12 Ways to Make Christmas Magical for Kids

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Christmas can be a truly magical time for kids. They are young only so long, and that leaves a concise window, as parents, to make all the fantastic memories for them that you can. We have a list of twelve different ideas that can make for one magic Christmas for your little ones.

12 Ways to Make Christmas Magical for Kids

Book a Day; Book Advent Calendar! 

Have 24 books, all wrapped up, and each night in December, open a present and read it. Want to add to it? Each of these holiday books has a unique craft you can do with it. Make a snow globe after reading The Polar Express, or make sock snow people after reading Frosty The Snowman! There are tons of great ideas here for a lot of classics like The Winter Hat, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Christmas Mouse, and many more stories with fantastic illustrations. Check out a suggested list here: Crafty Crow

Host an Elf on the Shelf.

These little buggers can be so much fun to watch! You can use them to help keep kids on track for the holidays, bring fun treats for the kids, have the elf suggest different ideas for seasonal activities, and more! Want to cook with an elf? Try these recipes of ours HERE . Here are some Elf On The Shelf Ideas to get you started.

Making Cookies!

Making cookies is always a great way to be in the moment with the family! YOu can mix and bake them together before decorating, or make them in advance and have a decorating party. Want to know some tips for decorating cookies? We can hook you up HERE.

The Pajama Elves

Do you like to give the kids new jammies every year so those Christmas morning photos look fantastic? (OK, not so hard to coordinate when you only have one kiddo like we do) This activity is a fun way to make it a tradition to get new jammies every year on Christmas Eve! 

Hit the Black Friday sales for those holiday pajamas, and get a copy of this book. The Pajama Elves ® is the magical tale of elves at the North Pole who sew pajamas for good girls and boys. These pajamas are stitched with a magical thread that will guarantee a good night’s sleep on Christmas Eve, and allow Santa to visit unnoticed.

More than a Christmas story, it is a fun tradition that families can personalize and share – even over great distances.

Adopt a Family or Help the Homeless

There is no doubt that times are tough for a lot of people; some are homeless because of mental illness, some from losing a job, some from substance abuse. Many different things led people to their path, and there have become fewer places for them to turn too with all the budget cuts, etc.

My big push is the concept of the Blessing Bags. Yes, there are food pantries, but a large bag of food is not much help to someone who has no place to put it or way to cook it. A Blessing Bag is portable, and full of things that many of us take for granted.

What is a Blessing Bag?

You start with a one-gallon zippy bag and add a few things:

• Warm pair of socks (Costco has a 10-pack bag for $12, and they are GREAT)
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush
• Dental Floss
• Deodorant
• Chapstick
• Single Packs of Laundry Detergent
• Tea Bags/cocoa packets
• Snacks (think apple sauce cups and granola bars)
• Travel Sized Shampoo and Conditioner
• Hand Lotion
• A Comb
• A simple note reminding them that they are loved.

Having these bags made up — and able to pass out or give to a homeless shelter is a great community activity to engage your kids and remind them of the reason for the season. It is a subtle reminder of how blessed we all are.

Be A Ding-A-Ling

Wear fun seasonal hats and shake the bells for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign. It is their largest fundraiser of the year and a lot of fun. SIne a few holiday carols while you are at it and pass out mini candy canes.

Attend a Holiday Pageant

Most churches have these, and they based them on the biblical Christmas story. Usually, most parts are played by little children, so it is adorable to watch.

See the Nutcracker

Smaller dance studios have their version, or you can go all out and get tickets for the fancy performance at the professional theater. Want to make it low-budget? Rent or stream the movie from 2018 and whip up a sugarplum treat to go with it.

See the Holiday Lights

I love the idea of a Mini-Van Express! It is a version of the Polar Express that you downsize and make a family event out of. The concept is simple… you plant the tickets in their bed. The kiddos bundle up in their robes and slippers and head to the car…which you have decked out for a holiday. (You can find the battery-powered lights at the dollar store).

You can have the local radio station playing (the one that has only holiday music on) and a thermos of cocoa. Drive around to see the holiday light displays or, if your city has a large light display, visit that. You could take a trip to the malls and get a photo with Santa or even hit a local storytime and hear the Polar Express (check your local libraries and book store schedules).

Advent Calendars

We usually have one of those chocolate ones that you open the door every day and pop out a candy – the kind you can find almost anywhere from Farm N Fleet to Aldi’s.

There are so many creative ones where you can add your own ingredients to the calendars. Just check out this awesome ideas list from Teaching Mom! They match each day and item to a bible verse – thanks to http://www.teachingmom.com/. 

Just look at the first few days:

1. Quarter–A quarter! That equals 25 cents. But 25 also stands for the number of days till Christmas, when God gave us His best present. Jesus told about one woman’s gift and the way she gave it. Read: Mark 12:41-44

2. Grape Gum or Candy–Grapes make jelly and juice, raisins, and wine. But Jesus didn’t need grapes to perform His first miracle. Read John 2:1-10

3. Smiley Face–Here’s a smile! A smile usually expresses happiness. Jesus gave us many instructions to keep us happy. Read Matthew 5:1-12.

4. Fish shaped candy or crackers–Well, if you were surprised to find these fish, wait till you read the story today! Others were surprised to find fish, too. Read Luke 5:4-7.

5. Birthday Candle–As you know, we are getting ready to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. However, Jesus talked about something else that is related to this candle. Light! Read Matthew 5:14-16.

You get the idea…

Watch the Reindeer

Yes, there ARE reindeer — and, as a parent, you can prove it! Check out Santa’s reindeer cam HERE! At 10 am and 5 pm (EST), you can even see Santa feeding the deer! Coolness – right? Make sure you leave out Magic Reindeer Food on Christmas Eve so they can easily find your home! It is a fun activity to do with the littles.

Christmas Train

In Wisconsin, we have the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Holiday Train. It stops in various towns and has a short live music performance as it collects food for the local shelters. It is a great way to bundle up on a cold night, watch the performance, and sip cocoa as you sing along.

Do you have any ideas how how to make Christmas magical for the kids that we missed?
Share your idea with us!

Other posts you might enjoy:

• The Best Christmas Light Displays in Wisconsin
• 4 Great DIY Christmas Ornaments
• Mickey Mouse Christmas Oreo Treats
• 4 Ways to DIY Christmas Decor