take a breath during the month of December and really enjoy the magic through our children’s eyes! Seeing the smiles and sparkle in their eyes during these times, those are the memories we will carry throughout our lives.
The wonderful thing about traditions is that it doesn’t have to be a big production! It doesn’t have to be a big, thought out plan. It’s just about creating moments between the people you love that you look forward to sharing each year.
Here are just a few ideas…
- Donating gently used clothing and non-perishable food to families in need
- Going to a tree farm to cut down your own tree
- Baking goodies to deliver to neighbours or a seniors home
- Making a gingerbread house and drinking cider or cocoa
- Visiting Santa
- Writing a letter to Santa together, reminding your child to also think of others in their letter
- New individual tree ornament for each year, make sure to write the year on it!
- Attend a Christmas Eve church service for caroling and fellowship
- Get into your pajamas, make some hot chocolate and hop in the car to go in search of Christmas lights!
- Watch a favourite Christmas movie together
- Make a special hand-made gift for grandparents
- Make cookies to leave out for Santa and reindeer food for Rudolph
- Go for a walk on Christmas Eve, try to spy Rudolph’s nose!
- Track Santa on Norad Tracks Santa!
- Give your child a box of candy canes as you decorate the house, let them put them wherever they can find a place to hang them, you may be surprised!
- Make gingerbread playdough! (see previous post)
- Save a few favourite recipes that you only make during the Christmas season
- Use Christmas mugs on Christmas morning
- Rock around the Christmas tree to your favourite Christmas CD while decorating the tree
- Create bird feeders out of pinecones to give the birds a special gift
- Use candy canes to stir your hot chocolate, mmmm minty!
- Have special Christmas pajamas or socks to wear at Christmas
- Make a Christmas Pickle for the tree and follow the historical tradition!
- Make or buy a special little beaded spider for the tree and talk about the Legend of the Christmas spider, on Christmas Eve when the children have gone to bed, hang tinsel on the tree for tem to discover Christmas morning!
- Make your own stockings to hang
- Have a special advent calendar to count down the days together
There really are so many wonderful ways to create Christmas memories, we would love to hear about the special traditions your family has during the Christmas season! Please feel free to share in the comment section of this post :)
No comments:
Post a Comment