Once you have kids, Christmas takes on a new meaning. For me, the entire holiday season felt so much more magical that first year as a mom – and I want nothing more than to make sure I carry that magical spirit with us each year in the little things we do together as a family. I want my kids to be able to grow up remembering the fun things we did each year – or even that one year that we did something different and awesome.
Since our toddler is just under two, I have been keeping my eyes and ears open for fun and unique things to do and traditions to start during Christmas time. Many of these ideas came from friends and family (and a few from Pinterest!). Lot of these idea will have to wait until my little one is older, but they are still cool and worth remembering! Tons of these ideas would be perfect to start at any time – even if you kids are older. Here’s the list:
- 25 Books of Christmas – Individually wrap 25 Christmas book (or even throw in some non-Christmas ones too!) and put them in a basket by the tree. Each night in December leading up to Christmas, let the kids open one book and read it together in front of the tree before bed.
- Get each child a new ornament each year to commemorate something significant that happened in their life that year. When they move out on their own and get their first tree, they will have lots of ornaments to decorate their tree and some wonderful memories to think back on.
- Take a trip around town to see local Christmas lights – not sure where to start? We have a great holiday light guide for the East Valley here!
- Donate old toys – give each child a box and have them fill it with their toys they no longer play with or have grown out of. Donating old toys helps kids understand giving and appreciation – plus helps clear out a little space for the new gifts they will get some Christmas morning.
- Bake and decorate cookies together as a family (sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies are both excellent choices). Bonus: wrap up a plate to drop off at a local fire station or police station.
- Spend a night camped out by the Christmas tree! Put sleeping bags, blankets and pillows on the floor in front of the tree – and turn off all the lights except the lights on the tree. Before bed listen to Christmas music, read Christmas books and watch a Christmas movie.
- Pick out a real Christmas tree and when Christmas is over, cut off the base of the tree and use it as our Yule log for the following Christmas. Next Christmas when you light it, make a wish and say a prayer for the coming year ahead.
- Put together a Christmas Eve box for each member of the family with a new pair of Christmas pajamas and a book or movie for the family to read/watch together.
- On Christmas eve make a wrapping paper wall from floor to ceiling in to “wrap in” the tree and gifts. When the kids wake up on Christmas morning, they can bust through the wall to see what is waiting for them under the tree!
- On Christmas Eve hide a pickle ornament on the tree. On Christmas morning the child who finds the pickle first gets an extra little gift and good luck for the rest of the year.
- Bake the same breakfast treat each year on Christmas morning – Cinnamon rolls or monkey bread are two tasty ideas.
- Christmas Stocking Notes. After everyone has removed all their goodies from their stockings on Christmas morning, have each family member write down a wish or home for each other, then put them into each person’s stocking. The following year when you put up the stockings take some time to sit down and read what everyone wrote for one another.
Do you do any of these traditions with your family? Are they are on this list that you would like to start with them?