20 Family-Friendly Ideas to Romanticize the Holidays

 

Whether you're a parent or not, the holidays can bring up a lot of emotions. Joy, stress, disappointment, nostalgia. We've all been there with unmet expectations or feeling like the holidays just passed us by with hardly a moment to breathe. With an endless to-do list, family obligations and financial hardships, the "most wonderful" time of the year can often be the hardest. Having had these experiences myself pre-kids, I knew that when I began having children I wanted the holidays to be different. 

I wanted to be more present. I wanted my kids to feel the magic of the holidays the way that I remember them from my childhood. And I wanted to find a way to still enjoy the holidays even in my adulthood. And with the ever-growing list of dangers in the world, it's important to take a little time for levity and joy. For our kids and for ourselves.

I've compiled a list of 20 simple things you can do to romanticize the holidays. Each activity ranges in cost and effort, so there should be no excuse not to incorporate at least one festive idea into your holiday. 

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1. Make Every Day a Little More Special

Find new recipes to make and ask your family to rate them. Put on a Christmas episode of one of your favorite shows while you're cooking. Light a festive candle. If you have to clean the house everyday, at least have some cute holiday decorations to look at while you're doing it. Don't miss out on those little opportunities to lift your spirits during those otherwise mundane day-to-day obligations. 

2. Create a Whimsical Holiday Character

Go shopping with the family and pick out a holiday decoration together. A snowman, nutcracker, Santa, etc. Name the item and place them prominently in the home. You can also come up with a fun story for an item you already own. You don't need a fancy elf to spark your child's imagination. 

3. Make friends. Actually host a party and invite said friends.

Trust me, as a mother of a toddler I know how hard it is to make and/or keep a social life. But I also know that around the holidays, I envy adults whose calendars seem full of holiday parties. What I've realized is that often these parties consist mostly of acquaintances who took advantage of a casual invitation and that, if I want to attend a holiday party, the easiest way to do it is to throw one myself.

So attend a church group, book club, or chat with the other moms at your child's soccer practice and let them know you're hosting a holiday party to get to know other parents in the area. You might think you need lifelong buddies to host or attend holiday parties, but you really don't! 

4. Travel to See Extended Family

Book a trip to see a loved one. Even if you're not traveling for Christmas itself, going on a trip around this time of the year can be a great way to extend the festivities and general merriment of time together with family.

5. Invite Family and Friends Over

Again, don't limit social gatherings to the holidays. Plan festive get togethers in the weeks leading up to them and do low key, but festive activities together.

6. Go On a Trip

Maybe you're not in the position to visit family this year. You can still travel! Pick a place, near or far that you've always wanted to go. 

7. See a Holiday Show

No matter your budget, there are always holiday shows in your community. Find a local arts or family magazine and peruse the calendar of events. You're bound to find shows at your local theaters or colleges and this is a great time to bust our your favorite holiday sweater!

8. Find Local Family-Friendly Events 

In the same vein, use those arts and family magazines to track down other local events such as festivals, classes, art shows...you never know what you'll find! Once you find an event, look it up on Facebook and the algorithm will give you similar recommendations from there. You can also find local venues on Facebook and see what events they have coming up. You'd be surprised at how many of them are even free. This is one way I've found lots of fun things for my family to do that we otherwise would never have thought to!

9. Learn a Christmas Song on the Guitar, Piano, or Just to Sing

Music is such a fun way to feel present and that you're actively experiencing the holidays. I've taken to picking a holiday song each year to learn on the piano a couple months leading up to Christmas and it brings that much more joy to every day I practice. Amazon has a bunch of Christmas songbooks like this one. You can also find some at the library!

9. Go to Church

Not exactly a novel idea, but it deserves to listed nonetheless. Besides, churches host all kinds of fun events during the holiday season. So don't wait until Christmas eve to check their calendar.

10. Add Some Holiday Scents to Your Home

Pick out season candles, soaps, bath bombs, or hand lotion. These little things can greatly boost your mood each day and make it a little more magical.

11. Play Games/Puzzles

Throw on a Christmas movie you've seen a million times and grab a fun game to play or a puzzle! If you've got some down time after everyone's in bed, a fun holiday puzzle can be a great way to unwind instead of scrolling your phone.

12. Get Christmas PJs

Host a movie night and tell everyone to wear their Christmas PJs. Book a Christmas PJ mini session for your family. Find the nearest Christmas train in your area and come decked out in your pajamas. There is so much fun to be had!

13. Start a New Tradition

Build your own pizza for Christmas dinner? Strolling around the neighborhood to see the lights on Christmas Eve? Sometimes the smallest things can feel the most special when you make a point to do them and make them your own. 

14. Create Your Own Advent Calendar

Buy or make an advent calendar and fill it with lots of fun goodies for you and your family.

15. Do a Holiday Workout Video on YouTube

Anything in your day to day life can be romanticized, if you think about it. Even something as hum drum as working out. I've lately been finding all kinds of Christmas-themed workouts online. If you're going to work out anyway, why not make it a little magical? 

16. Do a Christmas Craft with the Kids

Hit up your nearest dollar store for craft supplies and find some inspiration on Pinterest! There are hundreds of holiday craft ideas both big and small, no matter the age or abilities of your child.

Make Christmas ornaments! Whether it be hand and footprints, snowmen, or popcorn doo-dads, there is no end to ornament inspiration online. Here are couple of toddler-friendly ideas that we will be using this year.

17. Have an Impromptu Dance Party to Christmas Music

One of my favorite memories this past Halloween was my daughter and her aunt having a dance party in our living room to the song "Ghostbusters." Since then, I've made it a point on occasion to play holiday songs and bust a move with her.

18. Read Holiday-Inspired Books

Reading has become one of my favorite past times this year, and one way to romanticize your life in general is to read whimsical stories that get you in the holiday spirit! Holiday romances have especially become a trend in recent years and there is no end to great holiday book recommendations (like this one!) on Goodreads and Pinterest. Be sure to curl up with a cozy blanket and light a fire for even more romantic vibes.

19. Build a Gingerbread House

A gingerbread house is a fun and easy activity for the whole family that can easily be turned into the theme for an entire party, if you so choose. Buy a kit for the convenience factor or save some money and grab a box of graham crackers and a can of frosting. Either way, don't skip out on this tasty activity!

20. Decorate Christmas Cookies

I used to think that making and decorating holiday cookies was something only for the older kids and that I'd need to wait years until my daughter could participate. Not so! Cookies are an easy activity that even the youngest toddlers can help with, just as long as you keep your expectations low!

After dabbling in Christmas cookies last year, one lesson I learned is that for my family, we prefer to spend more time on decorating and less on the actual baking. Now I buy ready-made cookie dough and let my daughter help me place it on the tray. Once baked, I prep the cookies with some icing and let her go to town with the sprinkle shakers! Sure, I may need to have the broom (and a drop cloth) handy, but we both have a great time and a tasty treat to enjoy after!

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Did any of these ideas speak to you? Any I missed? Let me know in the comments!

If no one's told you today,

You're doing great, Mama. 💓

I am a blogger mama raising a toddler as I attempt to work from home, keep food on the table, and keep the house intact, all while finding those precious moments of self care. I hope my blog encourages moms to take it all in, to savor our time with out children without forgetting about ourselves in the process. My goal in creating this space is not about productivity, but getting the most out of this life we are lucky to live. Whether that means pursuing your passions or being a happy and present mom. Not to encourage moms to do more, but to support moms in whatever they desire to be.