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| From my home to yours, Merry Christmas |
It’s Christmastime! While it may only be December first, if
you’re like me, you might already feel behind when faced with the daunting
tasks this season brings. Confession time. I don’t merely want to “get through”
the holidays. Instead I want to actually enjoy all the magic and splendor this
season has to offer. Why should kids have all the fun?
To include all the fun and exclude the crazy, I find it best
to schedule in some holiday activities. Planning ahead takes a little of the
hysteria out of what should be memorable family time. To get your wheels
spinning, I’ve packed this post with some fun ideas your family might enjoy.
Baking Cookies
The old standby. One thing my family and I will be doing
this year is baking sugar cookies in the shape of the characters from the
Nativity. We will then give these out to friends and neighbors. Here is a good
recipe…
Ingredients:
1 c. butter, softened
1 ½ c. powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
2 ½ c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. nutmeg
¼ tsp. cinnamon
Method:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Cream butter and sugar
Add egg and vanilla. Mix well.
Sift dry ingredients and add them to the mixture
Chill dough for three to five hours
Roll onto floured board
Cut out cookies to desired shapes
Cool before decorating
Christmas Caroling
An old classic that, sadly, nobody does anymore. I try to incorporate
a little party with this fun activity. I have a manned fire in the front yard
accompanied with appetizers and spirits indoors. After singing our merry way
through our neighborhood, we return home for Christmas cookies and hot cocoa.
For the adults, I will be trying my hand at hot-buttered rum this year!
Here are a few
ground rules for making this a successful activity…
1) Have plenty of gloves, flashlights and glow sticks to
share.
2)
Have kiddies take a bathroom break BEFORE venturing out!
3) Plan which song you are going to sing before you approach
each house.
4) After you have sung your selected song, start moving on
to the next house while singing the chorus
of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”. This
keeps things moving.
5) Avoid chatting too much with your neighbors, leaving
guests to their own devices. (Number three from this list will help with that).
Here are a few classic tunes that usually work well for this
activity…
1) Jingle Bells
2) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
3) Silent Night
Christmas Lights Tour
Kids love to look at Christmas lights! My kids always look
forward to this fun tradition. We pack up some cookies, turn on the Christmas
music, grab a fresh cup of hot cocoa and drive around looking for our favorite
light displays!
Here are some ways to enhance the fun with this activity…
1)
Wear PJ’s
2)
Bring cozy blankets (Sorry drivers. None for
you.)
3)
Pack Christmas light glasses (found at most toy
stores)
4)
Create a bingo game (include Santa’s, Nativity
scenes, reindeer, etc.)
5)
Play “I Spy”
You may want to take your tour one
step further by booking a tour bus with your friends and family. Many of these
bus companies allow cookies and cocoa on board. If you plan such a tour, I
recommend scheduled bathroom breaks and bringing extra activities for the kids,
including coloring sheets, a playlist of Christmas sing-a-long music, stickers
and blank paper that they can use with crayons to create their own Christmas
scene.
Christmas Cards
This year, my kids will be making
Christmas cards for teachers, coaches, our mail carrier, and others who help
our family in special ways. I recommend doing this as a fun way of teaching
kids how to get some of the warm fuzzies of good cheer.
Here are a few ideas…
1) Snap
and print some pics ahead of time
2) Write
out some “cheery message” ideas like “Seasons Greetings”, etc.
3) Lay
out a variety of craft supplies including markers, glue, crayons, ribbon,
paint, cotton balls,
stickers, etc.
4) Make
it a party by putting out some snacks and a fun punch
5) Include
envelopes for after the cards dry
Give Back
For me, having theatre kids means
that our family is always SUPER busy during the holidays. This makes it hard to
make time for volunteering. If you’re low on time, consider giving back by
purchasing some necessities and giving them to those less fortunate.
Here are some ideas…
Give
your child a gift card to use in purchasing a special toy for a child in need
Have
your family go food shopping for a local food bank
If
you live in an area with cold weather, purchase scarves, gloves and hats and
tie them to trees in areas where the homeless can find them. Attach a simple note
saying “If you are in need of this item, please take it as our gift to you.
With love, Merry Christmas”.
Have
your family purchase and fill freezer bags with other essentials including beef
jerky, wipes, bottled water, clean socks, feminine hygiene products and deliver
them to shelters who can get them to the homeless (skip the hand sanitizer and
mouthwash, please).
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