5 Creative Ways To Celebrate Christmas With Children - Discover The Meaning of Christmas With Family

One of the most beautiful things about Christmas is the way children respond to the excitement and magic of it all. Celebrating Christmas with children is always special. Somehow they have the ability to reignite that flame of excitement that may have been long lost from your heart, due to the pressures and reality of life, and the responsibility of adulthood.

At Christmas it can be so easy to be swept up in the commercialism, the parties, the things to do, that we rarely stop and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas, which is ultimately to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Children often see the colours, the love of family and friends, the excitement, the carols, the laughter and joy. They believe in the magic of Christmas and take joy in giving as much a receiving. If you want some creative ideas on how to celebrate Christmas with your children this year, then here are 5 wonderful ways to do it:

Two years ago my Dad decided to do something exciting and different to create a little bit of the Christmas magic in the front yard for his grandchildren. He has always enjoyed surprising the kids with something a little bit different and unique - something they would not see anywhere else. So, in December 2009, we arrived at Nana and Papa's house for a family celebration only to discover some beautiful hidden native animals in the garden and suspended from the trees. Bear in mind, we live in Australia, and as such, our Christmas celebrations are held on days full of sunshine, and hopefully a slight breeze (if we are lucky) to cool us down. As my parents live near the Blue Mountains, the climate is always slightly more comfortable at their house.

So my Dad, with the help of my husband, had created various native animals which were stenciled in white paint onto an oval piece of wood with a black background. They may not sound like much, however within the garden, they looked very striking and the kids had a wonderful time on their Christmas adventure, searching and seeking for them within the flowers and trees. There were kookaburras and kangeroos, platypus and echidnas, lyrebirds and more. It was such a wonderful Christmas surprise for our children thad Dad re-used them in the following year in conjunction with another surprise.

There is a long path that runs through my parents garden to their front door. In December of 2010, we arrived for the same celebration and discovered a large archway made of bamboo over the pathway. My mother had decorated it with some christmas baubles and my Dad had once again hung some of the animals from this and hid the rest in the garden. It really was a very special surprise and meant that the kids spent hours playing outside in the beautiful fresh air, making the most of their imaginations, rather than becoming all to easily bored inside.

Now of course I am not saying you have to go to the degree my Dad did for some creative Christmas activities outdoors, however I'm sure you can use your imaginations to create some fun hidden treasures within the snow (or wherever you happen to celebrate Christmas). Get creative and go with what your particular climate or culture may inspire you to do.

While my Father gets creative outdoors, my Mother loves to get creative in the kitchen with some cooking. These days, thanks to the success of shows such as Masterchef, children are more interested in cooking than ever before. There are even some great Christmas cooking sets for kids out there which would make a fun way to start the Christmas celebrations.

Christmas cookies are also an economical option for gifts at Christmas time. Sometimes the expense of Christmas can take us by surprise, so there is nothing better than a handmade gift to save on money but still show someone that you care.

You can find some tips and ideas on decorating Christmas cookies here.

There are some fantastic Hubs out there on how to make your own Christmas decorations. Here are some I particularly like:

Create Aromatic Christmas Ornaments With Your Kids

Fun, Easy Christmas Recipes - Ornaments to Bake - Great Family Fun!

How to make Homemade Christmas Tree Ornaments: Making Decorations with the Kids

Your children may also like to make their own christmas cards to give to their friends.

There are so many beautiful Children's Christmas picture books that are available every year, from beautiful classics such as The Night Before Christmas, as well as new Christmas stories to share with your children, such as Russel's Christmas Magic by Rob Scotton, where Russel the sheep saves Christmas. If you want beautiful story with a taste of Australia, Wombat Divine written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Kerry Argent is just beautiful. It tells the tale of a little wombat who wanted nothing more than to be in the local Christmas nativity. After thinking all hope was lost, with no parts left, he ends up discovering the most important role of all.

Children love a good Christmas story as it stirs up their excitement and anticipation as they wait for Christmas to arrive. If your children are old enough to read it themselves, encourage them to get creative with voices for characters. They may even be able to act out the story with their toys while you narrate it. There are lots of creative options when it comes to children's Christmas picture books and it really does remind us of the spirit of Christmas.

Most children love the Christmas carols and the music at Christmas time. They also love the nativity plays, Santa Clause and the reindeer. Why not encourage your children and their friends to put together a small Christmas concert for that special family celebration. They could perform their most loved Christmas story or the nativity play. They could lead everyone in some well known carols and perhaps give out some Christmas goodies at the end, such as some hand made decorations or cookies. They could even get creative making a set and costumes (if time permits). No matter how it turns out it is sure to be a memorable and special way to celebrate Christmas with family and friends.

No matter how you choose to spend Christmas with your children, remember to slow down occasionally and reflect upon what Christmas means to you. Share in your child's joy as they anticipate the excitement of Christmas and all the magic that comes with it.