Give Your Children a Magical Christmas

Christmas, I remember as a kid, always used to be something really magical.

Indeed, I remember, at about 5 years of age, the wonder and awe of Sinterklaas himself, AND his moorish helpers, called Zwarte Pieten (Black Pete's) coming to my little school in Leiden, Holland.

Along with all the other traditions that we kept, it was a time of excitement and wonder.

Yet there was also a bit of anxiety too. In Holland, where I grew up, there was a tradition that if you had been naughty, all you would get would be a lump of coal or a bag of salt instead of presents.

Fear and trepidation among all kids, hoping that they had been good enough for presents this year.

That bit of anxiety added spice and anticipation among us kids, which just added to the sense of awe, wonder and excitement.

Isn't that what Christmas should be about for children? Isn't that why, in the famous response to Virginia's letter, Francis Church said "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,"? He knew that the magic of Christmas was what mattered, and certainly didn't want to spoil that.

So what happened?

Where once the focus was on giving and loving, on camaraderie, joy, and goodwill, it seems now to have been replaced with tinny muzak and an incessant commercialism. Remember Carol Singing? People went door to door to sing carols, bring joy, and collect for charity - not themselves as at hallowe'en.

Instead the commercials just scream buy, buy, buy, as though spending more and getting more will make the season special. But all that produces is stress and debt.

Sure, there is a frantic unwrapping of presents, followed by... Nothing. No magic. No wonder. No Warm Fuzzies. Just a heap of wrapping paper, and a collection of toys, some of which met with approval, and many of which did not.

So, how about, this year, bringing some of that magic back for your children? You don't have to spend a heap of money to make Christmas magical. All it takes is a bit of planning, and a bit of time. Here are some suggestions:

Look in your local paper and see if there is a Christmas show or other event you could all attend.

Go to a carols by candlelight service.

Drive around town together and look at the Christmas lights on people's houses. Have a vote between you all on which house is the best. Then finish off with some hot chocolate and a cinnamon bun.

Make some gingerbread cookies together - or even get really ambitious and make a full gingerbread house! Yes, it will take some time, but the children will remember it forever - much longer than the battery powered all- walking all-talking gizmo they "desperately need".

If you have snow nearby, go sledding, or have a snowball fight - or try to build an igloo (this was a family tradition each year when we lived in PEI, Canada). The goal, remember, is to LAUGH together.

In the evenings, instead of turning on the TV, get out a board game, play charades, or work on a jigsaw puzzle together.

Watch a classic Christmas movie together. My favorites are Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and the new Santa Clause series with Tim Allen.

Then, when it is time to open the presents, take your time. Do them one by one, so everyone can share in the joy of giving and receiving as each gets to see what everyone else gave and got. Then, after Christmas Dinner, take a walk together, or visit friends or relatives.

Can't live without the computer? Well, let Santa go high tech too. You can now schedule an email from the Big Man to your children, for free. They will love it! Check it out at:

http://good-child-guide.com/email_from_santa/ (And you will get some free gifts for yourself too).

Make it your goal, this year, to build memories and magic that you, and your children, will cherish for decades.

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