Make a Meaningful Holiday Season

December really is a wonderful time of the year. Twinkly lights strung around town, wreaths hung on neighbors’ doors, the jolly atmosphere that holiday music brings. Most importantly of all, it’s a time for family togetherness. This season offers families a valuable chance to make some great memories. How can such a value be shared with the children in the family? How can you make the holiday less about the presents under the tree and more about family time? We’ve thought of some tips to help make your holiday season more meaningful to the lil ones.

• Make traditions: Create something your kids can look forward to every year besides the presents. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or expensive. The little things can sometimes be the most memorable. Your tradition could be reading a fun Christmas book on Christmas Eve or decorating cookies for Santa.
• Find holiday activities: Are you finding your family holed up in various rooms, stuck to iPads and TV shows? Get out of the house and do something fun together! Whether it be looking at the holiday lights, going to a holiday parade or crafting presents – you can surely find something to do together that your kids will remember.
• Be thankful: It’s a time to be grateful. No matter your beliefs or religion, it’s a special time to remember what you have. Share with the rest of your family the ways in which you are appreciative and have your kids do the same.
• Give back: Teach your children the value of giving as well as receiving. Not only can giving back show your children that they should be thankful for what they have, it also teaches them to spread the kindness. This can mean volunteering at a toy drive, helping out at a homeless shelter or even spreading joy by caroling.

  Founded in 1972 by Chuck and Jackie Leopold, Minnieland Academy has provided Virginia families with the best early childhood education and care for over 40 years. We have over 60 schools that serve infants through school age children, helping them develop in a loving environment. We believe that learning is fun, and our Kid Steps curriculum provides age appropriate education at every level of their growth.

  We welcome you to visit one of our schools and become part of the Minnieland Academy Family!     http://www.minnieland.com