Christmas and the Holiday Season is a wonderful time for grandparents to bond with their grandchildren. From the joy of a special Christmas gift to the most cherished family time spent all year, the opportunities to extend your legacy efforts are many. Need some new ideas for your grandchildren? Find them here, from baby's first ornament to a special trainset or dollhouse. Pick up the latest movie releases and hottest video games and toys of the year. Set the stage with Christmas music and make this year extra special for your grandchildren by getting into the spirit of the season.
Want to know the secret to a fantastic family Christmas?
Lead by example.
A positive and enthusiastic attitude is truly contagious. And, the true spirit of Christmas teaches us to let your light shine. By shining your light, you'll remove darkness for your loved ones, and light the path they are walking. Inevitably, the decision to lead the way will brighten your own path as well.
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy is when men are afraid of the light."
--Plato
So, on the surface level, this means to not allow the general stress of the Holidays to get in the way. We're human and all of us get bent out of shape at times. And with the Holiday season taking us out of the daily routine, change for some can create anxiety. Traffic. Cold weather. Last-minute shopping. Preparing meals. Where will Christmas morning be spent? We didn't do Christmas this way before! Will the grandkids like MY gift?!
For those prone to these types of stresses, the first opportunity to lead by example is to simply let them go. Poof! Easy, right? Some of us certainly have this talent, however, for others we know it's not such an easy task. The mind can be a powerful device to focus us on the negatives. Fortunately, through positive thinking and exuberant optimism, these feelings and stresses can absolutely be defeated. Want the amazing secrets to learn how? Visit Think Right Now to find out.
Christmas is much more enjoyable with your own feelings and thoughts in a positive place. And, with your light now shining, you open up the incredible opportunity to truly grow and help light the way for others. The Holidays provide numerous ways to make special grandchild connections, in line with your legacy theme.
On this page, you'll find a number of great Christmas gift ideas, legacy inspirations, and activities to connect with your grandkids this holiday season.
"We are each gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light."
-- Mary Dunbar
Christmas Ideas for your Grandchildren
The secret to making the Holidays memorable is all wrapped up in one word for kids....PLAY.
Create an enduring Christmas memory this year with your grandkids. Come up with some fun ideas to turn a seemingly uneventful gift or idea into one that could become the highlight of the day. Remember the magic word...play! Here's some holiday ideas for your grandchildren:
Treasure Hunts: One way to really stretch your Christmas budget in the fun department is to design your own treasure hunt. Wrap up several $1 bills with red Christmas ribbon. Then, take 20-30 minutes to think up several good hiding places in your house (or wherever the hunt will take place) and create the clues on small pieces of paper. Create an initial clue in the form of a rhyme. The kids will need to figure out the clue to find the next hiding spot, and so on. At each hidden clue, you can include $1. And, perhaps there's a special treat at the end. Me, I'd be hoping for a Christmas cookie at the end! Another good way to stretch this fun...promise to take your younger kids to the dollar store with their treasure. For younger children not reading yet, another variation is to run colored string all over the house...and they can follow it to the treasure.They'll love it!
Create an Album: Kids love taking pictures, so a great gift idea is to get one of the new Kids cameras. A popular Fisher-Price model is linked below. Or, another great idea is to pick up the Fujifilm 10-pack of disposable cameras. Pick a day during the Holidays where each grandchild gets their own camera and the complete freedom to take a picture of anything they want all day. Coach them on how many pictures are available on the camera so they can keep track. Encourage them to take pictures of their favorite moments of the day or whenever they feel particularly interested in or drawn to. Collect the cameras at the end, and once processed, you can make a special Christmas memory album for yourself or the grandkids. If the kids use a digital, upload their creative expressions onto your digital photo frame for all to enjoy by dinnertime! Want an innovative way to better understand your grandchild's interests towards your legacy creation? This might just do the trick!
Gingerbread House:Something my son loves to do with his Nana. It creates the perfect opportunity to get creative together on a project. One of her tricks is to buy extra candy that the grandchild's enjoy - gummy worms, chocolate kisses, etc. Use the extra candy to really give the gingerbread house some decorative flair. Get creative with other household foods...the sugary side of MiniWheats makes for a great effect as snowy rooftop shingles. The grandkids will beem with pride as they see their gingerbread house throughout the day. And, the best part is...you can eat it at the end!
Cook a Holiday Treat: Have a holiday favorite? (Sugar cookies are mine.) This year, plan to make them with your grandchildren. It's a bit slower and a heck of a lot messier, but they'll love the experience. You can snap some great pictures. And, they'll be thrilled to tell the whole family who made the cookies! Want to make the thrill last longer? Prepare the recipe on a unique card which you'll keep for them. On the back include any special Christmas memories for the year. Repeat over the years, and by the time your grandchildren are reaching adulthood, you'll have the chance to present them with your favorite recipes list in a wonderfully creative fashion. Turn a batch of cookies into a treasured memory for your grandchild!
Go Caroling: A tradition from my sister-in-laws family that we've grown to love too. Each year, they'll have a caroling party. Print out the words to a few Christmas favorites, and gather the kids and adults to knock on a few doors and belt out some Christmas songs. Sure, this is outside the comfort zone for many...and that's exactly why you need to try it! It's spectacular fun, and kids absolutely love the experience. If this isn't shining your Christmas spirit...I don't know what is!
Give Back: Plan some time over the Holiday season to give back to the community. Whether it's cleaning out your older items for Goodwill or putting together a collection of food for the local Foodbank, it's not only personally fulfilling, but provides a great opportunity to teach your grandchild the spirit of Christmas. How to make it fun? Make it a superhero mission. Fashion the bathtowels into capes to wear as you collect the donations together in the house. Then, pile into the car...I mean Batmobile to see if you can save the day just in the knick of time!
Make Music: Nothing sets the stage better for getting the family in the spirit than some favorite xmas music. Or, consider some other active play options. Pickup a family pack of play instruments, and have the grandkids learn to play some simple songs together. Have a musician in the family? Encourage them to lead the group with singing some Christmas songs. Another current favorite for the older kids are the Karaoke games showing up on the VideoGame systems. Pick up American Idol for hours of Holiday fun in a new and fun way that your grandchildren will remember. (Be sure to match the game type to the system you or your grandchild has...)
Make a Movie: Most families love to watch the movies. And, some great DVDs are coming out this year that are sure to be new favorites. Another creative idea is to pull out that digital video camera you haven't been using much lately. Blow the dust off and charge it up. Then, put in a fresh video tape, and have your grandchildren make their own movie! Will it be an action flick? Mystery? Sci-Fi? Documentary? Drama? Encourage your grandchildren to become movie writers for a day during their Holiday time off from school. Then, you can use some video editing software to edit the footage together and lay in sound effects, music, and other cool features. If you have a new Mac, check out the features of iMovie. Or, pick up the software below. It's really much simpler than it sounds, and you and your grandkids will have a blast creating and learning!
Play with Trains: Our family has the train bug. And, Christmas just wouldn't be the same without the trains rolling around the Christmas tree. And the big trains are loads of fun too! Want to make a very special event with your grandchildren? Consider finding a local train museum and plan a family outing to ride an old steam engine train. (Yahoo railrood museum listings)If you don't yet have model trains to setup in your home, take the plunge and consider your new trainset an investment in years of warm memories for your grandchildren. For younger train fanatics (or to create one!), consider the Thomas the Tank Engine playsets. Constructed of wood & metal, this is a quality toy that can actually last generations...not many toys these days can say that! Check out the Trains section below.
Real Christmas Tree: Remember the smell of a real Christmas tree as a child? If you've transitioned over to the convenience of a plastic tree...consider again the experience of the real deal. Part of the magic of Christmas is the stimulation of all our senses. And, nothing tops the smell of a real tree on Christmas morning. Sure, real trees take more work, but therein lies the secret to the reward. Make it an adventure with your grandchildren! Take them to the local Xmas tree farm where they can pick out the best in the bunch. They'll love the responsibility, and also the great game of hide & seek among the trees! Many tree farms also have prepared Christmas goodies and hot chocolate available as well. If not, plan ahead and bring your own treat for the gang and hot chocolate in a thermos.
Decorate the Tree: Yes, decorating the Christmas tree takes a little time and the needles can be messy, but you'll be amazed how far a positive attitude can go! Spread it to your grandchildren by making the annual tree decoration a family event, or even, a new tradition. Set the stage with Christmas music, and treats nearby. (Always treats nearby during the Holidays!) Encourage the family adults up off the couch as well...children are thrilled to see everyone participate. Another cool idea is to collect special ornaments for each grandchild over time...perhaps a new one per year. Find ornaments that reflect their interests, personalities, or have some special meaning between you and your grandchild...a legacy theme perhaps?
Watch the Parade: Growing up, my parents encouraged the family tradition of watching the TV Holiday parades during Thanksgiving & Christmas. And, they were always enjoyable. But, want to know the funny part? I most remember the warm memory of the Cinnamon buns! For me, parades & cinnamon buns go hand in hand. And, isn't there a great lesson there in making special memories? You dont' have to go to great lengths, or do anything fancy. Just create the right atmosphere of excitement and family togetherness...and you've set the stage for Christmas magic. You just need to lead by example.
Help a Needy Child: At our local mall, a charity organization has Christmas tree ornaments that list needy children and their Christmas wishes. A tradition my mother has done for my son is to have him pick an ornament and then make a day of shopping at the mall to pick out the special gifts for donation. What a great lesson and holiday tradition that will be remembered!
Elf Yourself: Pick out a few interesting pictures of your grandchildren, and get ready to crack yourself up. Visit the fun website ElfYourself. You can upload your pictures, and then paste the faces directly onto dancing elves! Preview the video, and when you are finished laughing...you can send the video by email to your entire family. The kids will love this! I just send out videos of my boys and the other grandkids to the grandparents and the extended family. Hilarious!
Invite Santa Over: Some of the most magical years with our grandchildren are those in the years of believing. Carry on the tradition. Create a spark in your little one's eyes and create a Christmas memory that will last forever. Pick up a Santa Suit, and have a wonderful time pulling together that surprise visit!
Baby's First Ornament
Congratulations! Having a new baby in the family is a special Christmas time blessing. And many families follow the tradition to celebrate with a special ornament for the baby. After all, the ornament will be carefully placed by the child on the tree for many Christmases to come...a perfect chance to make a lasting grandparent connection.
Trains
There's a certain magic about Trains & the Holidays and there has been for many generations. Trains have held Americans' fascination for their mystique, beauty, and the transformational impact on American history. Introduce your grandchildren to the magic of trains this Holiday season. And, re-introduce yourself with a special trainset for display under your own Christmas tree. And, be sure to have a copy of the Polar Express for watching each year. Haven't seen it?! Shame, shame, shame!
Dollhouses
A special joy for the grandparents of grandaughters everywhere is to see their beautiful faces on Christmas morning with the wonderful surprise of a dollhouse!
Movies
The Holidays offer a great time to get the family snuggled together and settled in to enjoy a family movie. So grab some blankets and pop the popcorn! This year, there are a number of great DVDs your grandkids are asking for, and of course, there's loads of Christmas favorites to enjoy as well. Introduce your grandchildren to one or two Christmas classics in addition to the modern titles...
High Definition TV
One sure fire way to spruce up your Christmas & holiday season is to enjoy the movies, videogames, and football games on your new High Definition television set. Watching sports, and especially football bring out the best qualities of the high definition format. You are absolutely guaranteed to feel like you are on the field and part of the action. When the winning coach is hit with a cooler of Gatorade, you will duck! You'll be wishing you had bought this new set a LONG time ago...and the grandchildren will love it too!
VideoGame Consoles & Games
Kids today are electronically "connected" and videogame systems and games are a growing market as they climb in popularity on grandchildren's Christmas wish lists. Many games truly do teach computer and strategic thinking skills that will serve grandchildren in the future world of connectivity. It will be really amazing to see the technologies developed in their coming years. But, the gaming market doesn't come without risk for children. The game publishers gets well-deserved criticism for the content value of some games...so as parents / grandparents, we have to remain viligant to provide some guidance of what is acceptable for our children. Look for family games with the EC (Early Childhood suitable) or E (Everyone) ratings. For older grandchildren, be sure to investigate in advance games rated T (Teen) and certainly be cautious (or avoid!) the M (Mature) titles.
Fortunately, there are number of family friendly games. My boys two sets of grandparents have each purchased the Wii game system. The Wii provides the best format for the casual gamer and for younger kids in my opinion. While kids of all ages can & do love the Wii...it's especially suited for the younger (8 and under) age group. Controls are more simple than other systems and involve unique "movement controls" that are intuitive, and requires physical movement. Unlike the dreaded Atari thumb kids of my generation developed...today's kids can actually get real exercise while playing games! And best of all, many game selections are multiple player. Eliminate (some) of the "hey it's my turn" this holiday!
For older grandchildren (8 years+), the Playstation 3 and the XBox360 offer a more sophisticated gaming system with incredible graphics and interconnectivity options. Via the magic of the internet, there are some games you can play games from your family room against other gamers all over the world.
Pictures & Cameras
Capture that magical Christmas moment with your grandkids. These are treasured times! Make sure your digital camera and video recorders are all charged up...as you surely don't want to miss the chance to snap some great pictures. Visit the Photos webpage for more camera and videocamera selections. If you don't have a newer "point & shoot" digital camera, you simply must pick one up. The choices below are favored by many. So act quickly, and don't let those treasured grandchild moments slip on by...
Hottest Toys for 2009
We've done some research to find out what are the most sought out Christmas gifts expected for this holiday season. Compiled in the slideshow below, we've listed the HOTTEST TOYS for 2009! With one of these selections, your grandchildren are guaranteed to be thrilled with what they find under the tree this year!
Can't find that sought after gift from the slideshow above? Try Amazon's Holiday Toy Link below where you'll even find video demonstrations for many toys.
Christmas Music
Grandchildren love Christmas for so many reasons. While Christmas gifts of course come right to mind, don't underestimate the special connections and lifelong learnings that even young children take away. And, as the adults in the picture, we're responsible for setting the stage for the magic of Christmas to intertwine with the spiritual lessons. To create the perfect atmosphere, Christmas music is a powerful ingredient. Add to your collection this year with one of these best-selling favorites below, or search for a particular favorite at More Christmas Music.
Christmas Wish
In theme with the Christmas spirit of letting your light shine, I've included an extraordinary quote from Marianne Williamson below. How does this challenge your thoughts? Remember that being a grandparent offers an incredible opportunity to deeply impact the lives of your grandchildren. How will your example affect their futures? How can you change and grow today to become a shining example...to become for them, a lighthouse in the storm of life?
Make the committment now to create your legacy, and truly give all that you are to your grandchildren. Join this site and gain your own lighthouse. Gain monthly insight into life's secrets from the LoveMyGrandchild.com newsletter that will help you find your way. Join today for free. Enter your email at the top of the page, on the left.
God bless you and best wishes for your legacy efforts into 2010!
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
