Trimming the Christmas tree together can become a treasured family tradition. When trimming the tree with your kids, consider their ages and the tasks they can accomplish. You may want to do some of the steps on your own and involve the children only with hanging the ornaments and lighting the tree. Incorporate family traditions to make the experience meaningful. Play Christmas music while trimming the tree. Sing Christmas songs and drink hot chocolate after trimming the tree. Write letters to Santa by the glow of the tree lights. Choose activities that your family enjoys.
Step 1
Let your children help you choose a fresh tree; if you are using an artificial tree, let them help you decide where to put it in the house. Your child may be able to help with watering a fresh tree.
Step 2
Older children can help you put lights on the tree. Younger children can help with arranging the lights.
Step 3
Children can help place garland or tinsel on the tree. Even young children can put some garland or tinsel in place, or a chain of paper links they have made themselves.
Step 4
Even the youngest children can help hang ornaments. Encourage them to space the ornaments around the tree. Share stories about special ornaments and encourage the kids to tell you which ornaments are their favorites and why.
Step 5
Place the topper on the tree, lifting your child to help him reach the treetop. Children can also help with any finishing touches, such as a tree skirt or icicles.
Step 6
Let a child light the tree so you can all admire your handiwork.
Tips and Warnings
- When decorating the tree, allow kids decorative freedom. Resist the temptation to rearrange their decorations now or later. The joy of trimming the tree with kids is in sharing the experience, not in having a designer-perfect tree. Let the children make ornaments of their own before tree trimming.
- Keep fragile ornaments away from small children. Keep small ornaments and potential choking hazards away from small children.
Things You'll Need
- Tree and stand
- Lights and decorations
- Materials needed to carry out any family traditions
