by Ashley Caneva
It’s no secret, Christmas is different this year all over the world. Many traditional celebrations are on pause and families continue to be kept apart. However, there is still a lot of celebrating to be done – especially if you have young children in your home.
Our boys are 6 and 4 and they are just as weary of the Covid-related upheaval as we are, but Christmas is Christmas and – as they say – the show must go on!
Despite the stress that we may be feeling this year, we all want to provide the lighthearted festivities that our children are anxiously awaiting. It is also a prime opportunity to model flexibility, creativity, gratitude, and enduring hope and joy.
In 2020, necessity has truly been the mother of invention when it comes to fun at-home activities that keep little minds stimulated and provide outlets for all that youthful energy! Just last week, we decided to take a large roll of butcher paper and draw a huge Christmas tree.
Then we thought about things we have done or enjoyed this year and used that inspiration to decorate the tree with drawn ornaments. This activity was a lot of fun and it got us all thinking about the highlights of the year – such as our family Star Wars movie marathon or baking lots of cookies.
The kids really enjoyed the activity and it was a wonderful way to review the year and practice gratitude and mindfulness as a family without it feeling too forced. We may even make it a family tradition from now on.
This year we may be spending less time out at Christmas markets and holiday parties and more time at home with those closest to us, but, for me, the silver lining in this pandemic is the protected time together with the kids that we would not have had otherwise.
Try introducing new traditions to remember the year by… or put a new spin on old traditions! Bake cookies and sweet treats, make new ornaments or do Christmas crafts, have a holiday dance party in the light of your Christmas tree, videocall family for story time or to play games.
Christmas 2020 is going to be memorable no matter what, so let’s make some good memories with what we have to work with.
