Family Christmas Traditions for Young Children

Christmas is a magical time of the year! It's even more special for young children. I recall all the special memories of Christmas' past. I grew up in a close family the oldest of four sisters. My parents made many wonderful Christmas traditions that I use with my own children. My husband and I have also made some of our own Christmas traditions to make the season even more special. I hope you find these traditions as special as we do!

Christmas Books - I have a special basket I pull out each year the weekend after Thanksgiving and load it up with all of our Christmas books (winter and snow ones too). It is our Christmas tradition to read a book from this basket on a daily basis in the month leading up to Christmas. The kids love pulling out different books daily. We read to them and they "read" to us. My oldest is just learning to read so he's already looking forward to this Christmas tradition since he'll be able to help read this year!

Christmas Tree Farm - It is our Christmas tree family tradition to go out the weekend after Thanksgiving and cut down our Christmas tree! This tradition started when I was just a child and we now go as a big family every year. My parents, sisters, their husbands and children, and my family all trek out to the country to our "favorite" tree farm and find the perfect tree! The tree farm we go to has peacocks, llamas, rabbits, and goats for the kids to check out and pet. This is a special tradition that brings the whole family together every year.

Christmas Movies and Music - Christmas movies and music always get our family into the Christmas mood. My boys absolutely love watching the Christmas classics as well as the newer movies that have quickly become favorites. The Polar Express became an instant favorite in my house of Train and Santa Lovers! We play music throughout the day and the kids sing along both in the house and in the car! The Christmas tradition of movies and music is an easy one for kids to enjoy.

Cookie Baking - I've never been a big baker but I am always sure to make Christmas cookie baking a special day with my young boys. We pick a day and write it down on the calendar - Cookie Day! We go shopping together (fun for them, not fun for me) for the ingredients. The big day arrives and we do it up big. They get to add ingredients, help use the blender, help cut and spoon out the cookies, and voila cookies are done!

Advent Calendar - Another Christmas tradition in my house, we have an advent calendar. My boys love counting down to Christmas. Each day when they check their calendar, we talk about the special meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate it today.

Decorating - Decorating the Christmas tree and putting the Manger scene together is another Christmas tradition we share with our children. Even the youngest family members can hang ornaments on the tree. My boys love checking out all of our favorite ornaments each year. They get to find a good place on the tree for the ornaments and hang them up. The manger scene is special because it gives us the opportunity to talk about the meaning of Christmas and the story of Jesus' birth.

I hope your family enjoys some of these Christmas traditions as much as my family does. My young children look forward to Christmas every year (and not only because Sant is coming and they'll be getting fun presents). They are learning that as much as getting presents is fun, Christmas has a special story that they need to understand as well! Christmas traditions, no matter what they are, are an important part of making the Christmas season even more special in your family!