Christmas Decorating for Kids

Every Christmas my mother proudly displays the many handmade decorations that we (her kids) made over the years. The fact that we are now grown with our own families has not deterred her from setting out her favorite Christmas angel (my brother's creative use of an old Reader's Digest book) or the shabby tree ornaments we made from pipecleaners, pom poms and wool. I have to admit, there's something charming about these little treasures. There's so much available in stores nowadays that we sometimes lose sight of traditions. We toss old things out for newer, more modern items. In the process we lose some of the charm.

Here are some ideas for ways for your children to add a personal touch on your Christmas decorating. They're fun, and once Christmas is over they can be "tossed" - not so you can replace them, but so you can do it all over again next year!

1. Painting on the windows. We've all seen windows that have been painted for Christmas, Easter, etc. There is a special item called Window Chalk that is used for this purpose. It is sold in craft stores. Any other type of paint will run when the window collects condensation. It's really fun for kids to draw snowmen, stockings, reindeer, Santas, etc., and it looks really pretty. It's a bit of work to wipe the windows clean at the end of the holidays, but not overly so.

2. Gingerbread house. This is an all-time favorite activity for kids and the result makes a nice "homey" decoration. If you don't want to attempt making the gingerbread yourself, there's lots of places that sell kits. Another short cut is to use graham crackers and canned icing to make little houses. Make sure you have a big assortment of pretty candies for decorating.

3. Paper snow flakes. I still find it fascinating to cut out paper snowflakes. Each one comes out completely different, just like the real thing. You simply take a piece of paper (it's best to use a square) and fold it several times. Cut designs and shapes out, and then re-open the paper. The result will be a beautiful unique snowflake. Allow the kids to cover windows for a pretty festive look.

Have fun - and happy holidays!