With 8 days left - make each night a family holiday night. Embrace the season everyday in December with simple acts every member of the family can enjoy. Christmas Day can be stressful - and by spreading out the holiday cheer all month long, no one will be disappointed. It follows the old adage that life is a journey - celebrating the holidays is the same. Make this a journey for your family... capture each day in your own way and make time to honor new and old family traditions. The great benefit to this is that our children will have the chance to embrace, acknowledge and anticipate the season's spirit with pure joy, instead of sensory overload on the 25th.

 

Here are 8 ideas for you to sprinkle on your calendar - making each night a family night.

 

1. Go shopping! With the intention of buying for others. Research toy-drives in your area, and bring the kids a long to shop for toys they think children their age would enjoy. Lots of creative ideas spawn from these type of family discussions - and sometimes are memorable in themselves. My daughter loves tutus to twirl in, so we looked for a pink tutu another 2 year old would like too. Reward their efforts for compassion and how great it feels to make some one's holiday wish come true. Reward their experience by sharing a warm chocolate chip cookie and playing their favorite game or anything else you enjoy doing together. 

 

2. Drive around town, sip hot cocoa and take in the neighborhood light spectacles.

 

3. Bake holiday treats and share them with your neighbors.

 

4. Camp out on the sofa, with munchies and milk, while watching your favorite Christmas movies...

 

5. Have a family craft night. Make Christmas trees to use for place settings if you're hosting a meal - or ornaments for embellishing gift packages.

 

6. Go through old photos. Invite siblings over and share photos of how the holidays were spent when you were a child so that your children can see how it's a family tradition. Talk about the "old days" and how your family can continue the traditions you grew up with. Make copies and create a collage to display for your kids.

 

7. Visit family and friends. While we can't hit up everyone on Christmas day, it's great to take some time and relax with them beforehand. Say yes to that Christmas party you have "nothing to wear" for. The point is to be together.

 

8. If your children write letters to Santa [or don't] consider writing letters to each other. Bring out your nice stationary [or construction paper] and ask everyone to write a letter to each member of the family on their own - sharing what they love about that person. Dad can help kids write a letter to Mom and vice versa. Leave these under the tree and before the Christmas morning dash to open presents, read each other's letters out loud.

 

 

Don't forget to take pictures each day during these activities. Snap a few on Christmas morning and then put the camera away and relax. This is your day too...