Want to make Christmas meaningful for dc, need some ideas

[MilaMae]

My 3 are only 4 and 3 and this year is the first year they will remember it all. Want to make it meaningful ie not just about the mountain of presents they'll receive but not exactly sure how to.

I was shocked last year at the huge pile and to be honest found the whole event a mad whirl of stress which revolved round this huge pile. I've no problem with them receiving presents etc at all and love all the excitement in the run up but to be honest the day we went to choose the tree last year was the best bit for me. It was really special so would like to make Christmas day the same.

We're not particularly religeous but still want the kids to focus on thinking of other people, giving and spending time with loved ones, enjoying food etc.

Any ideas, what do you do??

We're not religious either - and this year we have banned all relatives from buying more than one present each for the kids - they do not need piles and piles, and last year it really looked distasteful and they certainly didn't appreciate it.

don't want Christmas to be just about presents, so they are really limited in what they are getting this year. For us it is more about family and friends getting together, playing silly games, etc. We do talk about the story of the nativity, as that is what it is all about, and the kids are really intrigued by the story, which is lovely.

We go to the forest and choose our Christmas tree which dh cuts down. Like you, that is one of my favourite Christmas rituals. Also, on Christmas Eve we always go to the childrens' service at church. This is at about tea-time and I already have a beuf bourgignon in the slow cooker for when we get back. DH does mulled wine too, which we guzzle sip nicely when we get back.

Is there a collection centre for deprived children in your area? Could you take the children to Woolworths or similar and explain to them that some children aren't lucky enough to have a lovely family and presents and that christmas is a time to think of everyone - you could then ask them to choose something for a deprived child and they could take it along to the collection centre with you. You wouldn't need to spend much but it might be a nice way of trying to explain the 'spirit of christmas' to them

We let the girls each choose one new decoration for the tree every year. It means the tree is a lovely mis-mash of whatever their tastes have been over the years. A few years ago they tended to be pink and fluffy or Disney-ish; last year they were full on bling; this year I suspect that dd1 especially will be trying to find something black!

A lot of people on here do new pjs on christmas Eve - never done it before but must admit, I'm quite tempted.

Also - watching Santa's travels on the internet is very cool.

I know what you mean - it sounds silly, but I was almost upset about the number of presents dd got last year - it seemed crass and unnecessary. She was only 7 months old!!

To make Christmas special, I think you have to personalise it.

Obviously the tree-getting trip is one to repeat, as you loved it last year.

We're not religeous either, but I love Christmas as a special family time. Some of the things we do (just to give you ideas) are:

I bake Christmas muffins for breakfast on Christmas morning.

Our tree is decorated with special things that we have bought on special occasions or as one-offs, or things that family or friends have made. It's a bit of a hotch-potch, but I think it looks so beautiful it actually makes me smile when I see it. I think that trees decorated with matching sets of baubles and colour-coordinated bows are a bit .

We have our Christmas music. We always have a singsong.

As children, my parents used to put certain things in our stocking every year. I know this relates to presents, but they were things like a shiny pound coin, an orange, some nuts, some chocolate money - I loved those bits just as much as the presents and will be doing the same for my children.

Christmas quiz! Particularly amusing if the youngest able reader is chosen as quiz master as then half of the points get awarded for working out what the question was supposed to be. Really nice as the whole family joins in.

Family walk.

You and your children could visit this site which allows you to treat a child with a serious illness or disability to a gift.. or even nominate youself as a Christmas elf.

Also, buy some craft bits and sit round the table together and make things for Christmas. DD (8) and I closeted ourselves in the bedroom this pm and made 12 cards for "special people" with some cheap and cheeful card making kits (£1 for 6 cards!).. plus bits cut out of last year's cards! We both really enjoyed it and the cards look quite nice if I say so myself!

reading the "night before christmas"

watching a Christmas film - older children "Miracle on 64th Street" or "Little Women"

• boxing up a charity shoebox for children far away

• playing a cd of carols while making mince pies

• decorate tree in candle light

• drive/walk round the neighborhood to see other christmas decs (there's always one who goes to town)

• making cards/tree decoration (string popcorn) - make paper chains

• even if not especially religious maybe a prayer for those without all over the world

• a walk on christmas day to the park

We let the kids choose a new decoration for the tree each year too - my mum let us do this as kids, and she has kept them all, it brings back lots of memories.
Also, same things in stockings, this year though I have gone for quality rather than quantity, as in past years have thrown in all sorts of crap they don't need. This year I am really excited about their stockings !
We let them think that white tracks in the sky (usually a plane !) is father christmas out practicing, checking his sleigh is ok, and they love this !
Me and my mum and sis also get together every year to make our xmas cake and mince pies.

We do various things in the run up to xmas, they're kind of our xmas rituals. The dcs help with the making of the xmas pud(in November), the mince pies. We each pick a charity and give some cash to each one, we make paperchains about a week before xmas to hang up and decorate the house, (this is a non negotiable family event, no excuses, even from the teen). And we make sweets together to give as small presents, usually chocolate covered mint fondants.

our regular things are:

breakfast with santa (wyevale garden centre or hatton country world)

read night before christmas

watch miracle on 34th (mummy's favourite)- lots of times

pack up boxes for the shoebox appeal and the local council appeal

make decs, mince pies etc

make pressies together for teachers (started last year with 3.5yr old) - made mn white choc and cranberry fudge. this year its lemon and rosemary oil.

go to the childrens service at local church - have a fantastic puppet show that depicts xmas story

on christmas eve - put out mince pies, sprinkle reindeer food in garden (oats and glitter) and hang some camping lights on tree ( to aid santa to find us ), visit neighbours with above said fudge (elderly one side and a LD care home other) and then curl up on sofa in new pjs and watch miracle on 34th.

Thanks. Lovely ideas!!!! Think I'll do the shoe box thing as not sure if we have one of those centres but liking the idea.

Your Xmas Eve sounds lovely too pesto will drag dp to a kids service didn't even realise they did xmas eve services for kids The beef and mulled wine sounds perfect. Broccoli's muffins sound like a good idea- quick but special.

Now how to deal with the mountain, don't want to take presents away and give at a later date as whats the point. Also don' t want to be a killjoy but with 3 practically the same age under 5 there is a lot of unwrapping to do and I just feel uncomfortable about it. Don't want people to give money instead as that doesn't feel right. It's hard as want to set the tone right for years to come.

If it was me we'd have be in a food and wine stuffed cottage miles away from anywhere with a few home spun gifts but that's not reality and not sure what dp and gang would make of it

Just saw all the other ideas

google shoebox charity and think you'll find it or phone your local anglican church to find out about it. out town hall and school also send out the leaflet that you need.

shoebox appeal - just add your postcode for local collecting points

DD and I have done a shoebox together this weekend as her school are taking part this year. We did one for a 5-9 year old boy. She really enjoyed looking round the shops yesterday, choosing him a toothbrush and pens, etc.

There is a video on the site Twinkly has linked to showing some of last year's children getting their shoes boxes. For some of them it was the first present they'd ever received! DD has seen the video at school but she wanted to see it again.