Christmas is just around the corner and many kids spend all their waking hours listing the items that they hope to find under the tree. I tried to the trick of giving my children some catalogs and letting them go through and circle what was interesting, but they decided it would be more fun to help their dad split the firewood. They knew it was something that I had been asking for AND they knew they would get to build a fire.

Kids don’t need (and most don’t really want) more stuff. Attention is the thing that is craved. In reality it is craved by all of us. The gadgets and items may seem nice, but they are no replacement for an act of kindness or words of adoration.

This year spend time with the kids instead of getting lost in the wrapping and mistletoe. Make some Christmas traditions that will far outlast any item that could even be put under a tree.

1. Make a day of looking for a Christmas tree. Go out into the woods (if you have permission) and cut your own or go to a Christmas tree farm. Decorate the tree as a family – have eggnog and cookies with music in the back ground (no television).

2. Make Christmas cards (or thank you notes for after Christmas) to send out to family and friends. Get out the paints, stamps and any other craft items you have around the house and use card stock to create cards that are more of a gift than just a card.

3. Set aside a few nights to do Christmas lights. Find displays in your community that are free (or inexpensive) and make an outing for your family to visit the displays.


4. Make one day in the holidays an official ‘Kids Day’ and let the kids decide what to eat, where to go and what to do. Help them plan the event by researching activities and even recipes together. Let them get their hands dirty -“ so to speak in the kitchen when creating the recipes.

Time is something that money can’t buy and that most of us hunger for from those that we love. Kids may be screaming for the latest gadget, but what they want more than anything is time with the family. Make that the biggest gift you put under the tree this year.