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| ANGELS |
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| ORNAMENTS ARE SPECIAL |
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| KIDS LOVE FINDING CERTAIN ONES EACH YEAR |
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| SWEET TREATS AND WARM DRINKS TO YOU ALL |
Happy Parenting!
D and C
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to all!!!
Enjoy this precious family time! Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The Christmas "Gimmees"
Here are some hints for a peaceful and grateful Christmas morning!
At our house after the kids woke us up, we went directly past the Christmas tree (eyes hidden behind their hands) and headed for the Christmas stockings. That always kept the beginning hoopla of Christmas Day a little calmer with smaller treats including things like fruit, socks, a small Lego, a candy treat...all small, but with Mom and Dad reinforcing - "Wow! Santa knew you needed socks!" or "Sure, you can eat the apple if you want to." or "Want to put the Lego together now or wait until later?" AND take photos, it slows the kids down!
When we went to the tree, we checked to see if Santa had left any unwrapped gifts for the kids to see right away. Sometimes they were the ones that had to be put together the night before, but sometimes Santa wrapped those gifts so the kids could share in putting them together. We didn't want Santa to be too predictable!!
We then began taking turns opening gifts one at a time with Mom or Dad always commenting positively on each gift. "Aunt Susie is always so thoughtful, isn't she?" after receiving a sweater, beautiful or not! Make sure your children "parrot" you and appreciate each gift before moving on to the next child's turn. If there ever were a negative comment or a "yuck" attitude, we would put on our Game Faces and say something like, "Uh, oh...maybe Christmas is over if we can't all be nice..." Very calm, just a little nudge in the right direction is usually all it takes to remind them of their manners.
Santa does Not, and should not, give a child every gift he wants. Children can learn that Santa knows best when and where to have kids receive what they should have. Use your imagination to continue the joy! Remember, it's really not about the presents!!
Thank you notes are important! Please make sure your kids, of all ages, follow through with appreciating all gifts. It helps if the family can sit down and write them together. Also, since kids are so anxious to write letters to Santa before Christmas, how about sending thank you letters to him after Christmas??
Be thinking about the consequences of your actions on Christmas Day. Make is JOYFUL and GRATEFUL!
Happy Parenting!
D and C
At our house after the kids woke us up, we went directly past the Christmas tree (eyes hidden behind their hands) and headed for the Christmas stockings. That always kept the beginning hoopla of Christmas Day a little calmer with smaller treats including things like fruit, socks, a small Lego, a candy treat...all small, but with Mom and Dad reinforcing - "Wow! Santa knew you needed socks!" or "Sure, you can eat the apple if you want to." or "Want to put the Lego together now or wait until later?" AND take photos, it slows the kids down!
When we went to the tree, we checked to see if Santa had left any unwrapped gifts for the kids to see right away. Sometimes they were the ones that had to be put together the night before, but sometimes Santa wrapped those gifts so the kids could share in putting them together. We didn't want Santa to be too predictable!!
We then began taking turns opening gifts one at a time with Mom or Dad always commenting positively on each gift. "Aunt Susie is always so thoughtful, isn't she?" after receiving a sweater, beautiful or not! Make sure your children "parrot" you and appreciate each gift before moving on to the next child's turn. If there ever were a negative comment or a "yuck" attitude, we would put on our Game Faces and say something like, "Uh, oh...maybe Christmas is over if we can't all be nice..." Very calm, just a little nudge in the right direction is usually all it takes to remind them of their manners.
Santa does Not, and should not, give a child every gift he wants. Children can learn that Santa knows best when and where to have kids receive what they should have. Use your imagination to continue the joy! Remember, it's really not about the presents!!
Thank you notes are important! Please make sure your kids, of all ages, follow through with appreciating all gifts. It helps if the family can sit down and write them together. Also, since kids are so anxious to write letters to Santa before Christmas, how about sending thank you letters to him after Christmas??
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| I know you've seen this pic before, but how about I say "Thank you, for my boys!!!! |
Happy Parenting!
D and C
Thursday, December 2, 2010
An Attitude of Gratitude
So we just finished Thanksgiving!!! But, we probably should all continue to focus on giving thanks for what we already have and downplay what we want!! We are role models for our kids..it's our choice whether we are good ones or bad ones.
About now kids begin to write those adorable letters to Santa...just how long are they anyway?? If their list is very long or very materialistic...then you might want to "tweak" some of their ideas.
1. Kids do not 'need' lots of toys - help them see the difference in needs and wants early. Make sure they understand that they will not get everything on that list, nor should they. Santa has many children to give to and shares his toys around the world.
2. Do not give your children all that they ask for. It saps the excitement from each moment because they begin to understand that, no matter what, they really will get it all.
3. Christmas morning at our house was always "stockings first". The kids had to wake us up so we could go downstairs together for our stocking stuffers...small things - fruit, matchbox cars, socks. Everything was 'oohed' over and appreciated.
About now kids begin to write those adorable letters to Santa...just how long are they anyway?? If their list is very long or very materialistic...then you might want to "tweak" some of their ideas.
1. Kids do not 'need' lots of toys - help them see the difference in needs and wants early. Make sure they understand that they will not get everything on that list, nor should they. Santa has many children to give to and shares his toys around the world.
2. Do not give your children all that they ask for. It saps the excitement from each moment because they begin to understand that, no matter what, they really will get it all.
3. Christmas morning at our house was always "stockings first". The kids had to wake us up so we could go downstairs together for our stocking stuffers...small things - fruit, matchbox cars, socks. Everything was 'oohed' over and appreciated.
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| not really awake, but ready! |
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| older, and much more ready...with Corky |
4. When we, as a family, opened gifts under the tree it was always one gift at a time. Everyone watched until that gift was opened, then we moved on to the next, including Mom and Dad. We alternated gifts from Santa and ones from parents. The kids knew they needed the right grateful attitude when opening presents...or we just might stop;)
5. All during the holidays have the kids help. Chad and Scott helped make cookies, cook, wrap presents for others, straighten up. After Christmas Day see if the kids can find toys they're ready to let go of (ones their new gifts can replace). Have them go with you to drop these things off at a shelter or another organization that helps people.
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| still in jammies, but helping up a storm! |
Try to instill that attitude of gratitude early. It can begin to enhance their ability to think of others on their own as they get older.
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| Christmas brotherly love :) |
Good luck during the holidays with gratitude!
Happy Parenting!
D and C
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