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Five Things to do to Make the Holidays Mean What They Should

12/09/2024

Parenting Our Children

Five Things to do to Make the Holidays Mean What They Should

Take a family field trip on a Second Saturday for hands-on activities and the latest exhibit at the Perez Art Museum. Catch the glistening winter wonderland of the Nutcracker at the Arsht Center or a holiday symphony at the University of Miami. Ice snowman cookies, craft a popsicle reindeer or reflect together on the deeper values of the season through literature. Above all, practice thoughtful acts of kindness, whether serving dinner to the homeless, ringing the bell with your preschooler for The Salvation Army's Red Kettle fundraiser or baking pumpkin bread for the neighborhood.

Give the Gift of Presence: In between rushing from work to soccer practice, planning a cookie swap party and scrambling to buy presents online, inhale deeply this holiday season to relish peaceful time with loved ones. Be intentional in how you treat-- and appreciate-- each other.  Cherish family time over the holidays with gratitude for the gift of each day-- before little ones quickly graduate elementary and move out for college. Slumberkins.com writes that "the best way to make the holidays meaningful is to show your child that the real joy comes from connecting with loved ones... Strengthen connections with family members, friends, and your community."

Spread Toys, Spark Joy: Have your kid set aside Santa's wish list and do something for somebody else. Whether you're religious or not, brainstorm with your child a meaningful service activity in the universal holiday spirit of selfless giving and care for community. Plan to help out at a neighborhood food pantry, visit the animal shelter, make cards for residents of a nursing home or help distribute toys to children in need this holiday season. GivingTuesday CEO Ahsa Curran writes on cnn.com that "there's no act of kindness that is too small. You can lend a helping hand to a neighbor, be extra helpful to people around you or tell someone you were thinking about them. Make generosity your own by weaving it into your daily activities."

Savor the season: Remember your own childhood attending the tree lighting ceremony or cooking fudge for the neighbors? Come up with one unique activity this season for a memory to treasure for a lifetime. Spread joy for your children and together cook a fun meal or treat. "It could be those luscious cinnamon rolls you only have during the holidays, or a dish with roots in your family like grandmother’s deep friend dumplings. Whatever the  meal might be, traditional foods are a wonderful way to get the whole family to slow down and enjoy each other's company," says Slumberkins, while also suggesting a cried corn cob with peanut butter and birdseed to hang in a tree to bring good cheer to the birdies.

Or buy a Christmas tree together and hang all those masterpiece ornaments from preschool. Take full advantage of Miami's kaleidoscope of fairs, festivals, museums and cultural events and plan together a play-cation activity like visiting Santa's Enchanted Forest, watching the Junior Orange Bowl Parade or experiencing the luminary wonderland of Pinecrest Gardens. Parents.com suggest activities like making holiday crafts, writing a letter to a family member away for the holidays or watch a fun holiday movie or bake holiday themed cookies.

Get active! Decide together a family fitness refreshment activity and just do it. Go ahead and register for holiday 5K or grab the coats and head to the ice rink. Reap the joy of Miami winter sunshine walking through Fairchild Garden, biking along Old Cutler Road or spotting blue herons and rosetta spoonbill along Anhinga Trail in the Everglades.

Ponder the Meaning: Children's minds swirl with visions of sugar plum fairies, North Pole reindeer antics and holiday tree lightings--and of course their wish list of presents. So be intentional and have a conversation about the deeper meaning of the holidays whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah or Kwanzaa or values of family, friendship and community.