A Christmas by Children

It’s been said that Christmas is for children. If so, then why not let the children make the kind of Christmas they want? It will certainly delight the little ones to be involved in the Christmas preparations.

Keep the children busy with the Christmas decorations. It will not only spare you from much of the toil, it will also make the kids happy throughout the holiday season. Here are a few sample ideas:

• Buy colored papers at the educational-supplies store. Let the children cut these into strips and make chains of multicolored loops. Hang the chains around the Christmas tree or to frame windows and doors.

•Ask the better artist among the kids to make outline drawings depicting Christmas, and assign one or two to each child for coloring. Let the kids cut matching pieces of cardboard to frame each finished piece. These are nice to put by the Christmas tree, or hang on the living room walls.

• Again, ask the artist kid to make simple decorative patterns on thick paper, for the other kids to cut out. Instruct them to be careful in cutting so as not to damage the edges. The cut pieces could be colored and hung on the Christmas tree or on doors and windows. The hollow patterns left on the paper can be used with foam sprays to make instant Christmas drawings on window panes or glossy concrete walls.

• If you have ornamental plants in your front yard, let the kids choose the one plant to turn into a Christmas tree. Allow them to plan out what they want to do, how they want the tree to look. Supply them with materials they need for decorating. If lights are needed, let the kids decide on the colors and the arrangement, then contact a qualified electrician to install it. (Make sure the little ones never tinker with the electrical connections.)

• For cards to tag this year’s Christmas gifts, bring out your box of old Christmas cards. Let the children cut out nice 2x3-inch-size pictures from the cards they choose. Punch a hole in each and tie with a colored yarn.

To add to the fun, you may even have a contest with the kids’ Christmas artworks. The prizes may just be the same gifts you originally intended to give to each child. It’s the stamp of being a winner that matters more. Just make sure each kid gets recognized so no one loses. Give honors like: Most Colorful, Best in Shape, Most Intricate in Detail, Best in Workmanship etc.

For a children’s Christmas party at home, ask the kids to choose a date for an afternoon get-together with their friends. On the day, have them set up a barbeque grill outside and prepare hotdogs on sticks. Then each little guest can grill his or her own hotdog-on-a-stick.

Also let your kids pick a nice cartoon DVD, and have it ready. When they party is done outside, everyone can come into the house to watch the movie. Your kids can then serve their guests with homemade popcorn in paper tumblers and ice-cold fruit drinks.

The kids will surely beam with pride whenever you point out to visiting friends and relatives that your celebration of Christmas is their – the little ones’ – own creation.