The four things children really want for Christmas:
1. A relaxed loving time with their family.
2. Realistic expectations about gifts.
3. An evenly-paced holiday season.
4. Reliable family traditions.
Making time for what's important:
* Set aside time with your children.
* Cut back on outside commitments.
* Simplify holiday preparations.
* Entertain less.
* Watch less TV/commercials.
* Reduce holiday travel.
Create and enjoy special traditions:
* What traditions were the most enjoyable to you as a child?
* How can you include your traditions in today's holiday celebrations?
* Talk with your children about which holiday traditions they enjoy most.
* Make December a month to scrapbook photos and other memories.
* Read the Christmas story together.
Simple Christmas
17 easy gifts
1. Homemade playdough
2. Real Flashlight with batteries
3. Tape recorder with blank cassettes
4. Wooden blocks or logs
5. Artist sets sketch pad, paints, crayons, brushes, erasers & color pencils
6. Beads & string
7. Simple instruments harmonica, drum, slide flute
8. costume kit - fill suitcase with play clothes
9. book about the child you wrote
10. subscription to children's magazine
11. crochet hooks and yarn
12. cooking equipment and recipes
13. blank scrapbook with supplies
14. blank journal or diary
15. finger paints
16. flower seeds & pots
17. hand puppet supplies paper bags, wiggle eyes, scissors etc.
The Ten Commandments of Christmas
Debra Oaks Coe (c) all rights reserved
1. Thou shalt not put any other holiday traditions or celebrations (not even Santa Claus) above the celebration of our Savior's birth and the deep meaning of His life, teachings, and sacrifices.
2. Thou shalt look at thy life and make at least one positive change as your gift to the Savior at His birthday celebration.
3. Thou shalt have many traditions, especially those types of traditions that remind you of the Savior, give service to others, and bring your family closer together.
4. Thou shalt remember those who are alone and help them to have a "Merry Christmas" also.
5. Thou shalt give gifts of worth and not merely add to another's collection of clutter simply for the sake of "giving a gift". Give of yourself which is the way Savior gave.
6. Thou shalt value the effort and thought put into gifts received. Just as with the widow's mite, it is the meaning that gives a gift value not the dollar amount paid.
7. Thou shalt give no gift grudgingly or because you have to. This does not mean to not give the gift to someone, but work until you have changed your own attitude.
8. Thou shalt not become so busy that you don't have time to really enjoy the season.
9. Thou shalt remember that of all the beautiful and expensive gifts, what children want and need most is honor, respect, love, and your time.
10. Above all, Thou shalt find a way to keep the spirit of the Christmas season and of giving all through the year.
10 commandments & more
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