Create new family traditions this holiday season with these four inspiration-starters ideas.
1. Recipe Exchange or Potluck Party In Lieu of Holiday Cookie Exchanges.
Instead of a cookie exchange, invite friends to get together for a recipe exchange. Set a theme: it could be fast meals for school nights. Holiday hors d'oeuvres. Holiday desserts.
Then, throw a holiday potluck party where everyone brings their favorite dish and copies of the recipe. Yo go into the holidays (and the new year) armed with new menu ideas designed to make everyone's lives simpler and more delicious.
2. Holiday Chore Tree.
There's so much to do for the holidays that everyone needs to chip in.
Here's a fun way of delegating tasks:
Set aside a small artificial tree with no ornaments. Assign each family member a color bulb and tasks to help prepare for the holidays.
As he or she accomplishes, each task, she can hang one of her ornaments on the tree.
The first person to hang all his or her bulbs wins a special gift, surprise, outing - whatever is treasured in your family and is likely to be worth working a bit for.
Even for the youngest family members.
3. Not So Silent Night.
One night I had some friends over to help decorate our tree. In the middle of decorating, we noticed two of our girls - about 8 at the time) curled up on the couch listening to a Christmas story on the radio.
In this visual, virtual reality age, we often forget how listening to stories spar the imagination.
Designate one night a story night. Make some hot chocolate.
Then turn off the lights, sit by the fire and read aloud to one another.
Near virtual silence can indeed be golden, especially during the holiday season.
4. Help Secret Santa be Charitable Santa.
There all many ways our families can help the less fortunate this holiday season. But kids need a face.
Why not pick some family in your church, temple, or neighborhood who's had a particularly rough year and figure out something to do or buy for them? Then do it.
Leave it on the doorstep with an anonymous note. Kids love helping - and love secrets.
5. Host a Holiday Craft Party.
Early in the season, hold a craft party for your kids and their friends and families. Research three- or four holiday crafts and gather all the materials. Parents and kids will come, enjoy a little brunch and spend the afternoon making gifts for grandparents, teachers, etc. You can target the guest list toward a specific age group or just provide craft ideas and supplies for various ages. Note to Santa's helper: Smaller will be better here.
Mom, can I have a ____? It will eventually happen - if it hasn't already. Here's how to choose
an easy-maintenance pet
based on your child's age.
Sleepover Survival Guide
"Mom, can I have a sleepover?" These words strike fear into the hearts of parents everywhere. Here's the lowdown on what you need to know
if the sleepover
is at your house.
