You need some yummy cookies to leave Santa Claus tonight, don't you? Well instead of slicing off some Pillsbury, let your little ones help make homemade cookies for the big guy. They can even spend an hour or two decorating the perfect Christmas tree sugar cookie.
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This happens to be my favorite way to spend the night before Christmas. I like to bust out all of my favorite classic Christmas movies. Oldies like, "The Year Without A Santa Claus" though, none of that "Search For Santa Paws" nonsense.
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If the whole family is getting a little impatient, you can always bust out the "Just One Gift" tradition. Everyone gets to open a single present, then you'll all have something to play with on Christmas Eve night.
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You need some yummy cookies to leave Santa Claus tonight, don't you? Well instead of slicing off some Pillsbury, let your little ones help make homemade cookies for the big guy. They can even spend an hour or two decorating the perfect Christmas tree sugar cookie.
(Photo: Dzinnik Darius/Shutterstock)
There's something so soothing about hot chocolate. Those little marshmallows just demand time to be savored. If you're feeling adventurous, you could even let your kids help you make specialty peppermint or salted caramel hot chocolate.
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There's nothing holiday-inspired about this suggestion. But a nice, long bubble bath is the perfect way to calm down your little one before they're supposed to dream of sugar plums.
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If you're in a sneaky mood, tell your kids that they can only keep their Christmas toys if they have space in the toy room for these new gifts. You'll get some serious cleaning done very quickly.
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Don't just read the book. Let your kids act out the story. It helps if you have a Santa beard sitting around the house for them to wear.
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Hold back a few gifts for the kids to wrap on Christmas Eve. Don't micromanage. Hand them the paper and tape and just let them go to down. Extra points if you use brown parchment paper that the kids can decorate themselves.
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It gets everyone out of the house and it's completely free. (Except for gas, I suppose.) Drive around the neighborhoods and check out all the impressive Christmas light displays. It's entertainment for at least an hour or two.
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Gather up the kids and spend a little time reminiscing about past Christmases. Talk about your favorite presents, great past memories and special traditions. Pull out the old photo albums to relive all your best holidays of the past decade.
(Photo: YouTube)
