How To Make a Simple Christmas Magical
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure and privacy policy for more information. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
When I think back on all of the Christmases I had growing up, it’s not the gifts I remember. It’s the Christmas activities and traditions we took part in and the memories made that stay with me. A lot of people struggle during the Christmas season. The truth is, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a simple Christmas magical for your kids. Put more effort into creating memories than you do into buying presents.
We like to keep holidays simple here. Honestly, our kids are surrounded by excess every day of their lives. I would much rather give them a few things and work on making memories all December long.
Here’s how we make our simple Christmas magical!
Celebrate Advent
Advent is very important to us and a lot of the activities I am going to suggest next go along with Advent. We have been celebrating Advent for the last couple of years. You can purchase an Advent calendar or DIY one, and even make your own Advent wreath. You can also purchase a lovely Advent wreath to use year after year.
Create Christmas Eve Traditions
I honestly think I enjoy Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day. We really love to give some fun Christmas Eve gifts to make the evening extra special.
We’ve also enjoyed when my Nana has done the 12 Days of Christmas for us.
Take a Trip on the Minivan Express!
You may have seen this idea floating around on Pinterest. We watch The Polar Express and then present our children with these special tickets. Daddy punches the ticket as each child boards the minivan where hot cocoa awaits. My husband even put Christmas lights inside our van!
Then we take a ride to a local place that offers a drive through light display for free, all while listening to Christmas music, of course! This is seriously an awesome tradition to start with your kids, and I bet it will be one they won’t forget!
If you can’t do that, look around your community and see if there is any offerings available. Our community offers a free “Polar Express” bus ride which is actually a lot of fun! There are also often actual train rides you can take with your kids, although those can be expensive.
Make Christmas Cookies Together
Yes, this is an incredibly simple idea, but it is one that you and your kids will cherish forever. Find a favorite recipe and make it every year. I have a few different Christmas cookie recipes on my Christmas Pinterest board if you need some ideas! You can even teach your children about giving by delivering some of the cookies to your neighbors.
If cookies aren’t your thing, try these Christmas Tree Cupcakes.
Build a Gingerbread House
Every year we purchase one of those pre-made gingerbread house kits and let the kids have fun decorating with Daddy. It’s a tradition that they ask for every year.
Read Christmas Stories Together
This may be another no-brainer, but especially if you’re children are young, you need to read some great Christmas books with them. You can even check them out from your library so it doesn’t cost you a thing!
Create Christmas Crafts
Some of my favorite Christmas crafts have included making a beautiful DIY dried orange garland and rolling beeswax candles. You can create lovely Christmas cards, make ornaments, and so much more!
Limit the Gifts
We have a four gift rule. We have always done this and our kids don’t know any different. There is no reason for each child to have a huge pile of gifts under the tree. We buy our kids a gift they really want, a gift they need, something they can wear, and a classic book. They each also get a stocking that usually has candy and a few items from the dollar bin. That’s it! Christmas is not about the presents!
These are just a few ideas to help you make your simple Christmas magical for your children. Spend time together. Watch a movie, play a board game, build a puzzle. Make those memories!
Keep Track of Your Christmas Plans
I like to keep track of everything I have going on during the season with my Simple Christmas Planner. It even has super cute decorative printables with it!
