My favorite thing about any holiday is the holiday activities that you get to do with your family. I’m talking baking holiday treats, creating ornaments, watching holiday classics, all of that and then some more! The holidays just bring out all the cheer in me. I’m a happy gal that loves to celebrate and the last three months of the year, I go all out.
Now that I have a two-year-old and child, in general, I’m finding that I enjoy making him happy and having him participate in different activities. There are always teaching moments like don’t eat the cookie dough (which mama does) or paint only goes on paper — those types of moments that I get to enjoy with Cannon.
This year is a bit different than last year because this is the year where Cannon is all action.
I kid you not, this kid is all about arts and crafts which I love. The only thing he doesn’t care for is the smock to keep him clean. Totally fun.
For all my mamas out there, this post is for you. This is how we conquer holiday fun with our children. Not only do we want to do activities, but let’s go all out since it’s 2020 and this year has been somewhat of a drag for some.
Holiday Lights Drive-By
I don’t know about you, but I love Christmas Lights and I love looking at how people decorate. It’s probably my mom’s influence because she always drove us through neighborhoods to look at lights. Plus, we lived down the street from this one strip of houses that set their lights to Christmas music and it was so cool, cars wrapped around the block to see it. Suburban living, at its finest.
If you’re trying to find ways to calm your child for the night or keep them busy, put them in the car and drive around your neighborhood or the one next to you. Here in Ohio, people have had their lights up for like a month so it’s not a disappointing sight. My son loves the lights and he gets so excited when he sees them. Plus, I make it a learning lesson when I can — we’re working on colors so I like to point out the colors if some houses have color changing lights. Nonetheless, it’s exciting and fun. You can get yourself a hot cocoa from Tim Hortons or Starbucks before making your drive. It’s bundled up fun.
Plus if you live in an area that has light displays set-up, check them out with your kids! We have a drive-through light show in the Newark/Hebron area that is so cool. Check out your local areas and take the time to make the drive. It’s worth it!
Ornament Making
Another activity/tradition passed down through my mom is ornament making. We’re big on making ornaments in my parents’ household which is why it’s always been hard to have one theme on my Christmas tree (which is why I now have two). My mom usually does this activity with Cannon because she’s very crafty. From making reindeer out of clothes pins to pipe cleaner ornaments, we’ve done it all. And, there’s nothing cuter than the ornaments that include a picture and the year. I’m a sucker for pictures.
I really like this activity because there is teaching involved. From teaching colors to safety usage, there is a lot that can go down during ornament making. My favorite thing is seeing the grin and hearing the laughs that my toddler gives. Arts and crafts are definitely our thing and I’m a sentimental mom that’s going to keep everything that her kid does.
Holiday Cookie Decorating
Who doesn’t love cookie decorating? Although it’s messy, it’s fun. I’ve gone to many of these as my mom would host these for my little sisters and their friends (mainly Kearsten) and my childhood best friend’s mom (Sam) would host them, as well. So, lots and lots of cookies have been eaten during the holiday season. But, this is a great activity to do with your toddler. Whether they get messy or stuff their face, you’re going to have fun. At least, I think you’ll have fun and lots of laughs, maybe a glass of wine or whatever you prefer at the end of the night.
Start off by baking all the cookies that you want to decorate and picking out all the toppings that you want to use. Betty Crocker has great toppings and easy to use squeezables so there’s no silverware struggle. Your toddler is going to have fun. They might get themselves and the table messy, but nothing will beat the happiness. I know some people aren’t about the mess, I’m one of those people, but there are moments when I’m just like let’s do it and cookie decorating is that moment.
Photo Christmas Trees
The one thing that I want to establish with Cannon is traditions. I want us to have our own traditions and things we do. Cannon loves art and making messes and I love cherishing the things that he creates. One of the things that I want to start doing with him is making a giant Christ
mas Tree cutout that he can velcro pictures from the year on to. Since it’ll be his own tree to decorate, I want him to go all out and put whatever images he wants on the tree. Although I barely capture him with anyone, I know that putting pictures of himself up there will do the trick for now.
Another idea with the Christmas Tree is to DIY decorating. I’m talking let your toddler paint and glue as they feel the need. It’s their creation and we should let their creativeness flow. At least, that’s what we do over in our home. Not that Cannon is a free spirit or anything like that but we let him express himself with coloring and painting. We like to give him activities that’ll keep him busy and make him concentrate.
Now, there are many more things that you can be doing with your child. If you need more ideas, just ask! I have a list, but I like to keep things short and sweet.
For me, I want to continue family traditions with Cannon and make new traditions with him. While Chase is cool with whatever, I usually find things that they can do (like going to pick out an ornament each year for Cannon’s tree) so there’s some dad and Cannon time.
The holidays are the best time — filled with cheer and family moments. Make the most of them. Do things that you never thought you would do because they put a smile on your kid’s face. Trust me, I do many things that I never thought I’d do because of Cannon. That kid makes me mom so hard.
Here is to you and your toddler and kids! Make the best of the time you have at home and time together. Try out these ideas and let me know what you think.
If you need some Toddler Holiday Gift Ideas, I got you. Just click here.
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