Your Kids' Christmas Doesn't Have to Be Depressing Because of a Lack of Funds

With the holidays coming up, children are anticipating Christmas morning full of Santa Claus, stockings and presents. They are inundated with toy commercials and newspaper ads with all sorts of toys and electronics, etc. But that's not what Christmas is all about. For too long, Christmas has been a very commercial holiday. It's easy to get wrapped up in buying presents and getting out Christmas cards. The kids are only concerned about the Nintendo Wii or iPod and not about the spirit of Christmas.

With the economic downturn of this year, there are lots of families that aren't going to be able to purchase those iPods or video game systems. They are going to be lucky to buy anything at all this year. But that's ok. This is the perfect year to go back to what the spirit of Christmas is all about. Christmas is about brotherly love, holiday cheer, family and friends.

Kids learn by example and if you take time this year to spend a little extra time with your children they will learn the true meaning of Christmas. Not what the big corporate heads have turned it into. They will be better people for it.

Here are some ideas on things you can do with your kids this year.

-Break out the glue, scissors, construction paper and glitter. Have them make some works of art for your refrigerator.

-Sew up some aprons for you child and have them help you cook this year. If you are a big baker over the holiday season, strap the apron on your kid, get out the cookie cutters and food coloring and make some cookies. Have them add ingredients and add sugar to the top of the cookies. There are no better cookies than ones you have made yourself.

- Buy a gingerbread house and put it together with your kids.

-Create homemade ornaments to decorate the Christmas tree.

-Create homemade gift tags and wrapping decorations.

-Create homemade Christmas cards. Have them help you with making them and addressing them.

-Turn on some Christmas music, break out the boxes, wrapping paper, ribbon and tape and have them help you wrap presents for your family.

-Go for a drive to look at Christmas lights.

-Watch holiday specials. They can learn something from "Rudolph" and "It's a Wonderful Life."

-Have them help you decorate for the holidays. Christmas trees, wreaths, and stockings all need to be put up.