Present parenting at Christmas time
I love Christmas time. It’s my favourite time of year for so many reasons — summer, singing songs, silver stars, Santa… and that’s just the beginning!
I especially enjoy spending extra time with my family, however it can be challenging to find activities to do together that don’t break the Christmas budget.
Below, I’ve created a list of some fun activities to enjoy with your children — which invite us to practise our present parenting at Christmas time.
8 free family activities to enjoy at Christmas time
1. Sing a Christmas song over breakfast throughout December. You may even like to create some actions to your favourite Christmas carol then share your performance with those you visit over the Christmas period.
2. Write a family love letter to a relative who doesn’t have many family members or friends visiting him/her in December. For some, it can be a lonely time of year, and it’s always nice to know someone has been thinking about you.
3. Go on a Christmas sightseeing tour in your neighbourhood. Either drive or walk by and celebrate the care and time people have put into brightening their homes at this special time of year.
4. Enjoy a Christmas-themed picnic in your backyard — this is also the perfect time to play the “What I’m grateful for this Christmas” game.
5. Surprise a neighbour with a basket of goodies — you may even bake some biscuits for them. (And seeing as though I rarely bake, I’d be more than happy to taste test for you!)
6. Compose a Christmas gratitude list for each member of your family. It’s a beautiful way to let your nearest and dearest know why they mean so much to you.
7. Play the “Go slow at Christmas” game. When you are out and about, driving, walking, shopping, adopt a ‘go-slow mantra’. This helps to cultivate a rush-less attitude and, when someone begins to rush, they have to stop and take three deep breaths. This way our children learn how to avoid getting caught up in the chaos that sometimes creeps into the days leading up to Christmas.
8. Demonstrate Christmas self-kindness over the festive period and put the Wellbeing Ripple Effect into action. Talk to yourself like you would a good friend — even if you decide to indulge in a few extra treats. It’s OK to celebrate and join in the festivities (in moderation of course) but equally as important is how you talk to yourself about it afterwards — our inner chat. Our children are always watching and listening to how we treat ourselves and they absorb so much of their self-talk from us. When we are kinder to ourselves, we teach our children to be so too. For me, this is one of the best yet most challenging parts of present parenting at Christmas time.
Wishing you a safe, joyful and peaceful Christmas.
