How to Create a Kid-friendly Christmas Tree

My mom told us that when my sister and I were little, she kept the Christmas tree in the crib her father built so we couldn't reach it. There is photographic proof to back up her story, otherwise I wouldn't have believed her.

My first two Christmases as a mother, I kept the Christmas tree in the entryway to the house. That way, I could just close the door and not worry about it. But as my kids got older, and we moved to a home which didn't have an entryway, I had to get creative.

First, I put away all my breakable ornaments. It didn't work for me to put them at the top of the tree; it became a goal for my kids to try to reach them. The only ornaments I have out are plastic, paper, or wood.

I also ditched all the strings of lights and opted for a fiber optic Christmas tree. With a fake tree, there are no pine needles to clean up or pluck out of tiny bare feet. And with a fiber optic tree, there are no light cords for little hands to grab and tug over. Plus there is less hassle when the children are trying to help decorate!

Every year, I let the kids pick out a new ornament that is their very own. It gives them a sense of pride to put their special ornament on the tree. Also, I let them decorate the tree however they see fit. Sure, all my ornaments are really low and all clumped together, but I've found that if they put the ornaments on, they're less likely to bother them later.

Holiday crafts are easy to incorporate into the tree decorations too. Paper snowflakes, felt reindeer, paper plate angels, cinnamon ornaments, and paper cup bells are all really easy to do with the kids and they are less likely to break if knocked to the floor. Strung popcorn and cranberries are simple touches kids can help with as well.

Now, I'm not saying that my kids don't still touch and rearrange the decorations. But because they helped me so much in the whole process, they have a real sense of ownership involved with the tree. It's not something that is forbidden that they have to obsess and plot over. It's as much theirs as it is mine. Plus it's not as fun to touch when Mom doesn't gasp in horror.