Todays' Family

I have seen this poem many times throughout the years. As a matter of fact, I laminate it and give it to parents at the beginning of every school year with a recommendation of hanging it on their fridge. Every time I see it I think "It is so simple, but hard to remember!"

Sometimes it is those really simple things that make a huge difference in the life of a child. This is a very busy time of year. Between school, work, activities, dinners, gift buying, baking, and everything else that comes up, it is easy to put the most important things in your life on the backburner. Here are some easy ways to include your children in the season. Including your kids not only shows them that you want to spend time with them, but it gives you a chance to get some good conversations in and sneak in some extra praise!

1. Include the kids in holiday preparation. This can be making cookies, table place settings, or even wrapping presents. The easier, the better. Nothing has to be from scratch. Take advantage of premade sugar cookie dough. It gives you more time for the fun parts, cutting out shapes and decorating! Younger children who can't help you wrap presents can draw on plain wrapping paper. It really comes out cute and is so personal.

2. Include kids in past holiday memories. Don't keep your memories to yourself! Half the fun of putting up decorations is opening up a big box and not remembering what is inside of it. I always think it is amazing when I forget what I have in just one year. Just like pulling out an ornament that reminds you of a past Christmas, so do the photos from year to year. Take the time to do this with your children. I love to show my kids pictures of past holidays that they were too young to remember. It shows them how much they were cared for from the beginning. Tell them stories of things they used to do that made you laugh or things that happened that day that you will never forget. They will love hearing them!

3. Include your kids by giving them choices. Ask your kids what they want to do before the season is over. It doesn't have to be expensive. It can be a game night, renting a family favourite, driving around and looking at the lights, or drinking hot cocoa by the fire. Some families spend so much time and money on "extravagant memories"; these are nice, but not necessary. Do you want to see your kids light up? Surprise them by meeting them at school for lunch or cancelling an errand packed day to do something that they choose.

Like I said before, sometimes it is easy to overlook the simple, more meaningful gestures. It is November and the time has quickly come upon us. It isn't too late to take advantage of the holiday opportunities to connect with your children. You may be giving them more than you know!

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Margie Manion is parenting expert. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a double major in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Development. She taught for several years. Then went on to marry her college sweetheart. They have two beautiful boys who are the the center of their world. Margie taught in the classroom for 4 years until she quit to stay home with her two boys. During this time, as a parent educator with the Parents As Teachers program ashe did a local parenting segment, weekly, with WDAF Fox 4 in Kansas City. She is currently a frequest guest on FNC and is back in the classroom teaching 3rd grade in Liberty, MO, as well as promoting her invention and book (Zoom Spoon and "Zoom Spoon and Finicky Philip the Picky Eater" which can be found at www.zoomspoon.com ).

Margie wants you to know that, "I am very passionate about what I do. I know that parenting is the hardest and most important job in the world! I would like to reach as many parents as possible to help them to take extra steps to make their parenting experience a positive one! There is no such thing as the "perfect parent" it is an ongoing process and it is never to late to try something new!"