With young children, you’ll want to find as many ways to include the entire family in preparing for and celebrating Christmas. The trick can be finding ways to include young ones in a safe and non-exasperating way!

Decorate the Tree Together
Give up your particular ways and leave the glass ornaments in storage. Buy bright, plastic or fabric ornaments and let your children help decorate the tree. You can always move the large number of low hanging ornaments up higher after little ones have gone to bed, and your tree might not win any decorating contests, but it will be the source of many memories – be sure to take pictures.

Decorate Christmas Cookies
Children closer to their preschool years can help roll and cut cookies out, but older babies and young toddlers can help decorate the cookies as well. Make a batch of Christmas sugar cookies. When they are cool, spread a thin layer of icing on the cookies and let your little ones enjoy playing with sprinkles, chocolate candies and other goodies as they make the cookies look creative and lovely in their own way.

Buy Gifts
Children are easily taken in by the thought of receiving gifts at Christmas time, so you should make a conscious effort from very early on to show your child how much fun it is to buy gifts for others. Young children do have trouble keeping a secret, however, so you would do well to buy the gifts immediately before the big event.

The Festival of Lights might technically be a relatively minor holiday for the Jewish faith, but it is certainly fun to celebrate as a family during the holiday season. If part of your Hanukkah tradition is giving gifts to your young children, finding eight gifts for eights days of celebration might be tricky, but then again, with a bit of help, this Hanukkah gift giving year might be easier than ever.

Day One
Wooden Toys and Puzzles – Wooden toys and particularly puzzles are a wonderful way to engage your child’s mind and have a good time simultaneously.

Day Two
A New Book – A special hard cover book or a few paperbacks to enjoy together will be a fun way to enjoy the cold weather and fireplace.

Day Three
New Clothes – Everyone gets some new clothes for holiday gifts, it’s just part of being a kid.

Day Four
Blocks – Stacking, building and playing pretend start young and as your child grows, you can add to her block collection by buying new sizes and different styles.

Day Five
Dolls and Action Figures – Again, allowing your child to use her imagination is critical to her development. Dolls, cars, trains and action figures are a great way to do just that.

Day Six
New Outdoor Items – The snow or cold weather is the perfect time for new snow boots, rain slickers, fun umbrellas, jackets, and rain boots.

Day Seven
New Movies – A few new DVDs to watch as a family make a nice, warm gift for any child.

Day Eight
The Big Present – Every child deserves something big and fun, and price isn’t necessary an issue as you can find many things on sale or buy second-hand. From swing sets to tricycles, the last night of Hanukkah is a great time to unveil your little one’s best gift.