This is not a drill.
The countdown to Christmas is officially down to four days! The Christmas magic is in full effect over here!
I am more excited about Christmas this year than any year before. Sure, I was excited one year ago when my two-year-old was happily opening gifts with no real understanding of why. It was magical to see his face light up after I quietly pulled the tree together while he napped one afternoon. But this year is something else.
This post could contain affiliate links, which means I would receive a small commission at no cost to you should you shop using the links.
This year he is on his toes awaiting Santa’s arrival and the departure of his new friend Elf on The Shelf. Plus, this year he helped put the tree up and decorated it 100% by himself.
My husband and I both agreed the tree is now his and his brothers, for many years to come. We had a good run of decorating our Christmas tree the exact way we wanted for years. Now, it is in the hands of a three-year-old and his five-month-old brother (he just doesn’t know it yet).
Although we let him pick out an ornament from the store and we have both his and his brother’s Baby’s First Christmas bulbs high up on the tree, the remainder of the ornaments were created by his two little hands this year. Starting December 1st we have been nonstop Christmas music, movies, and crafts.
Our favorite kid-friendly Christmas crafts this year included:
The paper mache ornaments and Santa sleigh are both great for kids to do on their own, 100%. The paper mache ornaments were the first to make it to the tree and were a major hit with him to create. He painted and then added fun snowflakes and gemstone stickers all on his own.
Although we had a 12-day advent calendar of ornaments, it only took him two days to excitedly open and create each one. He felt the Christmas spirit. Plus, the tree was a little bare! This Advent Calendar is a great choice for kids, although at just 3 years old he did need assistance with the gluing.
I wish I had a photo of the calendar prior to making the ornaments. My kid opened it with such enthusiasm that the entire thing looked like a dumpster fire before I could snap a photo. I mean what I say when I tell you he was excited and felt the Christmas spirit.
Who can blame him, Santa is coming!
Although we 100% encouraged him to place all the ornaments he made on the large family tree, they have slowly made their way onto his small Christmas tree in his playroom. No surprise there. They’re his ornaments after all, and I plan on carefully packing them away to display once again next year. Along with new ones he and his brother will create together, of course.
The best thing my husband and I did this year was let go of our Christmas tree and put it in the hands of our three-year-old. There is more magic in the sporadically placed hand-made ornaments than there is in any year prior’s perfectly placed store-bought ornaments. There is something so endearing about your child excitedly decorating the Christmas tree for the first time. Especially with ornaments that they are excited over and proud to show off.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
