Low level pre-holiday traditions for kids: In previous years, we did a Kindness Countdown with our kids, where we had one extra, kind thing to do each day on a paper chain and did the thing. But actually doing all the items was a heavy lift, even when we designed many of them to be low lift. Ideas of nice traditions to replace it?

Question

Melissa · Answer

Freeze cookie dough balls now - bake later: Last year, we made cookie dough ahead of time and froze the raw dough in balls. Then, each night we took out a cookie for each of us and baked it. It was a little effort on the ONE day, but each day after was low effort and tasty!

Sarah Beck · Answer

Adopt a family for Christmas: We do this through a local nonprofit organization. My kids love to shop (me too, lol) so it's both our holiday giving activity and something we enjoy doing. And it's only one thing!

Through the org we work with, you can also volunteer to deliver gifts to families (not your gifts specifically, but just be a runner for everyone's gifts!), which I think would be really lovely / meaningful for kids to be a part of.

We also do advent calendars, but it's just the ones with a piece of chocolate :) Low pressure low stakes.

Renee Okay · Answer

Buy a new ornament when they’re first displayed in local shops.: When our local shops start decking the halls, each kiddo is allowed to pick out one new ornament for the tree. We hang them in their room before we officially decorate. I love a hint of Christmas before fully decorating, and they love getting to place theirs on the tree when the time comes. We snap a photo of them with their yearly ornament, and my hope is they’ll have a nice collection of ornaments and photos for their first grown up home one day. Brb crying.