Inside: Start creating memories from the beginning when your kids are little with these Christmas traditions for the whole family – from the baby years and beyond!
Holiday traditions can make all the difference when it comes to creating a warm, cozy Christmas season. This is especially true when you have little kids. It just makes each and everything you do so much more exciting.
Over the years, my family has kept a few timeless traditions like eating turkey on Christmas, dressing in red, white or green holiday colors and sending out Christmas cards to friends near and far.
With three little boys of my own, creating new traditions along with carrying on the old ones is something I look forward to.
10 Christmas Traditions to Start with Your Kids Now
Today I’m sharing some fun and practical traditions parents can start with their kids to get them excited for Christmas!
1. Holiday Pajamas
We love exchanging holiday-themed pjs on Christmas Eve. Not only does it make for cute Christmas pictures the next morning, but everyone stays warm and toasty all through the night. Don’t be afraid to include some super-cute Christmas accessories on that list too 😉
2. A Christmas Movies.
Some of my all-time favorite Christmas movies are the kid-themed ones of course. How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Christmas Story and Frosty the Snowman are a few that we watch every season. This is one of the easiest traditions to carry on with your family because everyone can enjoy them together. Check out my full list of movies to watch this Christmas.
3. Christmas cookies
Don’t you just love the aroma of homemade cookies and holiday desserts? I certainly do! I can’t get enough of that cinnamon and sugar smell coming from the oven so love to bake some cookies with the kids over the years. Here are some yummy treats to make with your kids.
4. Christmas Crafts
I’ve started to include my toddler in the decorating process as his love for all-things crafty grows. Creating ornaments to decorate the tree is also a great way to keep them busy as you add your own finishing touches.
Some of our favorite Christmas crafts include:
5. Pictures with Santa
I’ve learned that this can be a hit or miss type of activity, depending on the age of kids. Visiting Santa for the first time as a 7-month-old was pretty uneventful…just a cute baby sitting on a big jolly fella’s lap – and perfect for pictures. As a toddler? Not as fun, as you can see from the picture of my screaming toddler! Read my tips to survive pictures with Santa!
A fun tradition to keep, nonetheless ;).
6. Christmas Light Tour
Flickering colorful lights. Rudolph’s red nose. Inflatable Santa and snowmen. Nativity sets. Taking in all the array of Christmas sights can be truly mesmerizing for little kids. Taking them on a Christmas lights tour around the neighborhood is a magical tradition worth keeping through the years.
7. Letter to Santa
Even with toddler-age kids, I find having little letters ready to mail Santa can be such a fun experience for small children. Parents can help kids craft a letter or have them draw a picture only Santa can interpret. As they grow, having a personalized letter to Santa can add to that magical Christmas experience.
8. Christmas Eve Gifts
We usually like to open a small gift like those Christmas pajamas (in #1) or stocking stuffers the night before to get everyone ready for the big day.
9. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
I love the excitement in the air when I look at my kids and see them sitting quietly and paying attention to a reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas the night before Christmas. This is another tradition I want to keep up through the years as long as the kids will listen.
10. Giving Gifts
Although we all get wrapped up in the shopping madness and gift-giving process, it’s important to step back and remember what’s important. The giving part. Especially to those in need. Donating toys to those less fortunate is a great family tradition that I hope to continue for as long as I can. But it doesn’t always have to mean giving things — sometimes the most amazing gifts are experiences and time we share with those we love!
Do you have any Christmas traditions you keep with the kids? I’d love to hear them!
More on Christmas:
Ana, a mom to three rambunctious little boys, has supported hundreds of thousands of women throughout their pregnancy and motherhood journey since 2012 as a blogger and maternal health advocate at MommysBundle.com.
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