The holidays are one of the most important times in any family. It’s a time of giving and celebrating, of loving one another. Everyone remembers fond memories of waking up and rushing downstairs to see their gifts sitting under the Christmas tree and unboxing them while their loving parents watch. It may seem harder now to motivate children to get into the holiday spirit, thanks to the invention of the internet and social media, but it won’t be if you follow a few simple tips.
Engage in Holiday Traditions.
Many families have traditions that range back over generations, like cooking specific meals together, hunting, fishing, visiting a relative’s house, or watching Christmas-themed movies together. These family traditions are very important not just to reinforce the familial bond but also to associate it with the holidays. This makes it much easier to get children ready for the holiday spirit.
Common activities include mothers and daughters sewing or crocheting together and families watching scary movies on the TV in the living room. These are all tried and tested ways to prepare everyone for the holidays.
Attend Holiday-Centric Events
Many events are held only during the holidays that are off for the rest of the year. These include ice skating, Christmas shopping, holiday parades, and so on. These all cater to families and are a great place for people of all age groups. Bringing your children here will give them a sense of the holiday spirit and prepare them for the biggest celebrations of the year. Feeling other people’s excitement for the holidays, especially in special events like Christmas sales, concerts, festivals, and so on, is a great way for your children to join in on the fun, too.
Decorate Together
One of the most integral and common traditions across hundreds of thousands of families every Christmas is the fact that they all decorate together. Whether it’s special wallpaper, miscellaneous decorations, Christmas stockings, or the all-important tree, decorating with kids is a great way to build up anticipation for the holidays and remind them of what is coming.
Many companies have even begun to make modern versions of classic Christmas decorations that will appeal to the whole family. Putting kids and teen ornaments on the Christmas tree in the house is a great way to attract and maintain their interest and attention.
Volunteer
One of the most important aspects of the holidays is that it spreads the message of being kind and helpful to those in your community. Teaching this to your kids is a lesson they’d remember for the rest of their lives and one they’ll strongly associate with their parents and the holidays. During the holidays, there are many special drives in homeless shelters and orphanages.
You can volunteer at a local shelter and help out or help with the many toy drives that are facilitated at orphanages. Seeing these children in need finding their holiday spirit can be inspiring for kids and could help them find it on their own. Litter is also a pervasive issue during the holidays, and helping clean your neighborhood could benefit everyone involved. The main purpose of these events is to give back to the community and remind your children about the teachings of this time of year.
Enjoy Holiday-Themed Media
Holiday-themed media is one of the biggest sub-industries in the world. Billions of dollars are involved in this corner of the market, and for a good reason; millions of families all over the world gather around the screen during this time of year to enjoy Christmas specials of their favorite shows or just movies that will stick with them forever. These can be enjoyed by children and adults alike.
Reading Christmas storybooks to children is another thing that reinforces the idea of looking forward to the holidays and having holiday cheer.
Conclusion
The holidays are an important time not just for the whole family but also for the development of children. Many of the most central memories and experiences in people’s lives center around the holidays, and to enjoy them properly; it’s important to get a sense of the holiday spirit beforehand. If you follow these simple tips, you’ll get the whole family ready for the holidays in no time.
