Christmas is a special time of year for most people but when you have children the true magic of Christmas really does come alive when you see their little faces light up with joy and excitement.
There is a lot of pressure on parents these days – thanks largely to social media feeds – to do EVERYTHING and to make it magical and perfect for your children. The fact of the matter is, parenting is hard regardless of what time of year it is. And if your kids and you don’t have matching PJs and a home made nativity costume that’s okay! If they do, then great! But it’s important not to compare your real life with someone else’s highlight reel on Instagram…
We thought we’d give you some ideas with some of our favourite Christmas traditions with children – these are all fairly low cost and low effort but the kids love them!
The Cheeky Elf
I don’t know about you but I’m not a huge fan of using Christmas as a parenting tool with the elf who’s watching over your children and reporting back to Santa if they don’t behave perfectly. This time of year is tiring for children and they can get a bit overwhelmed with the excitement of Christmas. Plus our little people can’t regulate their emotions in the same way that (some!) adults can so expecting perfect behaviour or they don’t get any presents feels a little harsh in my opinion.
That said, you could have some fun with a naughty Elf who is kind and doesn’t report back to Santa on behaviour but leaves funny and cheeky surprises over night.
Parents be warned though – if you start this tradition you need to remember to do it every night of December until Christmas Day and you’ll be doing it for a minimum of about 10 years! That’s quite a commitment!
Christmas lights drive by
Have you got any houses nearby who really go to town on the Christmas decorations? It can be good fun to go for a walk or drive after dark with your little ones to see the houses that have really embraced the Christmas spirit!
Christmas crafts
There are loads of great craft ideas on Pinterest for all ages using all sorts of household items. This year we saved up the insides of the toilet rolls and cut them into Christmas trees then painted them and decorated the with glitter. Very cheap to make, the kids love it and they actually look really pretty!
Tree decorating and Christmas movie
How about snuggling up on the sofa and watching a Christmas movie once you have decorated your tree. It’s a lovely way to kick off the Christmas season!
Make the decoration at the top of the tree
Why not make the star/angel fairy that lives on top of the tree? It’s a lovely way to spend time with your children and is something you can use year after year and look back on fondly together. It might not look as fancy as something shop-bought but will feel way more special when you bring it out every year!
Start a Christmas book
If this is your baby’s first Christmas why not start a Christmas book and over the years include a few photos and momentoes from each Christmas. You and your little one will love looking back over them in years to come.
Donate unwanted toys
This one’s for slightly older children but a good way to keep on top of clutter is to donate any unwanted toys before Christmas. Why not take your children to the charity shop with you to demonstrate the importance of buying pre-loved items to help the environment and in turn how they are helping others by donating their toys.
Buy Christmas pyjamas
Every year when we put our tree up we put new (to us – pre-loved from Vinted) Christmas PJs under the tree for our children to wear for the month of December.
Christmas Photos
Give your house an extra special Christmassy feel by changing the framed photos you have up in your house to Christmas photos from previous years!
Collect a different tree decoration each year
We love adding to our collection each year with a new tree decoration for each child each year. Why not make a whole experience of it and take them to the local garden centre or Christmas shop to let them choose a new one and get a hot chocolate afterwards! It’s lovely when we get the decorations out and they excitedly see which are theirs from previous years.
Open a present on Christmas Eve
If your children are likely to be given a big pile of presents to open on Christmas Day there’s a chance they’ll not have the chance to really appreciate what they’ve been given as the excitement of the present opening can take over. Opening one or two early can help to spread the joy a bit and give them a chance to digest, appreciate and enjoy what they’ve been given.
Christmas Eve
Leaving a mince pie for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph on Christmas Eve is a lovely tradition. If you don’t have a fireplace you could leave a ‘magic key’ for Father Christmas so he can come in and leave the stockings.
Read The Night Before Christmas
There’s something really special about reading this absolute classic with your children on Christmas Eve!