Activities for Kids and Parents To Do on Christmas Eve and the Week before Christmas

Once again, Christmas seems to be approaching at the speed of light for everyone but the kids. To them it seems like it will never get here. If you are looking for something to fill the time or even a new family tradition, I hope you will find this article useful.

Track Santa and his reindeer If the kids want to know where in the world Santa is on Christmas Eve log on to http://www.northpole.com/NoradSanta.asp. Norad, the North American Air Defense Command has a really cool site. They track Santa using their technology, but also offer fun things to do from Christmas Karaoke to reading and coloring stories. Kids can even take a quiz to see if they are on the naughty or nice list. There are places on the site for kids, parents and teachers. This site will keep the whole family busy all week.

Turn on the radio Many stations are playing only Christmas songs by now and it is fun to sing along as you are putting up the tree or wrapping presents. But, that is not the activity I have in mind. Often, as you listen, someone will mention a need a family has, whether for toys for the kids or even food. It is a good thing to teach the kids to listen and watch for someone in need. Then act on it. Call the station, go shopping or whatever you can do to help. It is a good character trait to instill in our little ones and for most of us adults, it is something we should practice more often.

Open one small gift As our kids were growing up we let them open one gift. (We are of the open-on-Christmas-morning persuasion) It usually was pajamas or new slippers. Something that would get them in a frame to go to bed so Santa could get busy putting together the toy that had a million pieces. Oh--and a tip for that. One family we knew left all the assembly for Christmas morning so it could be a project for the child and the dad. That wasn't an option for our family, but it was a nice thought.

Grab a Bible and read Luke 2 This is listed last, but certainly is not the least recommended. There is something really special about reading the Christmas story. It will remind the kids, and us too, what we are celebrating. If you have trouble with the spiritual side of it, then look at it from the historical perspective. Jesus' birth really happened, an event that changed the way we view time (BC and AD), and He still changes lives today. Oh, sorry, I got spiritual there.

Merry Christmas!