Christmas soon comes around each year, and it is a fantastic time, as well as a magical time. When children are young, you have to make the most of the occasion and fill it with memories that will last a lifetime. Sometimes, you can feel stuck for ideas, so here are a few to get your creative juices flowing.
Try and Visit Santa’s Grotto or Elf Factory
Let’s face it, Christmas for younger children is all about Santa. Presents being magically delivered to good children is what keeps them on their best behaviour all year long. When children get the chance to see Santa in person or even visit an elf factory it can make the magic become even more real and believable. You may find that local attractions turn into Santa’s grotto for a few weeks. Or, you may even find that pop-up events at local shopping centres start appearing in late October – early November. Visits can be short and sweet, but it allows your children to see Santa in action.
Get a Letter From Santa
Of course, the best way to make Christmas even more magical and wondrous is to
get a Personalised letter from santa for your child or children. A personalised letter that is bespoke just for them will be something that they will hold onto and treasure for a long time. Receiving a letter from Santa Claus himself and opening it to see what he has written will help to build magic and suspense in your house. As well as getting a letter from Santa, your children may even want to receive activity sheets and reindeer food to leave out on Christmas Eve.
Start Your Own Personal DIY Advent Calendar
Shop-brought advent calendars are OK, but there are ways you can make your own. For example, you could make an advent calendar featuring new books for your children. A book a day (Christmas-themed or not) will help to build the magic and suspense. After all, they will probably have enough chocolate throughout the festive period, so they won’t miss a little chocolate in the morning. If your child is not old enough for books, then why not give a little trinket or toy each day? You can buy wooden advent calendars with refillable boxes that would be ideal for small token gifts.
Enjoy the Outdoors
As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, it doesn’t mean you should stay indoors when building up the excitement for Christmas. Sometimes, you can find that you can have just as much fun outside. For example, you could go outside and collect pine cones and holly and make a wreath with your children. The fresh air will be beneficial for your children, and to top off an afternoon outdoors perfectly everyone can retreat inside for a warm drink.
Watch Plenty of Christmas Films
No matter how young your children are they will still start to feel the magic of a good Christmas film. From the classics, such as the Snowman, through to the modern greats, such as the Grinch – there will be something for everyone (and for all ages). Snuggling up on the sofa together and wasting an afternoon watching Christmas films will help your children’s imaginations run wild and help them build excitement for everyone in your home. Christmas films can get children thinking about what Christmas is all about (especially as they get older) and it can help it to be a time for reflection as well as for fun and presents.
Don’t Forget The Importance of Christmas Eve
The build-up to Christmas reaches its all-time high on Christmas day, but this does not mean you should forget about Christmas Eve. There is plenty to do on this memorable and magical day. From getting food and drink ready for Santa and his reindeer to putting on those brand-new pyjamas from the Christmas Eve box. Baking up those last-minute treats together or visiting relatives is what Christmas Even should be all about. Yes, it can be a very busy and chaotic time for parents, but it is important to remember how magical it is for children.
Making and Creating Magical Memories
To make sure Christmas is as magical as possible, you want to focus on making and creating those magical memories. You may want to do this by wrapping presents together for other loved ones. Or, perhaps by baking some cookies up cupcakes that can be enjoyed throughout the festive period. If baking is not your thing, then why not do something together for those children that may be less fortunate than your own? After all, Christmas is a special time for thinking and caring about others.
Decorate the House Together
When your children are little, is there anything wrong with going a little bit extra or over the top with the decorations? Twinkly and sparkly lights and decorations will light up your children’s eyes and hearts, and if you are feeling a little bit crafty you may wish to make some decorations with your children. When you decorate the house together, your children feel like they are involved, and this is what the Christmas period should be all about. Letting them decorate the tree (under supervision of course) will get them really excited about who is visiting on Christmas Eve.
Start Your Own Traditions
You may have traditions you took part in when you were little around Christmas time, and you may wish to follow these on with your children. Or, you may even wish to start your own new traditions. Traditions can feature anything that you want, and they can help Christmas feel more magical, and certainly more focused on family and spending time together. Don’t put pressure on yourself to create extravagant traditions, sometimes the smaller the better. For example, start a new tradition to go on a family walk on Christmas Eve, or make a tradition to have Christmas Day part two on Boxing Day.