Five Inexpensive Ways to Help Your Children Invest in Holiday Memories

Christmas memories are never dependent on the amount of money spent or the popularity of the toy. Memories are made up of amount of heart invested and given. This year, let your children invest their time and hearts in making Christmas memories for your family.

1. Buy white or red place mats and let your children create their own artwork with fabric crayons. A placemat can be made for each guest at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Your children will feel an important part of the festivities.

2. Make paper angels and have your children write short messages to each family member stating the things about that person for which they are thankful. Your children will have an opportunity to think beyond the commercialism of the day to appreciate the blessings they already have.

3. Start a cookie exchange among the neighborhood children. Your children can make a dozen cookies for each family in the neighborhood and deliver them wrapped in a colored tin. They can then sit back and weight to see the kind of cookie surprises come to their door!

4. Allow your children to make this year's Christmas cards. Simply buy blank cards at your favorite office supply store and let your children loose with magic markers. They can even compose a poem and message for each recipient.

5. Have your children come up with small tasks they can easily do - like taking out the trash. They can then write those tasks on plain paper angels they make themselves. Have them deliver the angels to elderly neighbors as a gift of sharing for the holiday season. Learning to give the gift of themselves can be the most valuable memory of the season!

Let your children become a vital part of the planning of the holiday season and not simply receivers of gifts. It will help them understand that giving can be as much fun (and more rewarding!) as receiving. And their memories of this holiday season may set a lifelong pattern ? which may be the best holiday present of all!

About The Author

Pamela Cole Harris is an editor and writer with 35 years experience. Visit her website, http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com, for her unique view of home decorating and remodeling (and a free monthly newsletter!). Or for original content unique to your website, written especially for your keywords and your audience, visit http://www.pamelacoleharris.com.

---

Its Party Time - Lets Decorate!

Holidays are here and so is the spirit of partying. Here are some wonderful ideas for transforming your home into an innovative party scenario and giving your... Read More

Holiday Survival Guide

The Holiday season has officially begun and Christmas is almost here. This is the time of year when most Americans are NOT beginning a new diet, rather... Read More

How to Reduce Your Stress this Christmas

In theory Christmas is a time that is filled with joy and celebration. A joyous holiday when you get together with loved ones and catch up, exchange... Read More

The Gingerbread Nightmare

Do you ever see those beautiful gingerbread houses during the holiday seasons that are so beautiful? They look so simple, and look like such a fun project... Read More

10 Tips for More Meaningful Holidays

No matter how many lists you make, cards you send, gifts you buy, or packages you wrap, there will be things you intended to do this holiday... Read More

Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is an exciting night for children and a busy time for their parents. With such excitement, it's easy for children to forget basic safety rules.When emotions... Read More

A Simple Little Holiday Plan

The Thanksgiving leftovers have all been eaten and the gift-buying season has shifted into high gear. Remain calm and prepare yourself for the most jam-packed month in... Read More

Mommy...Daddy...Is There Really A Santa Claus?

Is there really a Santa Claus? Any parent who hasn't been faced with this question most likely will at some point. But how do you answer this?... Read More

Dress To Impress! Find Your Sexy Halloween Costume And Shake What Your Mamma Gave You

Everyone loves to look and feel good, right? Well, why don't you shake what your mamma gave you, and find a sexy Halloween costume that will knock... Read More

Ready for Christmas? Enjoy an Organized Holiday This Year

1. Keep a stack of directions TO your place for people who need to know how to get to your home or office. This prevents you from... Read More

Gift Shopping Tips for Tight Budgets

Have you seen the prices of greeting cards lately? It is hideous! Once you purchase the card and gift-wrap, your overall cost can easily increase by $10... Read More

Cheap Christmas Gift Ideas

Now that the biggest shopping season of the year is in full swing it might be a good time to create a holiday budget. I'm sure there... Read More

Fun, Fireworks, & Flowers!

The 4th of July is a time for celebrating Freedom! Your local florist can create the perfect floral arrangement to celebrate this Independence Day! Flowers in Patriotic... Read More

Mothers Day Gift Ideas

Do you remember the days when your mother used to bring those surprise gifts for you? You just loved the sight of those big packages wrapped in... Read More

What Are And How To Use Free Ecard and Free Ecards

You can consider free ecards as being the same thing as normally greetings cards. The difference is that an ecard is an electronic card. The advantage of... Read More

5 Most Popular Styles of Christmas Ornaments

Traditionally Christmas ornaments were bulbs of all the same color which were placed randomly throughout your Christmas tree. Over the past few decades, Christmas ornaments have developed... Read More

Marching Towards Mothers Day

"Mother: the most beautiful word on the lips of mankind." -Kahil GibranThis coming Sunday is our "big day," moms. It's the one day a year when we... Read More

No More Ties! Homemade Fathers Day Gift Ideas

If you are like me, you never know what to get dad for Father's Day. Well, today, you'll get a few ideas that will get you out... Read More

Low On Cash For Christmas? Try Gifts in a Jar

Time is money, and right now you don't have either the time or the money to answer the call of the shopping mall at Christmas. The only... Read More

Contact Lenses for Halloween

It is never too soon to begin planning the perfect Halloween costume, and frequently the best ones require a lot of planning and special effects items. Luckily... Read More

Overcoming Loneliness this Christmas

Christmas is one of those times when the social norm is to get together with our families even if you never see them during the year. For... Read More

How To Choose The Hotel Thats Right For You

Getting the right hotel to spend one~s vacation at is one of the most difficult and costly parts of planning the vacation. It is really difficult if... Read More

Valentines Day Rapport

How to develop and heighten rapport on Valentines Day beyond your wildest dreams!With Valentines day on the doorstep for another year here is way of enhancing those... Read More

Fathers Day Origins and Inspiration

While mothers have had their special day since 1914, fathers have only recently officially received the recognition they so richly deserve. After all, dad is the pillar... Read More

Birthday Gift Baskets ? The Ideal Gift For Everyone!

No matter how old we are, we enjoy being remembered on that special day of the year that celebrates the day we were born! Birthdays are a... Read More

Where Have All The Wise Men Gone? Jesus Is Not Acceptable For Christmas!

It's CHRISTmas!Where are the wise men?WOW - The wise men are MISSING! What kind of Christmas is this anyway?Are you caught up in the "season" with this... Read More