Kids Love Christmas

Cards from the heart - get out all of your arts and crafts gear - pens, pencils, crayons, markers, construction paper - and let the kids go to town! Personalize cards by adding a special photograph.

Chains of paper like we used to make - Cut strips of colorful construction paper and glue together in a loop. Insert the other strip through the first loop, glue together and continue!

Homemade Gifts - Use empty clean jam jars and fill with an assortment of festive candies. I just love some of the pretty candies that you can only buy at Christmas. Try old fashioned peppermints or candy canes. Cover the lid with a festive cut out fabric and wrap with a ribbon.

Bake some cookies - Let the kids help make a batch of Christmas cookies and let them decorate the cookies themselves, this is one activity they'll really enjoy!

I wonder who really loves Christmas more - kids? or their Grandmas? Hahaha!

Just because it's cold out doesn't mean the kids can't go out there and have fun. Bundle everyone up in warm clothing and go for a Christmas walk, look at the different decorations and lights or just enjoy the season around you.

Go on a holiday scavenger hunt, write down things each child is suppose to see on your walk out. You can include things like pine cones, Christmas lights or winter birds. Make it appropriate for the child's age and then get out there and have fun.

Find a traditional outdoor ice skating ring. These are so much fun at Christmas, enjoy a long skate, Christmas music and some hot chocolate afterwards.

Go to a Christmas concert or nativity play. Find a local carolling concert or Christmas play for a fun family day out.

Make special treats for the wild birds in your back garden. Tie peanuts together with festive ribbon and hang from tree branches. Hang fat balls from festive ribbons and string apples together.

Make snow angels or a trail of foot prints, and make sure mom and dad get involved too!

And after all that fun, come back indoors for a hot drink and a special Christmas snack.

Creating Christmas decorations with your kids is a fun time for all. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

1. Candy Chain: While stringing popcorn or beads around a tree is a tried and true tradition, how about using Lifesavers candy? Your kids can choose the color order or even try to make patterns. Use different color twine or ribbons to give it a Candyland touch. Add candy canes as well. Since both candies come in their own wrapping, just use a needle through the Lifesavers wrapping. After the tree is taken down, they can be fun snacks to eat.

2. Paper Chain: An old standby is to take several different colors of construction paper and cut them in strips. Then attach two ends of the strips together (with a stapler, glue or tape) to form a circle. Continue by looping another cut strip inside that one. When it's long enough, wrap the chain around your Christmas tree.

3. Tree Skirt: Find some felt material and design a tree skirt. Add beads, bows, sparkles and any kind of trim available to make this a one-of-a-kind skirt. Perhaps the kids would like to add pictures of Santa along the rim of the skirt. Another tree skirt idea would be to make a quilted pattern, using different plaids and solid colors. Decorate it with a fancy trim. It could not only be used for the tree, but as the base centerpiece for a vase of poinsettias.

4. Centerpiece: Another idea is to have your children gather together Christmas balls in various sizes and colors. Find a large clear vase or bowl and arrange them inside. You may want to add some holly as well. This colorful display would make a lovely centerpiece for your table.

5. Christmas Card Holder: Here is a creative idea for storing your Holiday cards. Start with an empty Kleenex (or tissue) box, and cut out the top rectangular part of it. Wrap it in Christmas paper, and use it as a Christmas card holder. Decorate it with holly and ivy. Then, attach a ribbon to both ends and you have a beautiful homemade Christmas card basket.

Christmas decorations are a great way of expressing the holiday spirit in your home. The kids will love creating them, and be proud to have their art displayed. And, instead of looking like a department store, your home will become a reflection of the family that lives in it.