GUIDE: Eight ways to keep the magic of Christmas alive for parents of older children

From toddlers to somewhere around the turn of double digits, children are full of the sheer joy and wonderment that the festive season brings. Writing their wish list to Santa, leaving out mince pies and waking up at 5am on Christmas Day, totally unable to contain their excitement.

Then comes the pre-teen and teenage stage, where they’d rather lie in until 11am and watch Netflix in their room than take part in a family board game.

So, if you’ve got older kids, how do you keep the wide-eyed magic of Christmas alive?

1. Make your own family traditions and rituals

Having a tradition that’s unique to your family can make Christmas in your household feel that little bit more special. Whether it’s going carol singing on Christmas Eve, having chocolate for breakfast, or starting a family Christmas diary where everyone writes something about the year that’s just been, a tradition you can keep up year after year – no matter how big they get – can help keep the festive cheer alive.

Kids are in tune with their parents’ attitudes, so if you’re excited about Christmas – rather than stressed about the turkey or the in-laws visiting – they’ll mirror that.

2. Make time for festive activities out the house

We all love a classic Christmas film, but dragging them off the sofa and getting them out and about for a festive activity can work wonders. Take them ice skating, attend a Christmas funfair, and absolutely make sure you go on that bracing family walk – appreciating nature in all its amazing glory at winter is a different kind of magic.

3. Get crafting

The feeling of creating something from nothing is a joy at any age. Get in a load of arty supplies and all make a tree decoration each, some DIY Christmas ornaments or a wreath together. Make sure they know it’s the joy of creating that’s important, not the end result, and hang it proudly, even if it doesn’t go with your carefully curated festive decor theme.

4. If you can afford it, take them to Lapland

Even as an adult you can’t get away from the fact meeting Santa in his homeland, seeing reindeer in the wild and being pulled along on a dog sled by huskies, can make you re-fall in love with the pure magic of Christmas and everything it stands for when you’re five years old.

5. Get them involved in the food prep – but make it fun

If they’re in that awkward in between stage, they might like to feel like one of the grown ups at Christmas. Give them the responsibility of a dish to make all by themselves (and pretend to love it even if it’s a disaster), or do some Christmas baking with them – then go around to the neighbours’ houses and give out badly decorated snowman cookies together.

6. Get teens involved in helping keep the magic alive for younger kids 

When you become a parent, creating that magic for your little one puts a whole new meaning into Christmas, and if there are older and much younger children in the family or wider family, getting them involved in helping create some festive joy can help remind them what Christmas is really about. Ask them to set up a ‘flight path’ of tea lights in jam jars for Santa outside the house, or get them to make big footprints in icing sugar in the garden.

7. Help them see that the magic of Christmas includes giving to those less fortunate

Yes, they might be thrilled to get the latest Playstation or a voucher for their favourite store, but try not to make Christmas entirely materialistic. Help them recognise their good fortune but encouraging them to choose some of their own things they no longer use or need and take them to a charity together, or take them shopping to choose some toys for a charity shoebox to send to a child in poverty.

You could even volunteer together at a shelter or take your kids with you to give out hot drinks and food to homeless people. Alternatively, have a ‘good deed day’ over Christmas where every member of the family – however big or small – thinks of an act of kindness to do.

8. Light a candle for anyone you’re missing this Christmas

The tradition of lighting candles for someone who has died dates back before the practice was even adopted by some religions, and whatever your beliefs, it can be a comforting way to mark the memory of someone at Christmas time. You could light a candle at midnight on Christmas Eve at home, or make some time to remember someone in a different way – whatever feels natural for your family.