Tips for a Memorable and Unique Family Christmas
Want a great family Christmas this year?
Of course!
Think back. What do you remember of Christmas events from your childhood? Do you remember the gifts you received? Perhaps not.
You might remember the people involved, and the shared experiences though.
With such an emphasis on the commercial aspects, and so many people wanting things bigger, and brighter, and fancier, it’s easy to lose sight of the really important things.
Here are my top tips for making this year a family Christmas to remember.
1. Go for a Nature Walk
Plan this for before the big meal (while people still have energy). See what you can spot – a cobweb, sunlight glancing on something sparkling, unusual houses, attractive or unusually-shaped trees, tracks in the snow, the list is endless. It will raise appetites and provide a great topic of conversation during mealtime.
2. Plant a tree
Planting a tree is always worthwhile – especially if you’ve “taken” a Christmas tree. Or spend an hour cleaning up or enhancing a natural area, to symbolize the value of nature. Or donate to an organization that will plant tress on your behalf.
3. Decorate a Tree
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Decorate” a tree for the birds, who may battle to find food in winter. Place seeds, stale bread, suet, bird seed and seed balls on trees in your garden or nearby. The more variety of food, the greater the variety of birds your food will attract. Kids enjoy this. (Note: try to find trees in an open area where the birds can see cats approaching them).
4. Bird Spotting
Create an annual Christmas Day Bird Find. Walk through your neighbourhood or park and try to identify and count each bird you see. Note everything in your journal. Afterwards, get together and total the numbers seen of each species. The kids enjoy it because even the youngest can get involved with spotting. This highlights the presence and value of all birds. (For more details on bird spotting, see the end of this article).
5. Make Giving Fun
Another family idea for Christmas is to show children the importance of giving at this time of year. Ask them to pick 3 toys that they don’t play with much, and donate them to a homeless or domestic violence shelter.
6. Help Out
Instead of just giving money, actually visit a local animal shelter and offer your help – dog walking, feeding, grooming etc.
It’s Time to Appreciate!
These family ideas for Christmas will all instill an appreciation of the wonderful world of nature.
In our busy lives it’s easy to overlook the importance of the natural world – yet we can’t survive without it.
Children in particular enjoy nature if they are encouraged to spend time outdoors instead of in front of the TV or computer.
And working with others less fortunate – even for a very short time – gives a unique perspective.
A Day to Remember!
It’s not about the gifts and the food. A fun family Christmas is about time spent together, shared activities, discoveries in nature – these will be the things we’ll all remember from this Christmas in the years to come.
Make this family Christmas a special day to remember.
Below are the notes for bird-spotting – but in the meantime, if you’re looking to buy green, safe, eco friendly Christmas gifts, click here for a wonderful selection.
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Notes for Bird Spotting
You will need:
- A notebook or journal for each person. Use it to keep record of all sightings, and re-use the book each year. You’ll build up some great memories. Do sketches as well if you are so inclined, note where you spotted the birds, and add the tallies of how many were spotted by others.
- Binoculars – cheap binoculars are fine. Some kids may prefer a monocular – they are cheaper and lighter.
- Pencil, coloured crayons for notes and sketches. Very useful if you can’t immediately identify the species – draw it then look it up later.
- Water – especially for children. Don’t buy bottled, use a re-usable water bottle. Perhaps some nuts or fruit as well if you will be outside for a while.
- Plan your route in advance, and use the same route each time – this will help accurate comparisons of changes year to year. Early morning is often the best time for birds, and always go out for the same length of time.
- Relax and have fun! Yes, tallying up the birds is important, but really it’s all about being together, relaxing and having fun. Enjoy your fun family Christmas!
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