Don’t sleep on these tips for elevating the magic this festive season AND they’re not just for the kids either…
Was the Christmas season more intrinsically magical when we were children or has the weight of responsibilities and expectations made it less so? NI4Kids’ Beth Mason reveals nine tips to help you recreate that feeling, not only for the kids, but for yourself too.
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Spend time together as a family
Kids love presents but they love time and attention with their favourite people even more. In between all the exciting festive activities spend some quality time together as a family whether that be getting the whole family involved in Christmas dinner prep or carving out time to play a game.
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Start Your Own Traditions
One of the best things about being a parent at Christmas is getting to decide which traditions to keep and which ones to get rid of. If you find yourself dreading some aspects of the festive season try swapping them out for new ones that the whole family will love. Look at what your friends and peers are doing for inspiration and create the Christmas your family wants.
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Borrow a tradition from another country
Jólabókaflóðið is an Icelandic tradition which loosely translates to “Christmas Book Flood” which is comprised of families and friends exchanging books on Christmas Eve then settling down to read them together, usually accompanied by a special beverage of choice, such as a hot chocolate. Christmas Eve boxes have their place but nothing sounds more magical than having a companionable family reading session in front of the fire.
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Get the kids involved with Christmas shopping
For many of us Christmas shopping is just another chore to tick off our never ending list but try and add the magic back into it by bringing the kids along. I know you’re thinking nothing has ever sounded less magical but hear me out with this one. Plan a dedicated shopping trip to a location you wouldn’t usually go to, preferably one with some impressive Christmas decorations, and let the kids choose their own presents for friends and family. This way you don’t have to take responsibility for thinking of what to buy those recipients and you get to experience a Christmas-themed day out with your kids.
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Decorate a gingerbread house
Does decorating a gingerbread house count as a craft or is it baking? Who knows, but I am sure it’s a great way to spend time as a family. The time it takes to decorate the structure will provide opportunities for quality conversation as well as giving the kids an outlet for their creativity. Plus, you get to taste the final result!
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Introduce the kids to your favourite Christmas movie
Share a little bit of what made Christmas magical for you as a child by scheduling a movie night for all the family complete with a showing of your all-time favourite festive film. Watching your children laugh along with the same lines you did as a child will make you feel all the feelings and they’ll love it too!
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Track Santa
When it comes to excitement, it doesn’t get much better than Christmas Eve. If you want to upgrade the elation to another level make sure you track Santa as he makes his way across the globe. The NORADSanta tracker has been following Father Christmas’ journey ever since the fifties and is available to watch online or download on iPhone and Android, but there are also other trackers available, as well as local news stations to keep you abreast of his whereabouts.
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Decorate the kids’ rooms
Don’t limit the decorations to the main areas of the house, bring some of the magic into the bedrooms too. While you might have strong feelings about colour schemes and what is considered tasteful in the rest of the house, let the kids have full creative control on this one. This is not to say you need to buy any new decorations, let the kids loose on the odds and ends that never end up going on the tree but have somehow survived the post-Christmas cull for the last five years or encourage them make their own.
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Don’t sweat the small stuff
As parents we have all been guilty of trying to do too much in December but by remembering that our emotions affect the overall mood of the household we can adjust our expectations for the season. Try to let go of thoughts around what everyone “should” be wearing or doing and instead focus on what is right for your family.
