What did you find the best age was for really loving Christmas?

[olivo]

My two are 3 and 6 and already in these early days, I think it will be the best year. We have already started some things for it and it helps that we now have space to host, and a chimney!

What age was it the most magical for you?

Our dd is 4 and I must say the last xmas was fab and this one will be just as magical, I'm due to have ds in jan so am hoping the magic will continue for both of them for another few yrs! Have just moved to a lovely house from a 2 bedroom flat so me and dd are looking forward to making a huge effort with the decorations and the tree!

35

I don't think you can put a best age on it to be honest. I loved it when they were babies gazing at the twinkly lights, I loved it when they were toddlers and they had not a clue why they were getting all this new stuff, and I loved it right through the primary years when they wanted reindeer food and santa keys etc- they probably got most excited about age 9 and 10 - it's only been since that age that they have got up at the crack of dawn. 11 and 12 this year so it definitely feels a bit different. I think they feel more involved with what we want to do as a family rather than being told this is what is happening so in a way it feels more like our christmas than mine. can't really explain that very well.

Now.

My family weren't great at Christmas. It was like a normal Sunday only with presents and a few crackers to pull. There was no special atmosphere, no build up to the actual day.. I also have never had eggnog, christmas pudding or turkey (and considering i've been vegi for many years I never will) and I had my first mince pie two Christmases ago when DH made me try one (I actually thought it was real mince until then!). Aside from a cadburys advent calendar there was no build up to the big day. I only had the films to base my idea of a wonderful and exciting Christmas. It was naff.

Now i'm a mum myself I actually thoroughly enjoy Christmas and really get into the spirit. We have a huge build up to the day, a real tree (always had artificial as a kid) and the day is wonderful. I also bake mince pies, Christmas cake and I make eggnog. So basically now i'm an adult I finally have the Christmas I always dreamed of but I am a stern perfectionist and if anything doesn't go right I get sad.

My kids are only 2.8, 17 months and 3 months so I don't really think they get it but I can't wait until they do!!

Haha, petershadow, I came on here to write '30'. I love Christmas. It's been fantastic at every age so far. But when my brother and I were between 6 and 9 was probably best, cos we were old enough to sneak downstairs at 3am and take all the wrapped presents out from under the tree and make them into shapes - our present 'train' was the best!

Oh, and I don't remember ever believing in Father Christmas and don't think he has much to do with the magic of Christmas at all.

bondigidum We never did any of that stuff either when I was a kid - can't remember being any less excited though and I'd never really thought about it until you posted. The only thing I can really remember my parents doing that was a bit different was a Christmas day thing. I was the youngest of 7 and after present opening ( a fraction of what my kids get but no less exciting) and much eating of rubbish and sweeties, my Dad would make us all get outside and he would take an old clock and make us run round the block for ages apparently being timed (not sure the clock actually worked!) to get us some fresh air, build up an appetite and give my mum a bit of peace to sort the dinner out :)

my ds (just turned 18) gets progressively more excited throughout December.. He will not sleep on Christmas eve

Dd is nearly 12 & still enjoys the magic of Christmas

I'm really excited that I may have lots of magical years still to come! DH is a bit bah humbug about the whole thing but I love going totally overboard (not particularly with presents) with the whole thing.

probably under about 11 and then once you have your own children ... I am so excited! I love Christmas...

amck5700 Are you sure they weren't having a Christmas bonk :o :o

Now. Had abusive, alkie parents as a kid.

Christmas is great for me now, doesn't depend on the kid. I find the whole time magical.

Voldemort :o - not unless my mum was hiding under a bush!! My dad used to stand at the gate while we ran round.........

I know it seems strange but I've found the last three years have been the best, my DC's are now 20,19 and 16 and really throw themselves into Christmas. They decorate the tree together, making sure that they put the strand of tinsel on that I hate (it's pink and purple and is a family joke).
They come to midnight mass with us and pile into our room to open their stockings plus they bring us a cup of tea in bed and there are no overtired tantrums.
Really looking forward to this Christmas as it's likely to be our last all together for a while, DD will qualify as a nurse so will probably be working next year and my luck will run out and I'll be working. DD is requesting that I decorate every room, including the loo! I love Christmas.

No memorable Christmasses when I was a child so not a lot to go on! But my DS is now five and whilst the previous 4 have been wonderful, I think this year the excitement levels for all of us are sky high.

We're in a new house, I'm far more relaxed and really looking forward to it. Before, I did sort of dread it tbh

We've no-one coming for dinner so it's just us. A day of ripping open presents, playing with toys, Christmas songs/films, plenty of chocolate and wine

I've also read of a FAB idea for Christmas morning. It's to (the night before obvs) sellotape wrapping paper around the living room doorway so that the child(ren) can "burst" into the room to see if Santa's been. Easy to do, cheap and I think he'll love it

I can't read out an age on it either. My eldest is 10 and last year he was the most excited out of all 5 of them. He was woke up at 3am and was at my bed every 15 mins until 4.30! He says to me last week, completely serious ' mummy is there such a thing as a tranquilliser dart for children because I just cannot sleep on Xmas eve'

Pick out an age, don't know why I have 'read'

40!

Am so excited about Christmas this year

Every single year bar one ( when I was 24 and discovered h1 was having an affair with my bf) has been magic but as a mum when DC were between 2 and 18.

My DD is 7 and totally understands its not all about presents this year (although she has a shed load) and is looking forward to going to church, baking,all the discos,parties,get togethers. In previous years its just been more about the toys so really happy this year that it won't just be about Christmas morning but the whole month of December