7 Traditions to Make Christmas Unforgettable for Your Grandkids

One of the best ways to rediscover the magic of the holidays is to see them through the eyes of your grandchildren. They offer limitless inspiration and make outstanding collaborators. Determine right now to enjoy your moments with each grandchild this holiday season. There is no substitute for time spent together. It will enable you to thrive during the holiday season - not just survive it. And loosen up. Some traditions will stick while others will fade. Some traditions will evolve into something new. So, retire old traditions and start new ones whenever you like. Don't be tied to any set of rules. Remember, it's about sharing the holidays with people you love.

Before sharing some of my favorite holiday traditions with you, a word about traditions. Just because some activity is a tradition does not mean it has to be traditional. Remember, there is no wrong or right way to make a holiday memory. It's your memory. Make it your own. Or let your grandkids make the tradition their own. Kids are excellent at coming up with new ideas and activities that are so much fun! Just ask them for their opinions. You have not truly lived until you have established an annual paintball night with just the older kids. So. Much. Fun. Of course, you must also create a great tradition for the younger kids. Our "littles" love Chuck – E – Cheese and think it was made just for them!

And traditions evolve. When our grandchildren were young, sleepovers during the holidays were perfect. Now that we have four grandchildren who are teenagers, we are working with a totally different set of rules. But if you place a gingerbread house in front of them, laughter and fun will ensue. Make it a contest – two against two – and you will have a full-blown party!

I hope you understand how vital holiday traditions and memories are for your grandchildren. You are depositing bits and pieces of yourself in their lives – memories they will always cherish. Here are some ideas that may fit your life or at least give you an idea for some tradition or activity that will.

If we are not careful, the holiday rush will make us lose sight of what this season is all about – gratitude. We have so much, while so many have so little. Look around you. Survey your world. You will not have to look very far to find someone in need. It may not be a physical need. It may be someone needing encouragement, a listening heart, or a funny card left on their desk at work.

Let me encourage you to make gratitude the theme of this holiday season - beginning right now! Write the word on several index cards or post-it notes and place them where you will most likely see them. The first tradition I want to share is not new – and has been done by many people – but that's okay. It's still a great family tradition.

1. The Gratitude Tree

A gratitude tree may be as simple as a few sticks in a jar, an entire branch in a flowerpot, or a real tree if one is available. But we have taken this idea in an entirely different direction – to a wall! I know! Amazing, right? Well, our tribe thinks so.

Draw, paint, or color, and cut out a 5-foot tree. Attach it to a wall in a room you pass through each day. Everyone has to place at least two leaves on the tree every week. Then, at the next family dinner, read a few leaves and discuss the reason for each one. You will be amazed how just the sight of that tree will stick with you throughout the day and season.

2. Love Your Neighbor

I got this idea when our children were just toddlers. I wanted to do something for the neighbors for Christmas, but our budget was tight. Then I found a great and simple recipe for hot chocolate. All it requires is mixing dry ingredients. And a favorite Christmas tradition was born. The Christmas carols played in the background while the kids intently mixed the chocolate. We then poured it into mason jars and, with grand ceremony, dusted each jar until it was immaculate. The crowning touch? A stick-on bow topped the lid of each jar.

But there is more. My main job was to print out the recipe on an index card, punch a hole in it, and tie it to the lid of the jar with ribbon selected by each child – and I had orders to make it "pwetty." THEN we loaded all of the jars into the kids' red wagon, and out the door we went. We had to work quickly while our neighbors were all at work.

At the first house, Jered grabbed a jar, crouched down so no one could see him, and ran to the porch. He carefully placed the jar on the doormat, rang the doorbell, and ran like crazy back to me. Once we were out of sight, there was massive giggling, high-fiving, and trying to be quietly doing it all! At the next house, it was Danna's turn. Same song, second verse! It. Was. Awesome. And a great way to connect with our neighbors. And who knew it was contagious? The following year, our doorbell rang. When we opened the door, we found a loaf of banana nut bread on our porch.

3. Make a Book for Each Grandchild

One of the most priceless gifts we can give our children is memories. I am a writer and have used stories about our grandchildren in many books, devotions, and articles, so this might be a little easier for me. BUT anyone can do this. Gather some of your favorite photos of each grandchild. Print them out on your computer. Beside each picture, write your thoughts, hopes, or funny comments about that child.

I just started this tradition. My first book was for our grandson, Justus. He seemed genuinely excited about his book. When I asked our daughter if he actually read it, she laughed and said, "Mom, he takes it with him pretty much wherever he goes, and I am pretty sure he has shown it to his friends."

4. Decorate, Decorate, Decorate!

When my husband says, "Honey, it looks like Christmas threw up all over our house!" I know I have achieved my goal. But I know decorating can be an overwhelming job. The older I get, the more overwhelming decorating gets. So, I call in my assistants – our grandchildren.

First, we need fuel for the task ahead, so we go out to eat or prepare a meal at home. Then it's time for music. Each grandchild chooses a favorite holiday song to play while we decorate. It is amazing how music can change the atmosphere and attitudes.

Next, each grandchild heads downstairs to the basement and begins hauling the Christmas boxes upstairs. Even the "littles" can carry smaller items and are so proud of themselves for helping.

When all the decorations are in the living room, we unpack them one box at a time. My job is to direct the unpacking and placing of the decorations. It's incredible how quickly the house is decorated when you have extra hands and feet to help. Then comes the tree. The grandkids choose the decorations that absolutely must go on the tree and the ones that might go on the tree if there is room. It is a brutal selection process, but most of the decorations actually end up on the tree. When the last decoration is in place, the empty boxes go back to the basement, and we can officially declare that the Christmas season has begun for our family.

5. Christmas Eve Under the Tree

I love this tradition! Any grandchild that wants to spend the night has an invitation. They bring their pillows and make a bed under or around the Christmas tree using my blankets - and I have a lot of blankets!

After a Christmas movie and a snack of my famous hot chocolate and cookies, it is bedtime. Each child chooses a spot where they can sleep with their head under or close to the tree. They whisper for a while and gradually fall asleep with the lights of the tree shining on their precious faces.

6. Cellophane Christmas Ball

The Cellophane Christmas Ball tradition is relatively new, but it is now firmly entrenched as one of our "must-do" traditions. It requires several boxes of clear plastic wrap (depending on how big you want the ball to be) and prizes such as small toys, candy, gum, or quarters.

Tie a knot at the end of the plastic wrap and begin pulling it out of the box, wrapping toys in the plastic wrap as you go. Last year, we used nine boxes of plastic wrap, and it was awesome!

Gather all of the grandchildren in a circle. The youngest grandchild gets the ball rolling, literally! As the prizes fall out of the wrap, anyone can grab them! Then, total chaos breaks out as kids dive for their favorite toy, candy, gum, or a quarter and possession of the ball, laughing hysterically!

After the cellophane ball is reduced to a pile of plastic wrap, bargaining and trading for prizes begin. We saw a whole new side to some of the kids. Some – pretty. Others – not so much. But all of them – fun.

7. Make Stockings a Big Deal!

Christmas stockings might be my favorite tradition of all. All year long, I pay attention to the likes and dislikes of our grandchildren. I look for their favorite candy, the flavor of gum, toys, games, clothing style, and hair products - you name it. And then, I keep an actual list so that when Christmas comes around, I am ready!

I hit the dollar store, Walmart, and Target to find the items on my list. I also order some items online if I can. I then wrap each item and place it in a small paper bag with their name on it. Then, when Christmas comes, I'm all set.

Open the stockings after your family's Christmas dinner or whenever your family gathers to exchange gifts. You can also have a particular time when the grandkids come over to open their stockings.

Make it last. Each child opens one gift at a time for everyone to see. I know. It usually dissolves into a frenzy when they can't stand it anymore and start opening one package after another. But make it last as long as you can.

So, there you have it! I hope these ideas will help you enjoy the holidays – not just get through them. Or maybe they have given you some ideas of your own to try. Honestly, it doesn't really matter so much what you do as how you do it – with love, laughter, and a heart full of gratitude.

Mary Southerland is also the Co-founder of Girlfriends in God, a conference and devotion ministry for women. Mary’s books include, Hope in the Midst of Depression, Sandpaper People, Escaping the Stress Trap, Experiencing God’s Power in Your Ministry, 10-Day Trust Adventure, You Make Me So Angry, How to Study the Bible, Fit for Life, Joy for the Journey, and Life Is So Daily. Mary relishes her ministry as a wife, a mother to their two children, Jered and Danna, and Mimi to her six grandchildren – Jaydan, Lelia, Justus, Hudson, Mo, and Nori.