Creative Christmas Ideas to Bring Your Family Together Without the Stress
Be creative. Not everything in life has to be expensive. It is possible to enjoy family activities and gift giving without spending a lot of money in the process. For instance, my fondest childhood memories come from the simple traditions that our family shared year after year. During Christmas, my mother focused more on inexpensive alternatives. These ideas were imprinted in me, and I have since practiced the same techniques with my own children.
Each year, mom presented us with our own countdown to Christmas. She pinned candy onto a ribbon and affixed an ornament to the top. Hanging these up on the first day of December, we would get one piece of the sweet candy each day until Christmas. When the final day came, we would all have our very own ornament to hang on the tree Christmas morning and each year thereafter. Once my siblings and I were grown and on our own, we were given the ornaments that had collected over the years. With a simple length of ribbon, a few stick or safety pins, a small bag of candy, and an inexpensive ornament can be the beginning of a memorable tradition.
Once the Christmas season approached, mom would also bake an enormous array of cookies to share with our friends and neighbors. On numerous occasions, we got to help decorate them; most of the time, however, we would just eat them. Nonetheless, this is a great way to get children involved while spending precious time with them.
Designing wrapping paper is another activity that kids can be a part of. This is accomplished by dipping tissue paper into colored dyes made from simple food coloring. Each design comes out differently which ultimately adds to the fun. I really enjoyed the numerous occasions when we designed our own wrapping paper. This is not only fun and easy, but cheap as well. Why spend oodles on fancy wrapping paper when you can design your own for only a fraction of the cost?
Children enjoy using their imagination, and what better to do that than decorating stockings? A trip to the local dollar store for stockings and decorating accessories is all you need. For some, these might already be on hand. Stockings can be personalized for each individual as well as the family pets. Yes, they enjoy stockings filled with goodies too.
Hide and Seek is a popular game with children; however, this can also be enjoyed by the entire family as well as friends. Somewhat a twist between “hide and seek” and a scavenger hunt, this activity was often practiced in my home. There would be one last gift saved for “seeking.” Generally, the recipient would find a small note card with a statement such as “Look in the refrigerator.” From there another note would be found stating “Under the couch cushion.” This would go on two or three more times until the final note led to the present. I have since played this game with my children, and they love it.
Finally, when it comes to gift giving, remember the saying: “It’s the thought that counts.” Gifts do not have to be so costly. In fact, those which are hand-made and given from the heart will mean so much more to the recipient. For example, a basket or decorative box can be filled with inexpensive gifts that fit each individual’s own personality. Someone who enjoys reading or writing might include favorite books, coffee mugs with coffee or cocoa, pens/pencils, a journal, etc. For someone artistically inclined, fill with various arts and crafts materials. If the person enjoys cooking, you could include cookbooks, recipes, herbs and spices, or related items. My father is a sports fanatic; accessorize with various items depending on the particular sport most favored. These gifts have unlimited possibilities and are often well received. Another option might include home-made calendars and scrapbooks, both of which can also be easily personalized to fit the individual with the addition of photos, stickers, and personal mementos.
Nothing is more valuable to me than the times I shared with my family. The holidays should be a time of laughter and sharing without the frustration associated with the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping followed by financial strains. End the stress; you can find a new appreciation for the holidays and develop priceless family traditions while helping your pocketbook with just a little creativity.
