As a mother of two young children, we have been searching for some family traditions that we’d like to carry out with our kids. Thankfully, there is no shortage of possibilities. With apps like Pinterest and Facebook, there are tons of ideas floating around out there. I’ve decided to take on a few family traditions to make the holiday season even more magical for my little ones. You might want to try them too!
1. Missle Toads
“Missle toads” are something humorous that our family started doing last year. If you get caught with someone under the “missle toad,” which is just a toy frog with a missle attached to it hanging in the doorway, then you have to have a “battle.” This means different things at different times. For the kids, it’s a tickle fight or a pillow fight. The winner gets a treat! If we are throwing a spirited party, you might have to answer a trivia question and the loser has to take a shot of liquor. It’s great fun and my three-year-old gets a kick out of it.
2. Cookie Decorating Party
Each year, we throw a cookie decorating party with our friends and their kids. It’s a lot of fun to get everyone together. Of course, the children have a blast. You can ask each of the party attendees to bring a cookie to contribute. It’s also a good idea to have some regular food on hand so everyone isn’t crashing from the sugar rush. You can play some holiday music and just enjoy being together while creating cookie masterpieces.
3. Elf on the Shelf
This is the first year we’re doing Elf on the Shelf. I’ve watched many of my friends do this year after year and was excited for my oldest to be old enough to understand it. The initial $35 purchase for the elf can provide you with years of fun memories. There are a ton of ideas on what to do with the elf online, and it’s a great way to get everyone into the holiday spirit.
4. Fun Daily Crafts
Crafts are some of the best things to do with your kids (or on your own) during the holidays. They can make great gifts and, more than that, they can be great fun. I have something planned to do every day leading up to Christmas. Some are pre-made crafts that you can grab on Amazon. Others are things that will take a little more work. That said, you can think about some festive things to do each day. This will help everyone get into the holiday spirit. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can be as simple as coloring in a Christmas-themed photo or gluing cotton balls to make Santa’s beard on a paper plate.
5. Breakfast in Our Matching PJs
I always wanted to do matching pajamas and when my oldest turned one, I was so excited to start this tradition. On Christmas morning, we all wake up in our matching PJs and I have a yummy breakfast planned. Some years I do a crockpot breakfast so it’s ready to go when we wake up. Others I make pancakes or french toast or something along those lines. A nice breakfast on a calm Christmas morning as we all enjoy each other’s company is something I want my children to remember.
Creating Memories That Will Last a Lifetime
When you are choosing family traditions for the holiday season, it is important to think about what you want your children to remember. At the end of the day, I don’t really remember any of the gifts I got as a child. Instead, I remember the magic of Christmas morning. I recall getting restless as we waited for my Nana to arrive and getting so excited to see her. Christmas morning breakfast and making Christmas cookies together are cherished memories of mine. So, when you are thinking about what traditions you’d like to take on, don’t forget that you’re creating memories that will last a lifetime.