The best way to spend a magical holiday time with your kids
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Holiday Time
I love the holiday time! Ever since I was a little girl, the holiday time was truly special to me because I was able to see all my family members together. As much as we wanted to spend more time together throughout the year, work and other responsibilities made it hard to see everyone consistently. So the holiday time is one in which most people are and can take time off of work to be with their family.
Now with two beautiful kids of my own, I am just more excited than ever to share this holiday time with them. It will be my oldest second Christmas but the youngest first. As a full-time working mom, it is these times where I can dedicate time and attention to 100% of my kids without compromising it with work. I love building traditions and can’t wait to see my kids grow in them over the years.
Note that it’s okay if you don’t celebrate Christmas. Whatever and however you celebrate is just perfect mama.
Spending quality family time together
Since I am home and will not have to work, I have mapped out a few activities to do with my kids (and some I have done with my nieces and nephews in the past). Some people may only have a few days off while others may have a week or two. Take advantage of the time you have to snuggle your babies even more. And yes, it’s okay to sneak in some house maintenance too 😀.
There are a number of ways in which you can make good use of the holiday time with your kids. Here are some examples of activities you can do both with your toddler and then with your baby.
Activities With Your Toddler
1. Help you decorate for Christmas (age appropriately): depending on their age, you can get really creative with this. You can have them select the colors based on the options that you give them. They can also help you put up the ornaments (non-glass). Here are DIY ornaments to be painted that you can do with your child.
2. Create Christmas colored paintings/ drawings: this is something I love doing in general. But during the holidays you can print out holiday themed pictures and sit down to color and paint them with your child. Then you can frame it and put it up on the wall or simply put it on the wall. When you have a small child, you can place a paper in a zip lock bag, put a bunch of different paint colors (you can have them pick) inside of it, and then zip it. Then, have your kids either spread it with their hands or feet.
3. Hot coco milk with the family: this is my secret wish and what I enjoy on a cold winter day. Prepare your child’s favorite milk drink and let them play with the marshmallows. You can do this and then do one of his/her favorite activities together. If you have a fireplace, sit by it with them and spend some good quality time together.
4. Watch your favorite Christmas movies: this for sure depends on their age and ability to watch tv for an extended period of time. But right now, my almost 2-year-old likes seeing movement. So, there are special times where I pop up a nice movie (this week it will be Christmas themed) and interact with him that way.
Here are a few Christmas Movies on YouTube: kids christmas movies – YouTube
5. Play outside (in the snow): If it is snowing, that is an added bonus. But kids love the outdoors and to explore especially at that toddler age. Take advantage and take them out. Show them the outside decorations and the decorations of the neighborhood. It is nice to take time outdoors together.
Activities With Your Baby
- Floor time where they have to reach for one of the Christmas items: when you have a baby, the most important thing to do is simply to spend time with them. You can come up with creative ways to have belly time or floor time in general. They love seeing different colors and textures so grab a few kids’ friendly toys that you can have them reach for.
2. Sing them Christmas songs: and it is okay if you are not the best singer. But singing to your child is one way that you can interact with them during the holiday time. They love listening to music and mommy’s voice, so what better way than this.
You can find kids’ songs on this YouTube channel: Super Simple Songs – Kids
3. Show them the different Christmas lights: take them outside to see the Christmas lights. You can also walk them around the house to see the lights there if you have any hanging. My daughter loves looking at our Christmas tree because it is wrapped with lights.
4. Go for a walk: this ties in neatly with showing them the Christmas light. However, even if there are no lights, go take them for a stroll. Fresh air will do you both some good and chances are that you will see at least one home decorated in some way for Christmas.
5. Milk time while mommy drinks her hot coco: keep the usual routine going and give your baby their milk while you get some hot coco. This is a time to stop and talk to your baby instead of grabbing something nearby while they are on the boob. I usually take that time to answer emails or texts via my phone, but I am making sure to include some intentional attention giving during that time this holiday season and beyond.
There are so many activities and games that you can do and play with your child. The most important part is that you are spending quality time with them. That is what they will remember! So, relax, enjoy yourself and this time with the family.
What are you doing during this holiday season?
Do you get any time off from work?
Share below, I would love to hear what you all have going on.
Nelly
