The holidays are a great time to get together with friends and family, enjoy some delicious food, and have some fun. However, if you put too much pressure on yourself to outdo what the neighbors are doing, you might end up putting a damper on your own enjoyment. One way to avoid this is to set realistic expectations for yourself and focus on enjoying the process rather than worrying about the outcome.
The best thing you can do for yourself and your family during the holidays is to create special memories. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on gifts to do this. Some of the best memories people have of childhood holidays are from simple things, like making cookies with their family, playing with their friends, or sitting by the fireplace and drinking hot cocoa.
The holiday season is a great time to make memories with your family that will last a lifetime. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your time together:
• The tradition of making cookies is a great way to bond with your family. You can do this with your immediate family or invite grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins and make it a big event. Let your children help decorate with icing and sprinkles. It may be messy, but your kids will remember it fondly.
• Making gifts is a great way for families to save money. Encourage your children to be creative and make artwork, crafts, or even sing a song as a gift. This will not only save you money, but it will also be more thoughtful and personal.
• The holidays are a great time to show your kids how important it is to help others. There are many ways to get involved in food drives and other charitable activities during this time of year. Not only will your kids learn that it’s important to help those in need, but they’ll also have a lot of fun doing it.
• Holiday stories are a great way to get everyone involved and in the holiday spirit. You can either read or tell stories that are part of your holiday tradition. Another great idea is to purchase a storybook, like The Night Before Christmas, with wonderful illustrations and read it to your kids with real excitement. Not only will they love it, but they’ll also be able to visualize the story as you’re reading it!
• Make a big deal out of decorating this holiday season! It’s a great way to spend time with family, have some fun and create some lasting memories. Plus, who doesn’t love cookies and treats? Let the kids get in on the action by assigning them their own area to decorate. And don’t forget to take plenty of photos!
In the end, most gifts aren’t remembered through the years, although some special ones might be. More often, it’s the time spent with family and friends, the laughter and togetherness that is remembered.
The great thing about this is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get these benefits. Children are often thrilled with activities like baking, cooking, singing, creating and decorating – especially when they get to spend time with mom and dad.
Take your kids out and help build a snowman – they’ll love it. Show them how good it feels to help others, or to see someone’s smile when they open a handmade gift, made with love by your child.
Photos and hugs are great, but what will really make the holiday season special for your kids is the quality time they spend with their family. Your kids will remember family holidays as some of the best times of their lives, and you will too.
