| A fantastic Christmas doesn't have to mean big | | | | 6. Make paper snowflakes and display them in a |
| bills in January. | | | | window. Here's how: Trace and cut out a circle |
| The real magic of Christmas - the stuff that | | | | from white paper (the flat end of a coffee can or |
| makes kids' eyes light up, gives them a warm | | | | oatmeal box is a nice size for tracing). Fold your |
| glow inside, and creates delicious memories - | | | | circle in half. Next, fold your half into thirds, so |
| costs little or nothing. | | | | that you're left with a shape that resembles 1/6 |
| Here are ten ideas for free and low-cost "magic" | | | | of a pie. Now, snip out bits of paper here and |
| the kids will love: | | | | there and unfold your masterpiece. |
| 1. Sing Christmas carols with your kids while | | | | 7. Make a simple paper-chain Advent calendar. Cut |
| cooking and cleaning together, while wrapping | | | | 25 strips of paper, and number them 1-25. Link |
| gifts, or just before tuck-in time. | | | | the strips to form a chain. With yarn, string or |
| 2. As a special treat during December, serve hot | | | | ribbon, hang your chain in the middle of a |
| chocolate milk with a candy-cane stirrer. While | | | | doorway with link #1 at the bottom. Each day |
| your child sips and stirs, read aloud a favorite | | | | starting December 1, let the kids remove the |
| holiday book. Or, if the Nativity story is part of | | | | bottom link of the chain. |
| your family's celebration, point out that the candy | | | | 8. Go to your local library and check out children's |
| cane is shaped like a shepherd's crook. Then read | | | | books about the holidays. Put the books in a |
| or tell the story of the angel who appeared to | | | | special box or basket in your family room or living |
| shepherds watching their flock at night. | | | | room. |
| 3. Take a plate of home-made cookies to a | | | | 9. Have a holiday family movie night at home. Get |
| homeless shelter or to people who work at night, | | | | a holiday movie from your library or video rental |
| such as firefighters or hospital emergency staff. If | | | | shop and watch it together. Include bowls of |
| you're celebrating the birth of Jesus, also put a bit | | | | popcorn if your kids are past the age where |
| of food outside for animals on Christmas Eve | | | | popcorn presents a choke-hazard. |
| night to honor the animals at the manger -- an old | | | | 10. Avoid post-Christmas let-down by planning an |
| Slovak custom. | | | | outing or special family activity each day until the |
| 4. Give each family member 10 strips of paper in | | | | kids go back to school. |
| holiday colors. Let everyone write or draw | | | | A PURE KID-STUFF BONUS TIP: After dark, turn |
| something they're thankful for on each strip. Link | | | | on your Christmas tree lights and turn off all |
| the strips into a chain and hang as a decoration. | | | | other lights in the room, including the star or other |
| 5. Make thank-you cards for each other, sharing | | | | "topper" on your tree. Now lie back on the floor |
| what you appreciate about each member of the | | | | with your kids and notice the cool shadows on |
| family. Open them on Christmas Eve or Christmas | | | | your ceiling. |
| morning. | | | | |