Christmas Morning Traditions with Kids

Christmas is for children. Is there anything sweeter than watching children bound down the stairs on Christmas morning to see what Santa left them? If you have young children, this might be the first year they are old enough to understand the excitement. Or maybe you have remarried and now have step-children in the family. You’ll want to create new Christmas morning traditions the kids will remember forever.

One of the best things you can do is build anticipation for Christmas morning. You probably won’t have to do much to make that happen as most children are excited enough without any coaxing. Yes, you may be tired from shopping and baking, but muster up some enthusiasm to make Christmas morning extra special.

The big question is, “Does Santa exist?” If he does in your house, play it up big. Give children a whole lot to look forward to. Leave cookies out for the reindeer and make some tracks out in the snow. Leave reindeer feed (oatmeal mixed with glitter) in the driveway for kids to find. The magic is all what you make it. Instruct older kids not to spoil the fun for the little ones. Get them involved in the planning and they’ll be more likely to help and not hinder the festivities.

 Some families like to give out new pajamas every year on Christmas Eve. Then, everyone wears their new pjs to Christmas morning’s present opening festivities. It makes for fun Christmas morning photos. You can all wear the same print. And now feet pajamas even come in adult sizes, so you can really laugh it up when dad shows up in 6 foot tall footed jammies.

You may want to invent a special Christmas breakfast. It can be as simple as waffles and juice, but once you call it a tradition and do it every year, it becomes meaningful. If you have a family recipe for a bread or cake, that can be part of your tradition as well. Bake it together every Christmas morning.

Do a Christmas favor as a family for someone in need every year. It could be shoveling the elderly neighbor’s driveway or bringing a turkey to the homeless shelter. Whatever you decide to do, keep it going as a tradition.

Maybe it’s the way you open the gifts that becomes your new tradition. Does the youngest open gifts first and then each person by age around the room? Does dad open everything, then mom, then the kids? It can be fun for children to anticipate the ritual each year.

Stockings can be a big deal for children. Maybe you do your stockings after all the big presents. Or maybe stockings are only opened after breakfast so there’s a little something extra to look forward to.

Perhaps you want to do an outdoor activity every Christmas morning like taking a walk after opening presents or going sledding down a favorite hill. Whatever you choose to do as your own particular Christmas tradition, document it in photos and then start a family scrapbook. Every year you can add to it and see how things have changed. How have the children grown? Are styles the same? Have you changed your décor? It’s fun to take a walk down memory lane with a scrapbook of your traditions. 

About The Author: As a regular blog contributor at http://www.holiday-gifts-gift-baskets.com/, Jan Kremer loves to pass along money-saving craft ideas, creative seasonal gift basket tips, and Christmas favor suggestions for corporate holiday parties.

Reindeer food photo credit: Alanna George 
Christmas stockings photo credit: CraigLindner