How do you spend "quality time" with DC?

with all the madness and materialism of the holidays, how do you spend quality time with your kids? I'd like to start some traditions with mine.

How do you spend

My dd is way too little for this but baking is always a good one.

Re: How do you spend "quality time" with DC?

We read together. A lot. Every day.
Also do crafts.

How do you spend

We went to Disney on ice, a local historical home decorated for the holidays, read holiday books, bake, we made a gingerbread hanukkah house this year. We also have some other local holiday events planned. We also went shopping for the less fortunate and donated coats, hats and gloves for children without. We also make a point of having the kids give presents and explained the importance of giving as well as receiving.

eta: Target has cute holiday crafts. I got a few for my kids and they were really helpful for thanksgiving/hanukkah. They were able to do the crafts while I cooked. Sometimes they would help cook where appropriate, but the crafts helped them stay busy when I did not want them to get hurt in the kitchen I.E. all the times that DH and I had to lift/flip the turkey.

Message edited 11/30/2013 9:08:40 PM.

How do you spend

Non holiday related i read to her play with her and do things when i can with her that are for her like go to indoor play place, the park in the summer...and we go to mommy and me...

Holiday related... shes still young so we see santa and open gifts on cmas day...

Re: How do you spend "quality time" with DC?

I bake with my 4 1/2 year old, do crafts, go to the library, read books, play dolls, etc

Re: How do you spend "quality time" with DC?

We decorate the tree together, we bake, every year we do a gingerbread house, we do Xmas crafts, we read and play games by the light of the Xmas tree, we relax on the couch and listen to Xmas music, and we kick off the holiday season with a "North pole Breakfast" to welcome back our Elf on a Shelf.

We also make pizzelles together, that is a family tradition that goes back generations in my family.

Re: How do you spend "quality time" with DC?

well, dd is only 1... but every year in my family we make chocolate candy houses (same as gingerbread just with chocolate) - last year she was in her rock and play next to us while we did it, and this year I'm sure she will be playing beside us as we do it. as she gets older, she will get involved.
same thing with baking and decorating the tree. she will be there for it and the older she gets, the more she will become involved.
last year we took her to the mall to see santa... will do the same this year, and pick out a Christmas ornament for her.
we are taking her to "brunch with santa" and a holiday festival.
the girls in my family always went to the city to see the tree, a show of some sort, and out to eat. once she is old enough, she will join.
eta- I made a holiday craft "with her" (and a friend of mine and her daughter) to give to family members for Christmas, from her. it was her footprints and obviously I did everything, but I'd like to do something like that with her each year. again, the older she gets, the more she will be involved.

Message edited 11/30/2013 8:32:45 PM.

How do you spend

cooking gingerbread cookies.

It started at 2yrs old I'd say.. she'd help put the cut out cookie onto the sheet with two hands cupped. LOL

at 3 she'd help by cutting out the cookie and moving them carefully

at 4 she could cut out, move a LOT better and also roll out and sort of help pipe the icing.

Can't wait for this year!

I make a LOT OF THEM so it takes us two days...

We watch xmas classics (White Christmas is my favorite) and claymations. She will help us decorate the house. She and I do the xmas tree ourselves. She helps me stuff or seal xmas cards for friends, she also helps making little hand made cards for closer family members or friends.

We try to take the time to do a drive through our own neighborhood area to see the lights and pick a new street every day or revisit old ones to see updates. And if she's lucky we'll take a day to go down a whole neighborhood with snacks for her and just look at lights.

Today we took her downtown and got on a river boat to ride the San Antonio River and look at all the lights (The drip all the cypress and other trees that hang over the river in lights, light up all the bridges and most businesses are lit as well). She LOVED it. Going under the big big trees all light up with lights, seeing huge xmas trees near the mall and waving at the folks as she went under bridges and even those who were just walking along the shops and stuff on the river. Think I may make that a yearly thing.

Message edited 12/1/2013 12:18:44 AM.

Re: How do you spend "quality time" with DC?

My DD is 3 and so far she loved putting up the tree and decorating. She was so into it. We also love to just sit in the living room with her and put on Xmas music. She likes to put on a dance show. I also love taking her to the library and getting new holiday books, which we always read before bed.
Friday night we watched a family holiday movie (Elf on the Shelf).

Re: How do you spend "quality time" with DC?

Our christmas traditions to spend time together are:
-bake cookies
-gingerbread house
-every year we make an ornament together to give to grandparents/aunts and uncles
-cut down the tree (make a whole day of it)
-decorate the tree
-go to our town tree lighting.
-Read and watch xmass movies

eta: oh and nightly dance parties while I cook dinner

Message edited 12/1/2013 8:22:36 AM.