Give Your Kids the Best Holiday Ever Using These 5 Senses

With all the madness of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday upon us, it is easy to forget that when the toys are broken and the warranties on those gadgets have expired, all kids really have are their Christmas memories. During the holidays, our biggest job as a mom is to try to give our kids plenty of good feelings that will create a sense of nostalgia for them at holiday time for many years to come. Here are some simple ways to give your kids the best holiday ever by appealing to their 5 senses.

‍Sight - Decorate the tree and home in Christmas decor. Take them to see the Nutcracker and watch all the classic Christmas movies over a warm cup of hot chocolate. Snuggle under a warm blanket and watch a few classics like Rudolph and Frosty to start things off. They'll see the joys of Christmas all around them.

‍Touch – Get them using their hands by making gingerbread houses, baking cookies, and helping them to trim the tree. This is a tradition they can hand down to their kids one day. The best part of the holiday is the magic and ambiance we create around us using our very own hands.

‍Taste - The gingerbread house and cookies are edible. Give them a delicious cup of eggnog to go along with the sweets and they’ll really start to feel like they’re in a winter wonderland. Let them feast on holiday foods and snacks. It’s a good time to indulge a bit. The New Year is fast approaching, so there will be time to get back on track.

‍Smell –Smell is one of the strongest senses attached to memory other than hearing. Light a few candles that smell of pine, cinnamon or other Christmas scents. When your kids smells those scents in years to come, it’ll bring the good feelings of the holiday flooding back to them.

‍Hear – Be sure to play lots of Christmas Music. When we’re in the car, I make sure to play the Christmas music station. Christmas classics like Jingle Bell Rock, Silent Night and This Christmas are all I need to get me in the spirit. Sound is also one of the strongest senses attached to memory. By playing those songs for them, they’ll always have a way to access the best the holidays had to offer. Most importantly, they'll remember you're the one who made all the magic happen.

How do you create warm Christmas memories for your kids?