When my oldest son was in the first grade, he went to the writing center in his classroom every single day of school in December. At the writing center, he got to write a letter to Santa with all of the toys he was dreaming of finding under the tree Christmas morning.
His letters also included question after question for Santa- how old he is, how do reindeer fly, how does he make it to all those houses in one night, how does he know each child’s greatest wish, which cookie is his favorite, and what treats would the reindeer like? It was both adorable and frustrating. What a magical age to be a child! To be his parent was equally magical – enjoying the sparkle of his excitement and magic of the season more than I had since I was his age.
These days around our house, Santa and his midnight ride have lost a little of their sparkle. I suspect this will be the first year that no one will be sending a letter to the North Pole or going to bed early to ensure a visit from the jolly elf. That means I have been thinking of ways to keep our holiday fun, festive, and even a little magical for our family even though our kids are now teens and tweens. If your house is filled with children with deep voices who are all taller than you, maybe you can enjoy some of these, too.
A Special Performance. Sitting in a row of chairs with a couple of squirmy little kids might not sound like anyone’s idea of a good time, but now that mine are all well into the double digits, they can be still long enough to enjoy a great performance. Lucky for us, there are so many wonderful options in Cincinnati. A Christmas Carol at Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati Ballet’s Nutcracker, or a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert are all festive ways to spend an evening out.
Random Acts of Kindness. When my kids were little, counting down to Christmas was a big deal for them, but honestly, I hated the idea of opening candy or even more tiny, clutter-causing gifts every day. Instead, we started doing a random act of kindness countdown – one small, kind act each day until the holiday. At first, I came up with the ideas, but soon the kids took over brainstorming. They can be simple and inexpensive things like leaving sticky notes with encouraging quotes in library books, putting quarters in the carts at Aldi, and taping ziplock bags with gloves inside to light poles near bus stops.
Delicious Treats. My kids are serious foodies. Unfortunately, there are too many days with school projects, club meetings, and sports practices that require dinner to be fast and easily reheated on their own. That’s why I am taking full advantage of the holiday break to plan some extra special meals. To entice my teens into a family game night, I’m planning a fancy charcuterie board (honestly, I just want an excuse to make one because they look so fun). Perhaps a hot chocolate bar is more your style? Whip up a slow cooker full of hot cocoa and set out a selection of things to garnish, like caramel and chocolate sauce, sprinkles, whipped cream, a selection of marshmallows, and candy canes for stirring. I would probably add some peppermint liqueur and whipped cream vodka for the adults.
A Little Friendly Competition. When my kids were little, they loved the lights and decorations of Christmas, but I did all the work. They loved making a mess with cookie decorating, but I ended up doing most of the work AND dealing with the mess. Now that they are old enough, I can hand off some of these responsibilities while also making it fun for them. At this age, they would love a cookie contest with their siblings and friends. Each child can bake their best cookie recipe. Then, everyone gets to taste test and vote for their favorites. Not into cooking? How about a contest for gingerbread house building or bedroom decorating? Gotta love holiday fun that doesn’t involve shopping!
Start a New Tradition. At an age when they frequently all go into their own rooms and close the door, I am just happy to be in the same room with all three of my kids at the same time. I am not too proud to say that this means we spend part of our holiday break in front of the TV. During winter break, I entice them to spend an hour or two simply being together by declaring a Stranger Things marathon or Harry Potter movie night. Add some treats (aka party food), and they eventually all make their way out of their rooms and to the family room. Bonus: I can sneak in a snuggle just like when they were little.
Like everything in parenting, change is inevitable as our children grow. I hope to keep the magic in the holidays for them AND me by making new traditions as they outgrow some of the old ones.
How do you plan to make holiday magic with your teens? I’d love to hear your ideas!
