Tell Cadbury about the ways your children remind you of the joy in the festive season - £300 voucher to win NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

It's easy to be a bit of a grinch in the run-up to Christmas when you've spent what feels like months shopping, cleaning and preparing for it. The good thing is that kids have a way of reminding us what it's really all about, and Cadbury would like to know about the little ways your children have made you recognise the joy that comes with the Christmas season.

From excited visits to meet Father Christmas, to interesting homemade tree decorations and their boundless energy on the big day itself, Cadbury would like to hear how your kids have made you full of joy at Christmas time.

All those who share the ways their children remind them of the joy in the festive season in a post below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

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Carols by Candlelight. As they get bigger they know the words, but the magic stays. Beautiful songs sung with enthusiasm by young and old, twinkly lights, the smells, the anticipation...

I asked my Dd 5 what she was looking forward to about Christmas. She said Christmas tea. I asked her if she knew where we were going for tea on Christmas day and she said ' yes, to grandads and I'll be able to see Tom (favourite cousin).
Seems family is most important thing for every generation

I love how excited they get at the things they do at school to celebrate Christmas - their trip to the panto, the school play, singing with the choir in Church. My daughter saw Santa at the school Christmas Fayre and apparently he tells me she just asked for 'a small surprise'!

My grown up children remind me how wonderful Christmas was when they were small when Roses all had different flavours and the chocolate was yummy. They remember when selection boxes contained full size bars of chocolate and tasted of Cadburys instead of Hershey's/ cake chocolate.

I am sorry they only have memories.

If I get the £300 voucher you can keep it.

Seeing the magic in her eyes - visiting Santa, writing her letter to him, decorating the tree, watching Christmas films through her eyes, the shriek of "he's been" on Christmas morning.

Just got my kids their message from Santa on the portable North Pole. Their little faces lit up when he said their names and knew how old they are. They've been busy tidying their room and are super excited!

Getting upset at the prospect of getting 'co' (coal) for Christmas has amused me and my partner no end!! She's so excited about Christmas but can't stop being naughty.

We put up decorations this weekend and had started before dd got home. She came in and looked around saying "wow! How did it happen? It's so beautiful!" The wonder in her wee face at some Christmas lights and candles and hunting was just lovely. Made me feel like I was in a Christmas film!!

DD saying in the car yesterday that having lots of presents doesn't make Christmas, but having family who love you, does. Made me and DH well up in the car. She's 7yo and is lucky enough to have lots of presents from friends and family.

DS's face as we turned on the Christmas tree lights for the first time. He's 18mo and he just couldn't contain his excitement. Nothing to do with gifts or FC just his delight at the tree.

We put up the tree last night, and my 2 year old's amazement at the lights and decorations was heart warming, she 'oohed' and 'ahhed' over every single bauble and trinket :)

Mine are most excited about the Nativity play. The songs that go with it are practised to excess!

the way they are innocent.and one look on their faces at their excitement calms the stress of the day.
how they can snuggle and calm you and warm you with their kindness and love at this time.the joy they get from one simple time of year.
how they show love,dont hold bitterness or not invite certain [eople.dont have family resentment or fueds. they just love.all

DD is getting super excited at the "happy birthday Jesus party" that we are planning before Christmas. I have a sneaking feeling we're going to need to make sure there's a cake there, but I'm not sure who she thinks is acceptable to blow out the candles she will most likely be expecting!

Having an almost 2 year old the thing she is loving the most has to be the lights everywhere! She loves them on the tree, on the houses, decorating the town centre. Squealing "Lights" repeatedly! Hoping when she's older to take her to see them in London every year and then maybe ice cream at harrods after.

The children making edible Christmas presents for friends. Playing Narnia when choosing the Christmas tree. Reading our advent book by the fire. Singing Christmas carols really loudly in the car.

my son makes a bauble of his choice every year, depending on what his current interests are. Last year was Stormtroopers, before was the Flash and this year is Lego - by the end of his childhood we are going to have one eclectic tree but it will hold so many memories ..........and I'm sure his future partner in years to come will love them when I pass them on

Forgot to say, its seeing these every year that makes me smile and reminds me of another year he's grown

This is the first year that my ds is old enough to really believe and it's lovely hearing him shout 'Santa! Santa!' every time he sees him.

my 4 year old is so excited his teaching our 2 year old to sing jingle bells, we have our tree up and they help decorate it, they have done their list's to santa, the magic is in full swing in our house and i love it.
our 1 year old is not 100% sure of things but he loves playing with the tree

The Christmas cards and decorations home made by the children. The way they decorate the Christmas tree, singing Christmas carols at 7am for at least 2 months before Christmas every day. Askin is it Christmas yet every day from putting the tree up.

My three year old wakes up every day and squeals with excitement to turn our Christmas tree lights on. She then spends a while staring at it and telling me which baubles are her favourite. She seems to get so much joy from something I would just walk past and it makes me slow down and appreciate it.

The way DS2 looks forward to his big brother coming home, and plans presents. He's a bit of a hoarder the rest of the year so it's nice to see it's down to forward planning rather than being a Scrooge.

Every morning my three year old checks under the tree to see if Father Christmas has been. He's so excited that it might be Christmas today. He then runs off to find his elf. He is just so full of joy!

singing all the Christmas carols merged into one mashed up medly at the top of their voices because they think that's how they go.
extolling the vitues of a Christmas onsie to me in a very newnight type of voice