5 Easy Ways to Make Christmas Special for a Boy

Christmas is a special time of year at our house, and with three boys, the festivities are always lively. My boys love the Christmas season, and getting them involved in the planning, decorating, baking, and other traditions is something they look forward to every year. While some may deem activities like baking cookies or decorating the house "girl" activities, my boys have a blast helping each Christmas season, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Most boys are somewhat physical in nature, and getting them involved in these simple activities makes them feel special. The following simple tips will create a special Christmas for any boy, giving them a holiday to remember.

Cut Down Your Own Tree
Most boys love an adventure, and what could be more fun than tromping through the wilderness in search of the perfect Christmas tree? Even though many cut-your-own tree farms are less than wild, boys will love the physical activity and the thrill of seeking out the perfect conifer to grace your home. Let your boy lead the way as you wind through the row of trees. You can provide some guidance, such as type of tree or overall height or size, but let him feel like he's the one really making this all-important decision. If he's old enough, allow him to help cut it down as well. If it's one thing my boys love, it's helping Dad with tools, so this can be really exciting. This is a fun, family Christmas tradition boys will love.

Make His Favorite Cookies
What boy doesn't love sweets? And Christmas is the perfect time to hone that special family cookie recipe that's sure to make your boy's Christmas extra yummy. While you may have some traditional cookies that you make every year, ask your boy what his favorite flavor is and then make it together. While some parents don't think to include their boys in the kitchen, my boys love helping me cook and bake; to them, it's a project that has a tasty and satisfying result, making the effort well worth it. Put on some favorite holiday music or a special Christmas movie, gather the ingredients, and have a great time making this special Christmas cookie with your boy. This cookie can be his unique flavor creation that he'll want to make year after year. Want to make it extra fun? Get him a boy-themed apron to wear in the kitchen with a favorite theme or character. He'll enjoy getting into character, and you'll be thankful for stain-free clothing.

Incorporate His Favorite Things
Robots, superheroes, trucks, and dinosaurs are not items usually associated with a traditional Christmas, but many of these types of items are near and dear to boys' hearts, no matter the season. Make Christmas special for a boy by incorporating some of his favorite themes or characters into your holiday décor. In our house, each boy receives an ornament every Christmas, and it's always an object or character that was special in each boy's life in the past year. And every Christmas when we decorate our tree, each boy pulls out his box of ornaments and remembers why he got each one. It's like a 3D scrapbook that he can take with him when he has a home and tree of his own one day. And beyond ornaments, many themes and characters can be found on all sorts of Christmas decorations, from snow globes to lights to stockings. Choose a few pieces and make your boy's Christmas more special by showcasing his favorite things around the house right alongside yours.

Let Him Help Decorate
It can be easy to want to create the perfect Christmas setting by doing the decorating yourself as you carefully place each garland and figurine around your home. But boys have opinions too, and many love to help decorate the home for the season. Whether you allow him to arrange a special nativity scene, dictate where your Santa collection should be displayed, or get him involved in the thrilling outdoor chore of hanging the lights, you may be surprised at what decorative scheme your boy comes up with. My boys love to arrange my Charlie Brown Christmas characters, trying to create scenes from the movie, as well as place my smaller figurines like nutcrackers around the downstairs. Even my three-year-old gets a kick out of decorating by constantly rearranging my smaller knick-knacks all season long. It's a daily surprise, wondering where each piece will end up next, and though the constant imperfections used to drive me crazy, I've learned to appreciate his willingness to "help" and have since found the humor in the situation. They won't want to help forever, so create Christmas traditions with your boy now by letting him in on the fun.

Give Him One Over-the-Top Gift
Just like the boy in A Christmas Story who wanted a toy rifle more than anything in the world, so each boy has that one special item on his list that he just can't live without. And while you don't want to go crazy with your budget or indulge every fantasy, getting that one over-the-top gift to put under the tree can make Christmas extra special for a boy. I still remember the year my parents bought us the original Nintendo gaming system for Christmas, something we never thought we'd get. But there it was, under the tree, and it was such an exciting thing to open! I still remember that Christmas vividly, and though I couldn't tell you anything else I got that year, I can still see myself opening up that box with my sister with sheer delight. There are several gifts like that which I remember with great fondness and nostalgia, simply because they were such a big deal to me at that time in my life. And the special gifts don't have to cost a fortune, either. The point is to give your boy that one Christmas present that ties in his current passions, making it a gift he'll treasure and remember for years to come.