Family Love

As soon as Dec. 1 is here, the countdown begins for children of all ages. The big question is asked over and over, “How many days before Christmas?” Oh, to be a child again and having the anticipation of that long awaited morning to arrive. We all remember those days. With four of us and each being five years apart, we had Santa Claus for quite a long time. In fact, I don’t remember a Christmas when I was still living at home that Santa did not come (we had to pretend for the younger siblings).

Many of the activities parents choose today for their families, at this special time of the year, will be passed on from generation to generations. These activities give meaning and purpose for these special days. If you are energetic and adventurous, plan several special activities for your family. They may include special foods, games, church services and parties and visiting special people. Parents may want to keep the list simple and choose those with the most meaning to their children and themselves.

• Choose to make traditional memories with your family and friends. Take a look at a few ideas that just might be passed on down to the next generations.

• In the first week of December, have a photo night, taking several family “selfies” for fun, and decide on one for Christmas cards.

• Choose several Christmas movies and watch one a week until Christmas.

• In anticipation of Santa coming, let your child mix up “reindeer” food by stirring together dry oatmeal and glitter. Spoon into zip-lock baggies; stick a Christmas gift sticker on the bag and print “Reindeer Food.” Leave out on Christmas Eve. (It must disappear with a few crumbs left, just like Santa’s cookies.)

• Start a “You’ve Been Gifted” tradition in our neighborhood. Place some goodies in a Christmas bag and tie it with a pretty bow and tag that reads: “You have been gifted. Enjoy your treats and then be sweet and gift another family.”

• Purchase inexpensive small Christmas balls that can be written on with a paint pen or magic marker. Put your child’s name on the front of the ball and a word describing him or her on the back. Make a new one each year.

• Bake and decorate Christmas cookies (not caring if your child makes it look so “professional”) – the smells and laughter will be remembered. Turn gingerbread shaped cookies upside down and decorate to look like reindeers.

• Ask the children to help put together a “goody plate” for the mailman or other community helpers.

• Picking out new Christmas pajamas each year is memorable your children will probably hand down to your grandchildren.

• Wear your Christmas pajamas to drive around in the car and look at Christmas lights and/or wear them to go Christmas caroling.

• Instead of the stocking, have your child put his boots or favorite shoes out on Christmas Eve and let Santa put in small surprises.

• Include the whole family in helping a family in need or take some small gifts to homebound adults; take the children to help pick out the gifts and make home-made cards.

• Provide the materials to make a home-made Christmas card for grandmother and grandad.

• In the days leading up to Christmas, provide a nativity set and let your child add a figure until the day of Christmas to complete the Christmas story with the baby Jesus.

• Each parent take them shopping to buy a special gift for mom/dad.

• Allow even the youngest child to help decorate the tree; the shortest decorates the lowest branches.

• Each year, purchase a new ornament for each individual child to add to the tree.

• When decorating the tree, put on Christmas music and sing and dance and just enjoy the moment.

• Plan to attend Christmas Eve services to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.

• Decide to make a tradition of giving three gifts to your child – mirroring the three gifts brought to baby Jesus by the Wise men.

• Give assistance but let your child wrap some presents.

• Make some homemade Christmas ornaments – glue glitter on cut-out star shapes.

• Ask your child what favorite food they would like to eat Christmas Eve – fix it together.

• Before eating Christmas dinner or lunch, read the Christmas story from the Bible.

• Serve the same traditional food for Christmas breakfast each year.

• Put on some fun Christmas music and dance, dance, dance; act silly and laugh with your children – they will be grown and gone from home before you know it.

• Let each child open one gift on Christmas Eve in anticipation of Christmas morning.

Whatever you do, make it a family affair; while teaching your children the true meaning of Christmas. It just may turn into a family tradition! You might just hear your grown kids say, “Hey, kids, this is what I did at Christmas when I was a kid.”

Dianne Glasgow is a family and child specialist at the LSU AgCenter in Caddo Parish.

She can be reached at dglasgow@agcenter.lsu.edu, 226-6805 or 464-2552.