Making A Magical Christmas for Your Children

When I was a kid, Christmas was something absolutely magical.

I remember the eager anticipation of Father Christmas to leave presents in my stockings on Christmas Eve. While we had all the family gifts under the tree, each of us also had a stocking hanging from the fireplace lintel. And somehow by the morning those we always full of small treats that simply must have come from Father Christmas himself!

Along with all the other traditions that we kept, it was a time of excitement and wonder.

And there was a tradition that if you had been bad through the year, instead of presents, you might just receive a lump of coal, or a bag of salt.

Fear and trepidation among all kids, hoping that they had been good enough for presents this year.

It all built up to a lot of excitement and a lot of awe and wonder.

And isn't that how it should be? Christmas isn't supposed to be just one more hectic day where everyone just gets stressed and harassed. Don't you wish your children could experience the same wonder and magic that you remember from your own childhood?

So what happened?

Where once the focus was on giving and loving, on camaraderie, joy, and goodwill, it seems now to have been replaced with tinny muzak and an incessant commercialism. Remember Carol Singing? People went door to door to sing carols, bring joy, and collect for charity - not themselves as at hallowe'en.

Instead of focusing on the giving, producing a sense of wellbeing, the never-ending commercials would have us focus on the getting - producing just big debts and more stress.

And then, when the big day comes, do we spend it peacefully and quietly, enjoying the family get together and traditions? Or is it a big scramble to open the gifts as rapidly as possible, only then, an hour later to be bored and harassed?

Well, what about this year bucking the trend. Instead of spending more and more, how about taking some time out to focus on making Christmas something special for just you and your children. Instead of heaps of presents they will play with for a day, give them something they will remember for decades. Here are some ideas:

Check your local paper for events that you could go to. Maybe a Christmas show.

Go to a carols by candlelight service.

Or what about driving around our neighborhood and taking a vote on the house with the best Christmas decorations and illuminations?

Make some gingerbread cookies together - or even get really ambitious and make a full gingerbread house! Yes, it will take some time, but the children will remember it forever - much longer than the battery powered all- walking all-talking gizmo they "desperately need".

If you have snow nearby, go sledding, or have a snowball fight - or try to build an igloo (this was a family tradition each year when we lived in PEI, Canada). The goal, remember, is to LAUGH together.

In the evenings, instead of turning on the TV, get out a board game, play charades, or work on a jigsaw puzzle together.

Watch a classic Christmas movie together. My favorites are Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and the new Santa Clause series with Tim Allen.

Then, when it is time to open the presents, take your time. Do them one by one, so everyone can share in the joy of giving and receiving as each gets to see what everyone else gave and got. Then, after Christmas Dinner, take a walk together, or visit friends or relatives.

And, if you really must use your computer - well, why not have Santa Claus send your children a free, colorful email greeting from the North Pole? You can set that up at:

http://good-child-guide.com/email_from_santa/ (And you will get some free gifts for yourself too).

Make it your goal, this year, to build memories and magic that you, and your children, will cherish for decades.

Article Source: http://www.diyarticlelibrary.com

Delorus Quintal is webmaster for Hot Christmas! where you can find more articles and tips for a great holiday. Go here to schedule an email from Santa Claus for your children.
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