3 minute read
CHRISTMAS MEANING
CREATIVE CHRISTMAS
This is a special time of year for families, but there’s so much more we can all do to create long-lasting memories
By SUE LAIDLAW
Idon’t know many children who don’t like Christmas. Whether you celebrate as a Christian festival or in a more general celebratory sense, it is, without doubt, a special time of the year. However, it is so easy to get caught up in plans and arrangements, in lists, and in food and presents that you miss some of the simpler (and arguably, more wholesome and worthwhile) aspects of the season.
It’s also a wonderful time to build in some interesting and enjoyable family activities and perhaps create new family traditions. I once read a book, many years ago, about building rituals into your children’s life and that of the family. These can run through the year and can be especially poignant at Christmas. One of ours was, and still is, a ectionately called “BGS” – Big Girl Supper – each Friday evening throughout the year. Even though our daughters are all now in their twenties, they still come home and ask if we are having BGS and those Friday nights have become a staple of family life. Family traditions that each family may have at Christmas build memories and family strength throughout each child’s life. It’s never too late to add some more and enrich family history forever.
When my children were very young, I had a box of seasonal and Christmas books that came out in December and were packed away again at the beginning of January. This was the source of great fun and the opportunity to be reunited with certain special books lasted for many, many years – a bit like remembering the Christmas tree decorations, as they each come out of the box, like old friends every year. There are also endless opportunities for creative activities for all ages and tastes – printing wrapping paper, wrapping parcels, making gift tags… the list goes on and I have no doubt that you have plenty of ideas of your own.
Try to make time for some outdoor activities each day of the holidays. It certainly doesn’t need to be commercial or expensive: collect cones, holly and evergreen and make table centres, or put on your wellies and come back for hot chocolate and mince pies.
Your teenagers will probably be out and about, with friends, at parties and celebrating as well as lying in! Apart from their social lives outside the home, give them some opportunities to get involved (and find the real child within – not the sophisticated teenager). Why don’t you give them free rein of the kitchen for a celebration family meal of their choice. Alternatively, o er them the opportunity to host a dinner party for their friends, give them a budget and an opportunity to plan a menu, decorate the table – and clear up! Perhaps even o er to be waiters for the evening.
Whatever you choose to do, however you choose to celebrate, it’s an important time for each member of the family to enjoy time with friends and family, so let’s encourage each other to look for new, creative ways to share time together. It’s so important to relax and restore before the various routines start up again.
Sue Laidlaw is founder of Laidlaw
Education LLP. For 30 years, Sue and her team have o ered educational advice, lessons and courses for children of all ages through their centres, including Laidlaw
Hall, a specialist centre for children with Dyslexia and the Laidlaw Virtual Academy. To find out more call 020 8487 9517 or visit laidlaweducation.co.uk
