MMM Holiday Advise
7 Ways to Make the
Holidays Special for Your Children
This
time of year can be challenging for any parent. As schools, businesses,
churches and communities everywhere are gearing up to celebrate both
Thanksgiving and Christmas, the days and weeks ahead can become crammed with
activities that will wear out any child and their parents.
But a
conscientious parent will search for ways to teach their children the true
meaning of the holidays, so they don’t get lost and confused by the
commercialism promoted by retail stores.
Instead
of focusing on the self-absorbed attitude of deciding what they want to get out
of it, (like how many toys will Santa bring me) maybe you would prefer that
your child learn about why we celebrate these holidays to begin with.
Here
are some simple things you can do to help your child learn the traditional
meaning of the holidays, while giving them something they can treasure about
the upcoming events.
1.
Bake something
This
is one of the easiest ways to show your kids what a special time the holidays
are. You can teach them how to bake cookies. Maybe you can pass on an old
family recipe, as you show them step-by-step how to do it. Of course, with
younger children, you will need to take precautions, and show them how to be
safe when using sharp instruments and doing things near hot ovens.
2.
Find magic in the holidays
Wherever
you live, your children should be able to see the splendor of all the lights
and trees and decorations that are put up in your area. Maybe you can take them
to see a water fountain in a park nearby that is illuminated at night by
colorful lights. Just going for a drive in the car to see how other people
decorate their houses and put up lights or a trip to the city for a festive
event can be a fun outing for them. And the joy that you express over the
holidays is something your children will see and appreciate along with you.
3.
Make something
Here
is one of the easiest things for any child to do, because there are so many
different kinds of crafts they can try. You can help them by coming up with
creative ideas. They can make different things for
Thanksgiving and
then other types of things for Christmas. Each child should be able to make
something all by themselves, or with a little bit of your help, that they can
give to someone else, like a friend at school or daycare. Or, they may find it
fun to just make it and give it to you.
4.
Help someone in need
One
of the most important and valuable lessons any parent can teach a child is for
them to learn how to do something to help others. Whether it is helping a
friend do their homework, or helping an elderly person with yard work, doesn’t
matter. What really matters is that they learn to give some of their time and
energy in a way that will help someone else. They learn to give, rather than
take. And, in the process, they will learn to value how it makes them feel good
inside to do it.
5.
Learn holiday songs
Much
of the fun during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays comes from the joyous
sound of people singing. Maybe you can spend some family time singing songs while gathered around the firepit in the backyard. You
can teach your children how to sing or play some of your favorite and
traditional songs, or you can take them to an event where there is singing and
or dancing. The viewing of cultural events during the holidays is something
that every child should have an opportunity to do. Even if you are away from home and traveling with your
children, you
can still sing holiday songs with them wherever you are.
6.
Write what it means to them
As
your children grow from toddlers to school age youngsters, an important part of
their learning is learning how to express themselves. You can make plans to
have family discussions about the meaning of the holidays and they can talk
about their feelings, or share their ideas. Writing them down in a notebook or
in cards to mail out to friends and family is a great thing to teach your
children, that they can carry on throughout their lives.
7.
Take them to a holiday movie
Going
to a holiday movie with your child is another fun thing to do this time of
year. There are usually a few animated Disney movies that come out in the
winter time, especially for young people. Going to a movie will show your
children that they can enjoy doing things with you that will benefit them. This
can be one way that they learn to enjoy doing things that are fun and important
to them, and not just having to always do what grownups do.
Watching
a movie can spark their imaginations and creativity and show them what a fun
time they can have with the family.
You
may find the holidays a lot more enjoyable if you remember these 7 simple ways
to have fun with your kids. When they get a chance to bake something, look for
joy, make something, help someone in need, learn holiday songs, write what the
holidays mean to them, and enjoy a favorite holiday movie, they will probably
come away with more of the magic of the season and less of the materialism.
Comments