Celebrate the Things that Matter at Christmas

Are you trying to keep the Christmas spirit alive? Do you feel like your children only care about what gifts they are receiving and don’t give a thought to what they are giving to others? How do you celebrate the things that really matter at Christmas while teaching your kids that the holiday is about so much more than just Santa?

Start by thinking of what you can do to bring back the good, old-fashioned Christmas, sans all the commercialism. Shift the focus to spending worthwhile time with loved ones, giving to others selflessly and creating family traditions to last a lifetime.

Recreate together. Take a winter stroll, go for a sleigh ride, skate on a local pond, build a snow family and spend time in the fresh air.

Focus on giving. Participate in gift donations through work, school or your community. Donate to gift baskets, toy drives or sponsor a family in need.

Connect. Call up old friends, bake cookies for your neighbours, sing carols by the fire and visit with relatives.

Less is more. Give children the gift of simplicity this Christmas by emphasizing the spirit of family and putting more thought into fewer gifts.

Collaborate. Belt out favourite Christmas songs with your kids while cleaning the house. Decorate gingerbread trees with friends. Go carolling in your neighbourhood.

Slow down the pace. Spend precious time with family, make memories and enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas.

Eat well. Try healthier alternatives, enjoy in moderation, savour fresh foods and bake your favourite goodies.

Bring nature inside. Decorate your dinner table with an arrangement of cut branches and holly berries, put pinecones on the mantle and roll your own beeswax candles.

Help others. Serve Christmas dinner to the needy, volunteer at the food bank, or sort donations at your school.

Keep family traditions alive. Sing carols by the fire, make popcorn garlands, decorate cookies, trim the tree and prepare a festive meal.

Mark the occasion. Attend holiday events, community gatherings, carol services, Christmas plays or special shows.

Veg out. Watch Christmas movies in your PJs, sip cocoa while playing board games and read books by candlelight.

Consider our planet. Make homemade gifts, reuse bows and ribbons, recycle wrap and turn off Christmas lights when the holidays are over.

See beauty. Take an evening walk to see the Christmas lights, marvel at snow-laden trees and feed the birds in your yard.

Savour the day. Make Christmas Day last. Put out juice and coffee in the morning and open gifts one-at-a-time instead of having a mass, present shredding fest. Enjoy each other’s delight in giving and receiving.

By Kristen Wint