Each year the Christmas holiday season seems to become more frantic.

Does it have to be? Is a calmer festive season possible?

I believe it is, though it does take planning, focus and effort!

Less really is more

For young children and their parents, less is definitely more.

Simple pleasures, centred around the family, create the strongest and best lasting memories.

Memories

Do you have some happy memories from your growing-up years, experiences you’d like to pass on to your children?

The reverse may also be true, there may be family traditions you want to change or avoid at all costs.

Either way is fine, as an adult you decide what traditions you want for your family.

Simple things like, are you going to have an advent calendar?
What type?
One for each child or one for the family?

What will your traditions be?

Perhaps special books you read in the weeks leading up to the celebration?

Create lasting memories

Children love spending time with their parents and grandparents.

Sitting together reading special books creates warm, lasting memories and it’s so simple.

If you don’t already own and can’t afford the special books your local library will have some you can borrow.

Op shops (Goodwill, Thrift) are great places to find all sorts of festive bargains, so keep your eye out.

Old photos of family Christmases are a great way to to tell family stories and relive past joys together with your children.

Decorations

Decorations are a source of wonder and joy for children.

There’s the beauty of special ornaments and there’s the fun of making some yourself. 

Special ornaments often have stories attached to them.
Create a special time look at a few together, tell the stories of why they are special.

Making decorations

• Depending on the age of your children these can be very simple, such as pasting coloured paper onto pre-prepared shapes. 

• Threading popcorn to make garlands.

• Paper chains are so easy toddlers can make them (with a bit of help!). 

• Making a pomander is fun for all ages. https://www.instructables.com/id/Pomander-ball-Christmas-gift/

• Decorating a glass jar for a tea light candle.

• Homemade sewing cards, small and simple, make lovely decorations and great gifts for grandparents.

  • You’ll need a simple outline of a tree, a star or a heart on seasonal coloured card, metallic thread and a tapestry needle and you’re good to go.

• Family members, grandparents for example, may like to help the little ones make some of these these.

One of my happiest childhood Christmas memories is of decorating our house with decorations we made ourselves.
Older children can create many designs with crepe paper streamers.
We once wove a false ceiling in our lounge room

Not Christmas?

When your festival is not based on Christmas, apply the same suggestions, substituting with your traditional ceremonies, stories, food, shapes and colours.

Home

It’s a great idea to base yourself, as much as possible, at home focusing on simple pleasures.

Choose a few special highlighted activities to enjoy outside the home.

Prepare the children in advance, talking through what you’re going to see and do.
Their anticipation will be part of the delight.

You can make an outing even more special by taking along some simple seasonal food to enjoy. Homemade or shop bought, it doesn’t matter.

Avoid the busyness trap

Life will be calmer and the experiences more enjoyable if you keep outings to a few, highly anticipated, occasions.

Pick and choose what’s right for your family.

It is so easy to fall into the trap of busyness.
You may consider scheduling some visits for after the hectic period, when everyone will probably enjoy it more.

Whatever your festival and however you choose to celebrate, I wish you and your family a calm and happy festive season.