Christmas traditions are vast and varied across the globe. But there is one constant – there will always be popular Christmas traditions for kids. See some of our favourites right here.
Have you ever noticed that the sparkle of excitement in children’s eyes is always a bit brighter at Christmas time? That sparkle, we believe, can be attributed to magic of the festive season and the various popular Christmas traditions that kids get to embrace. But let’s face it. Our team love getting involved in those popular Christmas traditions for kids too! There really is no age limit as far as we are concerned.
For many of us at The Christmas Cart, this time of the year marks the official kick-off for our popular Christmas traditions for kids. This is the time we start rolling out the festive red carpet and getting Santa savvy, clearing away some of the organisational pressures from the end of the season. And for those with children, popular Christmas traditions are great for keeping the kids busy by delving into some Christmas activities.
So, as Christmas experts, we have compiled some of our favourite popular Christmas traditions for kids to help inspire our readers who might be a little short on ideas or short on time this year.
The Christmas Cart’s Top 4 Most Popular Christmas Traditions for Kids
In no particular order, following are our team’s most popular Christmas traditions for kids.
#1 The Christmas Eve Box
It seems this popular Christmas tradition for kids is just as popular amongst our team of big kids too. This tradition involves presenting each person in your household with their own, special Christmas Eve box to open on the night before Christmas. Because who wants a house as quiet as a mouse before Santa’s big visit anyway, right?
Fill each Christmas Eve box with Christmas-themed gifts and goods that will generate even more excitement for the day ahead. Some ideas for items which are great for a Christmas Eve box include:
- a personalised Christmas character decoration or personalised Christmas bauble
- Christmas elf hat to wear on Christmas Day
- set of Christmas pyjamas or special Christmas socks for the night before Christmas
- a personalised Christmas stocking for Santa to fill
- a Christmas movie for the kids to watch while Mum and Dad get into catering preparations for the next day
- a Christmas music CD to crank up and sing on Christmas Eve
This is a popular Christmas tradition for kids that can transform with the kids as they grow older. What will be added to their Christmas Eve box the next year? It is a great way to get everyone into the full spirit on Christmas Eve!
#2 Getting Santa-Ready
This popular Christmas tradition for kids is very important when you have believers in the house. Get the kids involved in preparing for Santa’s visit on Christmas Eve. Following are some ideas to make your home Santa-ready.
- leave some carrots out for the reindeer
- put out Santa’s biscuit and drink on his special Santa plate
- leave out a magic key for Santa
- sprinkle reindeer dust on the lawn to help guide the reindeer in (glitter is great for this)
- hang the Christmas stockings and put out the Santa sacks to be filled
- draw, paint a picture, or create a special Christmas craft piece to give Santa as a thank you gift (these make great keepsakes for Mum and Dad)
- have the kids make sure their bedroom is cleaned and free of tripping hazards for Santa!
#3 Baking Treats for Christmas Day
There is something about baking sweet treats that seems to attract kids to the kitchen (and wouldn’t it be great if it had the same effect with the washing up!). Baking is always a popular Christmas tradition for kids too. Make use of their eagerness in the kitchen and get them to help whip up some treats for Christmas Day.
Whether it is as simple as homemade biscuits or cupcakes for the little ones to decorate. Or get the bigger kids to help with baking the Christmas desserts. The kids will love getting their bake on, knowing they have contributed to creating some special treats to enjoy. Christmas Cooking with the Kids is a popular Christmas tradition for kids that can be done a day or two ahead of Christmas Day too, which leaves more time for other traditions and preparations.
#4 Write a Letter to Santa
As soon as your kids are old enough to explain themselves, ask them to write (or help them write if their writing skills are not quite ready for this popular Christmas tradition for kids) a letter to Santa. Tell him about their most favoured parts of the year and, of course, what they would really like for Christmas. Once written, add the note into their personalised Christmas stocking for Santa to collect on Christmas Eve.
The main idea for this popular Christmas tradition for kids is to save the letters as a precious keepsake for parents or caregivers. As they grow, see how their views and opinions grow too.
Whilst the above ideas are all very popular Christmas traditions for kids, they promote brilliant opportunities for special family time at Christmas too. And that is what we especially love about Christmas – family time, magic and the wonder of the festive season.
For more popular Christmas traditions for kids, and for the entire family, take a look at our Christmas tradition articles online at The Christmas Cart.