Christmas has always been my favorite holiday and that is even more true now that I have kids. There is just something magical about the holiday season that makes me want to bottle it up and keep it forever. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Christmas magic though, it’s that it is quickly erased if I’m spending my whole morning rushing around trying to get ready for the rest of the day.
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Tell me if this sounds familiar: it’s Christmas morning and your kids just emerged from their rooms with eyes the size of snowglobes. They’re so excited to see what Santa left under the tree…but you’re busy checking the clock and staring at your to-do list to fully soak up the moment.
Instead, you are rushing to get a dish ready to take to your next gathering, making sure to pack diapers, wipes, and whatever else your crew needs for the day. By the time you get to grandma’s house, you feel like you’ve earned a nap.
That used to be me.
Frazzled before the day even really started. A few years ago, I realized I was missing out on some of the sweetest moments with my kids. Santa only comes to your home for a few years. You are only the center of your children’s world for a few precious years before they are too old for the most magical parts.
When I realized this, I started looking for simple, calm traditions we could enjoy together before heading off to the bigger family gathering. Nothing complicated or Pinterest-perfect, just little traditions that help us slow down, connect, and start the day with magic instead of stress.
Today I want to share some of those ideas with you. Do exactly what we do in my home, or tweak these ideas to fit your family. No matter what, if you put a little effort into being intentional, I bet you’ll notice a huge difference in how much you’re able to enjoy this Christmas!
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1. Guard the Best Parts
For me, this is gifts from us and from Santa.
In our house, we give our kids a few gifts and Santa brings a few.
Honestly, my kids don’t care who put their gifts under the tree, they’re just excited to tear into them and see what’s in there!
I decided that no matter what time we are expected to be somewhere else, I will allow my children to fully enjoy this part of Christmas because, realistically, this is every kids’ favorite part.
We let our kids unwrap their toys, open them and play with them if they want to.
I try to be fully present in this moment with them and I believe this is probably the most bonding experience that we have on Christmas together as a family.
2. A Cozy Family Breakfast
One of my wishes for our holidays was to always sit down and eat breakfast together.
This has actually become one of the hardest things to pull off.
It turns out, my kids don’t care much about eating when there are presents under the tree!
A couple of years ago, we decided to make a one-day exception to our “no eating in the living room” rule and serve breakfast WHILE opening presents.
Some years it’s cinnamon rolls or monkey bread, other years it’s an egg-based casserole.
Just the fact that we’re letting the kids eat somewhere other than the table is enough to make our Christmas breakfasts feel super special.
Add presents and it’s a recipe for pure magic.
3. Prayer or Gratitude Time
We often go in a circle and talk about the things we’re most grateful for, especially on particularly hard or stressful days.
I try to be very conscious of keeping in perspective for our kids’ just how very lucky we are, no matter how hard or heavy some things feel.
On Christmas, it’s exciting for the kids to share what they’re most grateful for or excited about.
Try to truly listen when your kids answer.
Just feeling truly heard is super bonding and great for your relationship with your kids.
Another idea is to have prayer time where you pray for those in your life that may be struggling or are walking through trials.
This can really help to keep in perspective just how lucky we are to have a chaotic Christmas morning filled with presents and joy.
4. A Holiday Dance Party
All of the sugar from our breakfast coupled with the excitement of Christmas morning surprises equals kiddos that are absolutely bouncing off of the walls.
Before we invade anyone’s house with that amount of energy, I ask Alexa to play Christmas music and we dance around the house while we get ready to head out for the day.
I try to make my morning easier by getting everyone’s clothes prepped and ready the night before.
This way, we’re just brushing teeth, getting dressed, and getting snapped into carseats.
A little bit of planning ahead can go a LONG way on busy days.
5. Create a Family Memory Jar / Time Capsule
This one takes almost no time and is so cute!
Ask your kids to write down their favorite thing about Christmas this year or maybe even their favorite moment from the year so far.
Write their name and the date on them, fold them up, and put them in a jar.
Next year do the same thing.
Every year we go through our responses from past years and my heart swells a little and breaks at the same time.
Sometimes I think I create traditions like this to just to break my own heart later when I read back their sweet little thoughts, but then I remind myself how lucky I am to get to be their mama.
I wouldn’t trade these sweet memories for anything in the world.
6. Bake Together
We usually do this on Christmas Eve, but if you’d like to have even more sugar in your Christmas traditions, read on.
Since high school, I have made “stickies”. Basically rice krispies treats but with Cheerios instead of rice krispies and with a few tablespoons of peanut butter added in.
This is a family favorite in our house and I only make them a few times per year.
When I want to really bond with our kids and get them all excited, I make these with them.
It takes maybe 10 minutes, everyone loves them, and it’s easy to make a ton…plenty to eat on Christmas morning AND take to your holiday gatherings to share.
If you have extra time, go all out and bake cookies from scratch or just make some from store-bought cookie dough.
There is a never-ending amount of no-bake cookies and treats recipes on Pinterest if you’d like to find a new favorite this year!
As long as your kids are helping in the kitchen, they’re bonding with you and learning at the same time!
7. Make Christmas Cards
This is a great one for little kids that will be visiting with grandparents or aunts and uncles on Christmas.
Everyone treasures little kids’ handmade creations.
Let your kids make artwork to give to their loved ones at the gatherings later in the day.
Make sure you sit down with them and make art of your own while complementing their hard work.
It’s easy to look at moments like this as an opportunity to sneak off and get some much needed tasks accomplished.
Instead, sit with your kids and actually enjoy creating something with them.
They’ll remember the time you spent with them, not how perfect the appetizer was that you made.
Keep It Simple
I want to leave a quick reminder here that these traditions should bring your family closer together, not add yet another thing to your plate.
At the end of the day, these are the days you’ll remember.
Go and enjoy your extended family on Christmas, but don’t forget to soak up the intimate moments with your little immediate family while you can.
These days are fleeting. Guard them like they’re as precious and limited as you and I both know they are.
Sprinkle some quick traditions into your holidays for just you, your spouse, and your kids to enjoy together. I promise you’ll never regret that you did!
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