♫ Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock ♫
♫ Jingle Bells Swing, and Jingle Bells Ring ♫
This is my all-time favourite! Nothing stirs up the spirit of the festive season like a classic Christmas song.
And one of the things that always gets me excited about December is all of the bright and eye-catching mall Christmas decorations that many malls have. My kids especially adore all of the fascinating festive mall decors and will request that I take photos of them at each one.
I know that many people look forward to planning this holiday season celebration every year. And this is the time when children anticipate getting presents for that special holiday. However, the celebration should be about more than just gifts.
There are numerous activities in which you can include the children to make your family’s Christmas extra special. I’ll list some of the things we do as a family to celebrate Christmas and have a blast holiday time so you can get some inspiration.
Take Part in Various Activities at Malls
I am delighted that all the malls near my house hold different kinds of activities for kids during this holiday.
Since my kids are on their school break, they enjoy participating in activities like making crafts, colouring contests, and playing games, as well as watching live music band shows and Christmas Carolling performances.
Aside from those activities, I like how some malls give out gifts and vouchers for specific amounts of spending during this holiday. Which is a good thing because I’m out shopping for Christmas presents, decorations, and new clothes!
Be sure to check out what activities and special promotions are going on at a nearby mall so you can get special deals while taking your kids out for some festive fun.
Plan Gifts for Loved Ones
As parents, my spouse and I have already decided what to buy for our kids and other family members.
However, we are also allowing our children to participate in the fun of purchasing gifts for those close to them. I taught them to make a list of people they wanted to get gifts for, then write what suitable gifts to give on the side of the names.
Since they have all these presents to give, I also encourage them to make the Christmas cards that go with each gift and to wrap the presents themselves.
If your children are too young to understand what gifts to buy, don’t worry. You can guide them by discussing what the person likes, perhaps there’s something the person has always wanted, or simply check out the list of perfect Christmas gifts online.
Christmas Tree and House Decoration
I mean, what is Christmas without a Christmas tree, right? If you can’t find a large one, a small tree will suffice to brighten the mood.
We let the kids choose which ornaments to put on the tree. This way, they can have fun while also appreciating how special this season is. Some of the ornaments were purchased from a store, while others were made by the kids.
Along with that, some simple decorations around the house will make everyone feel more enthusiastic. I enjoy decorating for any special occasion or celebration because it allows me to spend time with my children while we do it together.
The most important part is to make them feel included by asking for their ideas and allowing them to make decisions on certain things.
Make Delectable Christmas Dishes
Nothing brings a family together like good, tasty food. And no, it’s not just during eating time, but also during preparation.
I arrange a baking and cooking session with my kids to prepare some Christmas dishes. There are quite a few dishes on our menu, ranging from roasted chicken with stuffing to mashed potatoes and casserole.
In keeping with the holiday theme, we also bake some sweet treats like cookies and cupcakes.
Another Christmas essential is gingerbread cookies. It can also be a great activity to have the kids decorate gingerbread man cookies or build a gingerbread house!
You’ll find a variety of Christmassy treats, including this snowman snowball recipe, which is one of our favourites.
Host a Party for Family and Friends
We enjoy having people over to celebrate any special occasion. Hosting a Christmas party is a great way to get your kids to have fun by allowing them to invite some of their close friends.
If you don’t like mixing family and friends in one gathering, you can host separate ones for each group. Invite family exclusively in the morning and afternoon, then another celebration with friends from evening to night.
Whatever your choice, here are some tips for throwing a great Christmas party:
- Create a theme for the party
- Set up a photo booth
- Organise your playlist
- Play some Christmas-themed games
- Don’t forget the dessert table
- Let everyone have fun
Some Good Christmas Eve Traditions
Christmas Eve has many customs and traditions of its own. We don’t have anything specific planned for that day as a family, so I decided to look online for some doable Christmas Eve traditions.
I found a fun list like the one below and am considering making a few of them my family’s tradition. Check them out if you’re looking for ideas as well:
- Each person is allowed to open one gift
- Go outside and look at the Christmas lights
- Watch a special Christmas movie
- Prepare a Christmas Eve dinner
- Enjoy all-day games, treats, and crafts
- Have a karaoke night
(Source: FunLovingFamilies)
Make a Checklist to Stay on Track
These are a few of the activities I’m doing with my kids to add excitement to their Christmas break. Be sure to start planning yours because 25th December will be here before you know it.
So, whatever you want to do with your family, make sure you have everything planned out and on your checklist. I know I have!
If you visit the mall, you will see all kinds of Christmas decorations for sale, and you will need to start shopping for those gifts. You don’t want to miss out on the festive vibe, especially if you have children.
Anyhow, I’ll share a simple Christmas To-Do-List here that you can download and use for some Christmas fun time with your loved ones. ^_^
Have a joyous Christmas everyone and Happy Holidays!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours from Motherhood with love!