What makes a 'magical' Christmas for kids?

[BigGreen]

My poor DH has a chronic pain condition meaning he's pretty much The Grinch all year round . I always feel the pressure to create a nice, festive atmosphere of fun and joy for the kids.

I was wondering if you had any ideas to make the season magical for children? So many times I've read posts here that said "Mum made Christmas so magical...". Such sweet memories :)

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

being loved, being included, asking them what they would like to do.

Looking back at my childhood...best things about Christmas were...

Hanging out with my cousins on the day

Waking up in the morning and feeling that my stocking was full of presents

The smell of the real Christmas tree

We go for a walk around the big park on the last Sunday before Christmas, we go when it’s getting dark and always buy a hot chocolate to walk around with from Costa on the way. It feels so special.

I never buy popcorn or drinks at the cinema but for the Christmas movie in December I allow the children one of those kids popcorn and drink trays I think because I don’t normally do it, it feels extremely festive and special to the children.

My favourite things about Christmas as a child was my dad taking us out the back after our baths on Christmas eve to see if we could spot the sleigh. He always managed to hear the bells somehow which would mean time for bed. Then one or another of us would wake in the small hours of Christmas morning while still pitch black
I remember the thrill of stretching down a foot to feel the weight on the end of the bed as that's where Santa presents were left. We would tiptoe around to see what was left without waking my parents.

I have Fibromyalgia so you're post caught my eye. Even though your DH is unwell, I'm sure your kids will want to be able to do things with him (and you) as much as possible. It's been horrible at times when I've had bad pain flare ups and I've been too ill to even get into bed with him for a cuddle :-(

I'd suggest not relying on booked experiences and having a list of things that you can do together especially when he's feeling better. If your kids are older enough, ask them for ideas too. Could you put them in a jar to draw out too?

Our highlights from last year are the simple things, National Trust walks (and a snowfight!), being at home playing together with toys/board games. Generally getting off the treadmill of life and having more time to spend together.

We live in a new build house and the first christmas we had here, DS, who was just shy of 3 at the time, asked how father christmas would get in. So I built a fireplace from cardboard boxes, brick effect wallpaper and tissue paper - we do it every year now and leave a mince pie by the 'fire' xmas eve. Little things like that are what make it magical. (yes i have since been told about the magic key - but i've done it now!)

Xmas films

Ahh whiteonesugar that's absolutely lovely .

My grown up DC remember us making a landing strip down the drive. We used tea lights in jam jars. I used to (before I knew better!) sprinkle glitter down the middle from where he landed
Their other favourite was snowy footprints which I made by sprinkling talc over boots then taking the boots away of course. We left them by the fire and at the stairs. H did them one year. All over the house, the kids loved it, but used flour because he couldn't find the talc. The dog licked them all up and puked
They enjoyed the playmobile advent calender too

My children love making mince pies, making the wreath for the door, decorating (and eating!) the gingerbread house, Christmas films every Sunday in December, the carol arrive at the local Cathedral and seeing friends and family. The stocking is always the most exciting thing!

We build it, so it starts with a reusable advent calendar appearing as if by magic on 1st December filled with chocolates. The Elf does make an appearance (my children are 18 and 15 so yes it can go on forever) he brings totally inappropriate breakfast cereal for the 1st, stuff I would never buy

The Christmas table cloth and place mats also come out, then the tree goes up around 10th December. Everyone is involved in fluffing the tree and decorating it. Even as young children they did it. You give each child a set of matching baubles and they hang them in either a diamond pattern, a triangle or inverted triangle. That way there are no matching baubles next to each other, they also stand back to look at the tree to make sure it is looking good!

Then we divide into teams of 2, so a parent and a child each take responsibility for other decorations, one outside, one inside. We always had a pyjama day the first day of school holidays with a film and cinema snacks. We have the same food on Christmas eve every year, we like tradition.

I think being involved in it all, being part of creating it is what makes it magical. The secrecy of wrapping a present for a parent, the excitement of seeing family etc make it all special.

Love all these. We’ve never done any of the big stuff and I feel less guilty now!

I see to help mum make the Christmas sweets, we did peppermint creams, fudge, Turkish delight and creme de menthe (peppermint Turkish delight, marzipan dates, cherries in marzipan, coconut ice plus more.

My children remember things like going to their grandparents who live near one of the then best decorated streets in the country. They remember the house being changed into a winter wonderland and one of the cats being buried by presents as he slept under the tree.

Our traditions:

• choosing and decorating tree together
• family lunch and Christmas film every Sunday in December
• local lights trail every year
• Christmas Eve walk through town, get a takeaway mulled wine to go to the park. Walk back via our church to see the big outdoor nativity scene
• pizza on Christmas Eve night
• stockings in our bed while DH and I drink tea at 5 in the morning
• morning walk after presents and breakfast and just as everyone gets a bit hyper and need to let off steam

And in between lots of little treats, festive music on, special dresses for Christmas Day etc. DC are 2 and 4. DC1 is sooo excited already!

Fire, board games, carol service, making the cake, mince pies and gingerbread house. Making paper chains and putting them everywhere, gel clings in the window, fairy lights, seeing the local street advent windows and making one in our window. Getting a hot chocolate in town and shopping for family Christmas presents.

Not sure a fire really makes it for kids, given it makes for really bad indoor air quality stunting their lung development! But the rest all sounds pretty lovely.

Transform house, grotto style, hang things ceiling, music, lighting, scents and food.

We’ve started some nice traditions.

The Elf - we went big on this last year and our LO loved it. In place of a stocking elf brought bits and bobs throughout the month :)

We do a nice light trail too.

A visit to Santa and a local crafts session.

DH has jangled bells outside while I have put LO to bed - the look on his face is priceless!

But Christmas Eve/day etc is just about pressies, nice food and treats, games, telly and being together…

Oh yes and putting up the tree together with carols/Christmas songs on

We like to put the tree decorations on together with a Christmas playlist on in the background😀. Once we are on holiday, just lounging about, eating well and playing with the new toys and watching the Christmas films is amazing. Also just getting time with extended family - aunties/uncles etc. I really think it’s about the basics - you can spend as much or as little as you have, it’s about collectively enjoying the simple things and whatever new stuff you have.

We are usually out on Xmas day, so always look forward to an easy cook special meal (marks and Spencer’s or something preprepared) so we can focus on the kids on Boxing Day.

This year I'm making decorating the house a big deal, we're going to have a Christmas buffet while we do it with pigs in blankets, mince pies etc! On Dec 1st the elf comes, yes it's a pita at times but I make a list and plan ahead what he's going to do so I'm ready each night. They LOVE it. They've been asking already when is he going to come.
I like doing crafty stuff (the LIKE) part is important so we make things, we bought some wooden houses to paint and started that last night.
We do one big day out usually, Beamish this year, previously we did Kielder which was amazing. National Trust are also lovely leading up to Christmas.
I try to do as much in November as I can so I have time in December to play games and sit with crafts or go for a walk after dark.

Nice nature walks
Christmas tree
Christmas music and movies
Wine, fruit and cheese platter
Time as a family
Games
Food

It's the little traditions that make Christmas magical and comforting. The bits I remember as being really magical were things we did every year- going round to my grandparents to help put up and decorate their tree, decorating ours with special snacks and Christmas carols, going to garden centres to look at the decorations and walking around the nearby roads looking at Xmas lights. I actually enjoy all of those simple things in the run up more than the day itself 😁

@katienana

This year I'm making decorating the house a big deal, we're going to have a Christmas buffet while we do it with pigs in blankets, mince pies etc! On Dec 1st the elf comes, yes it's a pita at times but I make a list and plan ahead what he's going to do so I'm ready each night. They LOVE it. They've been asking already when is he going to come. I like doing crafty stuff (the LIKE) part is important so we make things, we bought some wooden houses to paint and started that last night. We do one big day out usually, Beamish this year, previously we did Kielder which was amazing. National Trust are also lovely leading up to Christmas. I try to do as much in November as I can so I have time in December to play games and sit with crafts or go for a walk after dark.

Ooh yes National trust is a good shout, they always make the houses look so special and often have a nice walking trail for kids. I think it's a good idea to get them burning off some energy and excitement with lots of walks 😁 like you, we do one paid-for thing (this year it's polar express) and the rest we make the most of our NT membership and do free activities like looking at local Xmas lights.

Last year we also paid for an online streaming of a panto, my DS was only 2 but loved all of the slapstick humour. It's much cheaper than going in person, which is also lovely but more practical at home when you have small ones.

I also remember my mum taking us to the library at the beginning of the Xmas holidays to choose some books to keep us occupied over the break. That always felt special for some reason!

We took it in turns to receive presents and as my sis and I got older, we would hand them to the recipient ourselves. It meant that the present opening takes a little bit longer and our parents could ensure that the main present was opened last. My grandparents would arrive mid morning and bring their presents then that FC had left at their house. It meant that the present part took that little bit longer and we could show them the presents we already had while my parents cracked on with lunch too. The smells of lunch cooking was enough to make the day feel so special.