The holiday season is a magical time for kids. Between time off from school, lots of family gatherings, delicious treats, and of course, presents, it’s easy for children to get swept up in all the festivities. As a parent, you want to make sure your kids’ holidays are filled with joyful memories they’ll cherish for years to come.
As a pediatrician and parent of two, I’ve learned quite a few tricks over the years for making the most of this special time with kids. In this post, I’ll share my top 14 tips for creating an unforgettable holiday season that your children will look forward to every year.
1. Start New Traditions Together
Traditions are what make the holidays so special. When kids know what to expect each year, they feel a sense of comfort, belonging, and excitement.
Sit down as a family and decide on some fun new traditions you can begin this season. Let the kids take the lead on choosing ideas like matching pajamas on Christmas Eve, hot cocoa and movie nights, or driving around to see neighborhood light displays.
Starting traditions together helps build family bonds and gives your kids something to look forward to when the holidays roll around every year.
2. Get Crafty
Making homemade decorations and gifts with your kids adds an extra dose of holiday magic. Reserve a night when you can craft together without time pressures or distractions.
Easy projects like pinecone ornaments, salt dough decorations, and homemade cards allow kids to express their creativity while making keepsake decor for your home. Your children will beam with pride seeing their handmade items displayed throughout the season.
3. Give Back
The holidays are a perfect time to teach kids the importance of giving back. Have them go through their old toys to donate gently used items they’ve outgrown. Or get the whole family involved with a service project like volunteering at a soup kitchen or donating blankets to an animal shelter.
Giving to others nurtures kindness and gratitude in children. They learn the significance of helping those less fortunate, beyond receiving gifts themselves.
4. Get Outdoors
Between holiday parties and school breaks, the days leading up to Christmas and New Year’s are often jam-packed. Make sure to work in plenty of active outdoor time for your kids during the hustle and bustle.
Build a snowman, go sledding, or take a nature hike to admire the winter scenery. The fresh air and exercise will do wonders to prevent restlessness or boredom in kids stuck indoors.
5. Bake Up Memories
Let your kids help out in the kitchen as you bake cookies, cakes and other sweet treats for sharing or leaving out for Santa. Giving them simple mixing and decorating tasks keeps little hands occupied, plus they’ll adore nibbling on the yummy results!
Pausing to savor the smells and special moments together over something delicious is what the holidays are all about. Your kids will carry on these sweet memories for years to come.
6. Spread Cheer Through Music
Fill your home with the magical sounds of the season by singing or listening to festive tunes with your children. Classic carols and songs from favorite holiday movies and TV specials are sure to delight.
Let your kids select their top picks for a personalized playlist. You can even take the show on the road caroling with friends or relatives to spread some auditory cheer.
7. Track Santa’s Journey
The thrill of waiting for Santa’s arrival on Christmas Eve is a quintessential childhood experience. Help build the excitement in your kids by tracking Saint Nick’s journey together on Christmas Eve Eve.
Let them get hands-on by plotting Santa’s route on a map or globe. Or visit the NORAD Santa tracker website for live updates on when the jolly old elf might be near your hometown. Having a visual aid makes his voyage seem that much more real!
8. Infuse Old and New
Holiday nostalgia is real, for kids and adults alike! Be sure to keep beloved traditions alive that hold special meaning for your family. Maybe it’s reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas or building a gingerbread house.
At the same time, starting new rituals with your children also becomes part of their holiday DNA. So feel free to test out fresh ideas like hiking to find the perfect tree or baking cookie dough ornaments. Blending old and new creates rich memories.
9. Schedule Downtime
The holidays mean nonstop stimulation for kids, between events, gifts, sweets, and often disrupted routines. Make sure to build in plenty of downtime where you unplug distractions and simply hang out.
Cozy up under a blanket for storytime, chat over a leisurely breakfast, or put on comfy PJs for an early bedtime. Quiet family bonding relieves stress and reminds children what matters most this time of year.
10. Capture It All
Be sure to document your holiday adventures big and small through photos, videos or a family journal. Capture candid moments around the house, gather everyone for group shots in matching PJs or ugly sweaters, and take pics during favorite activities.
Looking back on these priceless memories together every year is a cherished tradition in itself! Plus you’ll appreciate having documentation of your childrens’ early holiday seasons.
11. Take a Sentimental Journey
Help your kids better understand holiday traditions by revisiting your own childhood memories. Share favorite anecdotes and show old photos of past Christmases, Hanukkah celebrations or New Year’s Eves.
Discussing family heritage and rituals you enjoyed growing up gives children deeper insight into this special season. They just may find inspiration hearing about time-honored traditions to continue!
12. Go for a Holiday Stroll
Bundle your kids up for an old-fashioned walk or drive around your neighborhood to admire dazzling light displays, lawn decorations and other seasonal scenery. You can even make an adventure of it by listening to holiday music or sipping hot cocoa along the way.
Simply taking in the sights together fuels nostalgia and wonder over the holidays. Your kids will adore the twinkling splendor right in your own community.
13. Camp Out Under the Tree
Let your kids stay up late and sleep under the Christmas tree surrounded by all the presents! Pitch a tent or make a cozy pallet to camp out in as you read ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and leave out cookies and milk for Santa.
Dozing off beside the glow of the lights creates magical memories and builds eager anticipation for Christmas morning. Just be sure to take lots of pics of the adorable tent dwellers!
14. Focus on Togetherness
As a parent, the best gift you can give your kids this holiday season is your presence. Among the hustle and bustle, make time for simple togetherness. Snuggle up to watch a Christmas classic, tell stories over homemade cinnamon rolls, and laugh over board games.
When children grow up, it’s the moments of connection they remember most, not the stuff. So above all, be fully present to enjoy their holiday joy.
The holiday season truly flies by in the blink of an eye. As your family partakes in all the festive fun this year, I hope these tips help you create magical moments together that your kids will treasure. Wishing you a holiday season filled with laughter, light and love!
Let me know in the comments below your favorite tips for making the holidays memorable for your family! I’d love to hear your traditions.
