Many families are facing financial crunches this year, with job layoffs, skyrocketing costs of gasoline, and the general all around increase in the cost of living. It is important to continue to give children the wonder and enjoyment of the holidays even when budgets scream to skimp. There are plenty of ways to bring holiday cheer to your home and not spend a lot of the green stuff. Here are some simple holiday pleasures to get your creative juices flowing.Make use of holiday craft ideas to decorate your home, make homemade gift-wrap and also to make homemade presents. Learn a new skill like sewing, crocheting or knitting so that you can make homemade gifts. Bead making is another popular craft that is ideal for presents.Sometimes you can discover a gift idea that your child really wants, that is within your budget such as an item that they are collecting, or a kit that they can make. Elementary school aged kids are especially into collecting and kit making.Take advantage of free holiday programs your community may be sponsoring this season. Parks, zoos and nature centers will often times have special holiday programs that are free to attend or participate in.
Make sure you pick up community flyers and notices.Kids love to do family activities together, especially during the holidays. Do activities like having a "cookie factory" day. A cookie factory day is when you purchase cooking fixins ahead of time, have you recipes ready and then designate a Saturday for all family members to gather around the kitchen table to make several batches of holiday cookies. Its fun to bake cookies together and afterwards you can set aside a plateful of cookies to munch with hot cocoa in front of a holiday TV program.A great holiday tradition around here is to go Christmas caroling around the neighborhood. You can also go to a community nursing or residential home and sing carols there. The elderly are often lonely during the holidays and would love to have visitors sing Christmas songs to them.Take some time during the holidays to help out those less fortunate then you by volunteering at a community soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or other needy project. You may consider asking your local hospital for individuals that may need to have some cheering up and visit those in the hospitals who may be away from home or whom are without relatives.Remember your furry friends during the holidays and visit animal shelters bringing with you extra blankets or little chew toys. Sometimes you can volunteer to walk the dogs there or play with the animals in cages that need exercising.
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