Christmas is a magical time of year and as your kids get older you want to hold onto the magic as long as you can. As a parent, you’ll do anything you can to hold onto that magic and that starts with helping to keep the legend of Santa Claus alive. Here are a few creative and fun ways to keep the magic of Santa alive for your kids:
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Santa’s Letters
Have your children write letters to Santa Claus each year, detailing their Christmas wishes and good deeds. You can enhance this tradition by having Santa write back! Create a personalized letter from Santa. Some services even offer postmarked letters from the North Pole to make it extra authentic.
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Santa’s Workshop
Transform a part of your home into “Santa’s Workshop” where the kids can “help” Santa by wrapping gifts, making decorations, or creating handmade presents. You can set up a small craft station with tools and materials that elves might use. This activity not only keeps the Santa myth alive but also involves your kids in the spirit of giving and creativity.
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Santa’s Footprints
On Christmas Eve, after the kids have gone to bed, create Santa’s snowy footprints leading from the fireplace (or door) to the Christmas tree. Use flour, baking soda, or even a mix of cornstarch and glitter to make the footprints. Seeing these magical prints in the morning will add an extra layer of excitement and mystery.
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Santa Cam
Install a “Santa Cam” in your living room, explaining to your kids that it’s a special camera that captures Santa’s visit. While it doesn’t actually record anything, you can use this to emphasize good behavior leading up to Christmas. On Christmas morning, you can create a story around how Santa was captured on the cam, perhaps by leaving a note from Santa mentioning how he noticed their good deeds.
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Santa’s Favorite Treats
Instead of just leaving milk and cookies for Santa, you can make it more personalized by figuring out Santa’s favorite treats. For example, perhaps Santa loves a special type of cookie that your family bakes every year. You can also include carrots for the reindeer or even a little note thanking Santa for his hard work.
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Reindeer Food
Involve your kids in preparing special “reindeer food” to sprinkle on the lawn on Christmas Eve. This could be a mixture of oats and glitter (or edible alternatives for wildlife safety), which helps guide Santa’s reindeer to your home. This small ritual adds to the excitement and belief in Santa’s visit.
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Track Santa’s Journey
On Christmas Eve, use a Santa tracker website or app to follow Santa’s journey around the world in real-time. Kids can watch as Santa makes his way closer to their house, building anticipation. This also provides a great opportunity to teach them about geography as they learn about different countries where Santa is delivering presents.
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Elf on the Shelf
If you haven’t already, introduce your kids to the Elf on the Shelf tradition. The idea is that Santa sends an elf to your home to keep an eye on things and report back to him each night. Every morning, the elf appears in a different spot, sometimes getting into mischievous situations. Kids will love waking up each day to discover where their elf has moved and what antics they’ve been up to.
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Santa’s Sleigh Bells
On Christmas Eve, just after the kids have gone to bed, ring some sleigh bells outside their bedroom windows or in the hallway. The sound of Santa’s sleigh bells jingling through the night will be a magical memory they’ll cherish, convincing them that Santa is indeed on his way.
These ideas not only keep the belief in Santa alive but also deepen the sense of magic and wonder that makes Christmas such a special time for children.