A few years ago, the idea of creating holiday magic overwhelmed me. It felt like I had to choose between myself and my kids: I could either have easy Christmas traditions, or truly magical ones.
But obviously I couldn’t do both, right?
Anything really special seemed like it took a lot of prep work, a lot of homemade components, and a lot of time. Which meant that, while it might be fun for the kids, I’d probably end up exhausted and cleaning up a big old mess.
No wonder the idea of traditions felt daunting!
But this year I stumbled across a simple trick that made our favorite holiday activities way more manageable–and fun–for me, too!
Are you ready to create easy, magical Christmas traditions?
Here’s what you need to know!
The Secret to Easy Christmas Traditions
So often we think that Christmas magic comes from doing everything big or homemade.
But the big secret to making holiday magic that everybody (even mama) gets to enjoy is simple:
Get awesome seasonal supplies!
The Magic of Seasonal Supplies
This weekend my girls spent hours making Christmas cards at the kitchen counter in their pajamas.
The sight of their tousled heads bent together over their creations was a little bit of Christmas magic for me–and I didn’t have to do anything to make it happen.
My only contribution was the supplies: a stack of blank cards and envelopes, and a packet of cute Christmas stickers.
In no time our kitchen island covered in magical, adorable, kid-made Christmas cards!
They didn’t need me to guide them through anything. They just needed those simple, magical supplies to inspire them.
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Seasonal Supplies for Simple Christmas Traditions
I first heard the term “seasonal supplies” from cozy-expert Myquillin Smith.
In her book Welcome Home (which is all about simple seasonal celebrations!) she talks about welcoming the seasons with all 5 of our senses: smell, taste, touch, sight, and sound.
I’ve loved approaching our simple holiday traditions this way, too. Some of our seasonal supplies have become easy Christmas traditions themselves!
Here are some of the seasonal supplies I use in our home:
- Smell: In addition to the fragrances of wintertime foods, we love having seasonal holiday scented soaps in our bathrooms. It’s totally silly, but also delightful!
. - Taste: Our simple taste-worthy supplies are a good quality hot cocoa mix, store-bought gingerbread cookies, and Chocolate advent calendars from Trader Joe’s.
. - Touch: This season is all about softness and coziness to us, so I pull out super plush blankets for the sofa when a chill hits the air. We also buy fleecy Christmas pajamas, and give them to the kids on Thanksgiving so they can wear them all month long.
. - Sight: There is so much emphasis on sight-based decor, I’m sure you don’t need a list here! But if there was only one supply I had to pick for things we look at, I’d choose twinkle lights in a heartbeat!
. - Sound: Music is such a subtle way to set the mood of a season. I spent some time making and Christmas playlist of mellow, feel-good holiday songs, and I play it in the background of our home all season on with the help of our robot friend Alexa.
Super Easy Christmas Traditions for Kids
Ready to make your Christmas traditions way easier?
Here’s a list of easy traditions & the supplies you need to make them happen!
Remember–provide supplies, and then let the kids enjoy them.
Don’t put pressure on yourself to lead every activity!
1. Decorate their Bedrooms
Supply Ideas: Dollar store tinsel or garland, Christmas or twinkle lights, and/or (optional) small Christmas tree
2. Make Christmas Cards
Supply Ideas: Blank cards, stickers, crayons or markers
3. Decorate Sugar Cookies
Supply Ideas: Pre-baked sugar cookies or a tube of store bought dough, frosting, sprinkles
4. Christmas Movie Night
Supply ideas: Microwave popcorn, movie-style candy, cozy blanket
5. Story Time by the Christmas Tree
Supply ideas: Hot cocoa mix, whipped cream or marshmallows, cozy blanket, 2-4 favorite Christmas storybooks. (Try turning out the lights and reading by the glow of the tree!)
6. Decorate Gingerbread Houses
Supply ideas: Pre-packaged gingerbread house kit, hot glue (to glue the houses together!), extra pre-made tube of decorating frosting
Christmas Traditions can be Easy and Magical
If your holiday season is already feeling busy, please know that you don’t have to burn yourself out to make the season a joyful one for your kids. Just remember our formula:
Simple activities + good supplies = easy magical memories ๐๐
Merry Christmas to you & yours, and may your holiday season be full of simple magic!
xo,
Jamie
