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Making A Magical Christmas for Your Children

By: Delorus Quintal

When I was a kid, Christmas was something absolutely magical.

I remember the eager anticipation of Father Christmas to leave presents in my stockings on Christmas Eve. While we had all the family gifts under the tree, each of us also had a stocking hanging from the fireplace lintel. And somehow by the morning those we always full of small treats that simply must have come from Father Christmas himself!

Wow, that was so exciting!

And there was a tradition that if you had been bad through the year, instead of presents, you might just receive a lump of coal, or a bag of salt.

So my sister and I, along with all our friends in school, would be hoping and praying that we had been good enough through the year.

That bit of uncertainty added yet more magic and mystique to the whole event. It was not just a "given" that there would be heaps of presents on Christmas day - Santa really did check his list twice!

And isn't that the whole point to the Christmas season? Not just another commercial break, but something special, and completely different from the rest of the year. A time of special activities, and special memories.

So where did the magic go?

Now, instead of Christmas carols sung by lamplight at our door by volunteers collecting for charity, we have tinny xmas jingles (yes, Christ has even been removed from Christmas and replaced by X, an unknown quantity).

Instead, we have a mad rush to buy, buy, buy. The presents are no longer a symbol of love, nor a focus on GIVING. Instead they have become a frantic scramble to GET as many presents as possible; to the extent that families put themselves into considerable debt to buy hundreds of dollars of gifts for their kids.

Sure, there is a frantic unwrapping of presents, followed by... Nothing. No magic. No wonder. No Warm Fuzzies. Just a heap of wrapping paper, and a collection of toys, some of which met with approval, and many of which did not.

Well, what about this year bucking the trend. Instead of spending more and more, how about taking some time out to focus on making Christmas something special for just you and your children. Instead of heaps of presents they will play with for a day, give them something they will remember for decades. Here are some ideas:

Look up your local papers to see what community events are on. Spend a bit less on presents and, instead, go and see a Christmas show together.

Or carols by candlelight.

Or what about driving around our neighborhood and taking a vote on the house with the best Christmas decorations and illuminations?

Make some gingerbread cookies together - or even get really ambitious and make a full gingerbread house! Yes, it will take some time, but the children will remember it forever - much longer than the battery powered all- walking all-talking gizmo they "desperately need".

Go play in the snow - skating, sledding, snowballs and snow angels. Be a kid yourself, again, and have a belly laugh together. Ambitious? Try building an igloo together!

Turn off the TV and pay a board game, or Pictionary or Charades.

Watch a classic Christmas movie together. My favorites are Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and the new Santa Clause series with Tim Allen.

Then, when Christmas finally arrives, take time to savor it. Instead of a mad scramble to open all the presents in the quickest time possible, how about taking them one at a time - handing them out to each member of the family so everyone can delight in them.

Oh, and if you really can't stay away from the computer - why not get Santa Claus to send your child a personalized email Christmas greeting. You can do that, for free, at:

http://good-child-guide.com/email_from_santa/ (And you will get some free gifts for yourself too).

Make it your goal, this year, to build memories and magic that you, and your children, will cherish for decades.

Article Source: http://www.simplepetcare.com/pet-articles

Delorus Quintal is editor for Hot Christmas! where you can read more tips and suggestions to make your Christmas truly special. Don't forget to also set up an email from Santa Claus, your kids will love it!
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