This time of year gets CRAZY! You have plans every weekend, and have a to-do list a mile long on top of everything you normally have to do. The last thing you want to do is set up a snowball fight for the Elf on the Shelf. That little mischief maker is the symbol for stress and mom guilt this time of year. Your Pinterest board is overflowing with all the ideas you want to try, but then you think about the time and expense, and you get decision fatigue.
Coming from someone with five totes of Christmas decorations who could be straight out of Whooville, let me share the hype of making Christmas magic. It’s what makes this time of year feel so special. In my opinion, the excitement, silliness, and fun cannot compare to any other holiday. I think it comes down to the underlying themes of the holiday—quality time and the care that goes along with meaningful gift-giving. Most people have time off from work and school, get to see family that they don’t see all the time, and enjoy seasonal foods. These things become connected in our memories. They fill us with all the warm and fuzzy feelings that being surrounded by love and care brings.
In my opinion, most of Christmas Magic is rooted in nostalgia and tradition. Lucky for you, that means doing the same things every year. I have such wonderful memories of making a paper chain countdown to Christmas with my sister every year. I hope my boys look back fondly on how we string Christmas lights around the perimeter of the ceiling in our living room. It’s so cozy and festive, and with it getting dark at 5, we get tons of use out of it during the holiday season.
If you are overwhelmed by the thought of channeling your inner Buddy the Elf, I want to give you a few simple ideas to make Christmas Magic for your kiddos without stressing yourself out:
Christmas Countdown
There are endless options for Advent calendars to order, filled with anything and everything you can think of. You can also fill your own. Or if you’re feeling crafty, make a paper chain numbered 1-24 and remove a link each day.
Gingerbread Houses & A Movie
Every year, we decorate gingerbread house kits and watch The Polar Express. The store-bought kits are low prep. You can also use graham crackers and candy from the baking aisle.
Pro tip: Hot glue the house pieces together if you have littles who are more enthusiastic about the decorating than the construction. It’ll save you a ton of frustration and meltdowns.
Daily Christmas Book
Last year I rounded up all our Christmas books, wrapped them up, and stored them together in one of our Christmas decoration totes. Now all I have to do is stick them under the tree and let my boys pick one each night to read together. You could collect them in a tote or closet and put one in a bag each night if you don’t want to wrap them. Or simply place the books under the tree unwrapped.
Christmas Light Drive
One night leading up to Christmas, snuggle up in PJs and take a drive around to see everyone’s light displays. Or take a walk if your neighborhood has lots of lights on display. My mom and I would stop for hot chocolate, play Christmas music, and see what we could find. You can rate the houses, look for the most unique displays, and see what’s the most popular.
Toys for Tots Shopping
This one goes along with the theme of giving, which many children overlook in favor of asking for their own presents. Thinking about others and giving are learned skills. Giving a gift to someone else is an age-appropriate way to introduce that. Head to the store and ask your child to pick out a toy for a child their age to donate to the Toys for Tots Program in early December.
Leave a comment about your favorite tradition that you do with your kids or that you remember from your childhood.
