| Making homemade christmas cards and christmas | | | | |
| crafts is a great way to spend quality family | | | | Bring out those old unused christmas cards, |
| time together. The creative use of colors, | | | | clothes and anything else that can be cut up |
| drawing pictures for painting, listening to | | | | to make a craft. Do you have any of those |
| the christmas music, all contribute to making | | | | broken colorful floppy disks lying around? |
| christmas a special time. | | | | Bet you could do a whole lot with those and a |
| | | | bit of glue? |
| Encourage your children to participate in the | | | | |
| making of different crafts to place around | | | | Recycle as much as you can. Do not throw your |
| the home for the holidays. It places special | | | | old wig out yet? That is fair game too! Have |
| meaning and emphasis on the holidays. Lock | | | | you tried looking on the internet for craft |
| the television in a back room. | | | | ideas? That is the best place to look. |
| | | | |
| Only bring it out for special time that is | | | | Halloween is long gone but were are those |
| set aside during the holiday period. The | | | | costumes and decorations? Use them now! |
| family can use it for a designated movie | | | | |
| night. | | | | With all of this activity the kids are sure |
| | | | to get hungry. Have a special meal or light |
| Be sure to rent special movies on the night. | | | | snacks for them. A nice dessert treat is |
| Watch teachable family movies with meaningful | | | | always welcomed. |
| story lines. | | | | |
| | | | Let the girls help out with baking Christmas |
| Bring out the board games. Although it is | | | | cookies. Use your famous cookie cut outs. |
| christmas Monopoly is always a great choice. | | | | |
| They may even sell a christmas edition. | | | | When the fun time is over let all the kids |
| | | | help to clean up. This will be an important |
| Have christmas music playing throughout the | | | | task. The living room will be transformed |
| house at all times. The children will be | | | | into the family theater for later on in the |
| humming and singing their favorite tunes. | | | | evening. |
| | | | |
| Encourage inside activities such as ping | | | | Children should also be encouraged to pursue |
| pong, musical chairs and Simon Says (a great | | | | calmer mental activities. They can write |
| game). They keep the kids active and in a fun | | | | poems and stories. |
| mood. These games also teach valuable lessons | | | | |
| along with the fun that comes with playing | | | | A parent can start a story and the children |
| them. | | | | can each finish the story in their own words. |
| | | | They can then take turns and read their story |
| They teach children to accept defeat | | | | to the others. |
| graciously (depending on the child). They | | | | |
| teach how to accept victory without rubbing | | | | Encourage the children to think of games they |
| it into the losers. Obviously parents have to | | | | can play the next day. You may be pleasantly |
| be there to nurture, coach and guide. | | | | surprised what they come up with. Use the |
| | | | christmas holidays wisely. |
| How about decorating the Christmas tree with | | | | |
| homemade ornaments? That is a great idea. | | | | Tell your children constantly about the |
| Bring out a few craft books to help with | | | | things that make christmas time a special |
| brainstorming ideas. Have a quick planning | | | | time. Lets make this a family filled |
| session. It teaches the kids organizational | | | | christmas. You are building memories, men and |
| skills. | | | | women. |