Ten Best Ways to Enjoy Christmas Music with Your Kids

It's Christmas time, and the sounds of the season are everywhere you go! It seems that you cannot walk into a department store, mall, salon, or restaurant without hearing some form of Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, or some other equally cheery Christmas song. Adults weary from being overworked, overstressed, and busy getting ready for Christmas may not always be in the mood for some peppy holiday music, but most children usually are. Here are some fun ways to enjoy this seasons music with your favorite little ones.
10. Walk with your child around stores, or town and teach them your favorite song. They will enjoy the time together, and they will especially enjoy getting to know something that you love.

9. Listen to your child or children make up their own Christmas song . Have them use the tune of a familiar Christmas song, such as Jingle Bells, and add their own words.

8. Make up your own Christmas song. The sillier the words, the more your children will love it, especially if it includes them and their favorite people, places, or things.

7. Record your family singing the same song through out the years and send it as an attachment to family in friends or record it in a card. Every year watch all of the recordings and laugh and giggle. Children especially love to see how they've grown and changed, and Christmas is a great way to show them off and praise them for their accomplishments.

6. Grab a group of friends and family and Christmas carol at a hospital or retirement center in December or July. They won't care how off-key you sing, they will love your smile and your enthusiasm.

5. Learn one of the new or unique Christmas songs like, "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas " (Shirley Temple), " Little St. Nick" ( Beach Boys) , and "Just another Christmas Song" (Stephen Colbert). It will expand your repertoire and your enjoyment of the over-played Christmas songs, as well.

4. Use a loud stereo and set up your Christmas lights to some of your favorite songs. Enlist the help of your favorite computer-savvy high schooler.

3. Sing the 12 days of Christmas as fast as you can. Again and again.

2. Find as many different versions of the same song and listen to them or sing them in a row.

1. Create your own playlist mix. Include the songs that you love, and all the songs that your kids love. Even if you can't stand them. Get your children to help pick their favorites on iTunes, and purchase them for ninety-nine cents each.

And if you can't get your fill of Christmas music with the first ten ideas, here are two more to try! Review the latest CD released by an no name composer to help them get a good start. Post your review on your blog, facebook, and twitter, and send the links to the musicians involved. They will love it! (As long as it's favorable!) Lastly, gather up all your kids, some props, and homemade costumes - the cheesier the better- and act out your favorite Christmas Carol. Act it out for your friends and family on Christmas day without words, and see if everyone watching can guess what carol you are acting out. The prize - the get to sing it as a solo, and YOU get to listen! Merry Christmas!