Teach your Child about a Family Christmas

Have you been naughty or nice? Are you going to get what is on your Christmas list? This year is different for most of us, as money is tighter than other years. Most children don't understand the stress of burdened incomes when it comes to Christmas. So what can we do as parents to bring the family closer together and make this year even more memorable than the other, high cost, years?

"Be together!" No, not sit together and watch Christmas programs, although that is fun sometimes. But do something you haven't done before. After all, different just means we put a new spin on excitement! For example, at our house this year we decided together the Christmas words that are special to us and created a "wordle" to hang on the wall by our door, as a reminder of what Christmas means to us. The more times you put a word in, the bigger it is and there are many arrangements and colors you can use to make your own.

Another activity that we did was create snowflakes out of paper to hang around the ceiling in the living room. My six-year-old had never made snowflakes before and it was a learning experience that we enjoyed. Plus, in addition to the conversation we had as a family, we will have a memory the whole season long of working together to create something beautiful!

The night before we open our gifts, we will sit and drink hot chocolate and recant all of the positive stories we have participated in, not to brag, but to remind us of our ability to give and share with others. We will read Jack Canfield's "Chicken Soup for the Soul," and I will proudly wear the shirt my six-year-old earned with saved up behavior points at school. I can already feel the wide smile on my face. Our family will be giving each other one singular gift, but I guarantee this will be our best Christmas ever!

Do you have any ideas of creative ways to celebrate Christmas or any new traditions you care to share? Is it possible to have a close holiday without spending a lot of money? What are some "no cost" ideas you have to celebrate?