Reliving Childhood Memories at Christmastime

They say Christmas is for kids, but those memories we made as children are often a large part of what makes the holidays so fun, even as adults. This Christmas, take some time to relive childhood memories with your own kids to make sure they grow up with fond ones of their own. After all, there is no better time than Christmas to feel like a kid again.

Set aside a day for baking and decorating holiday cookies. Even if baking isn’t your thing, you can still have fun with your little ones. For one day of the year let your inhibitions go and make a mess, decorating cookies with crazy designs and eating your festive creations. You may have a lot of cleaning to do after, but you’ll also have great new memories.

If you settled down in a different climate than you grew up in, plan a family trip to your hometown — or someplace similar — so your family can experience your memory of Christmas as a child. If you grew up surrounded by snow and now call Southern California home, rent a mountain cabin for the holidays and experience a white Christmas, teaching your little ones how to make snow angels and build snowmen. If you live in the Midwest but came from a warmer climate, head to the beach for Christmas so the whole family can enjoy sand between their toes instead of snow on their eyelashes.

Christmas traditions with family. Photo: Aleksandr Zamuruev | Dreamstime.com

If you grew up in a house filled with visiting family members during the holidays, invite distant family to stay with you or go stay with a relative to remember what it was like having loved ones (and some not-so-loved ones) around to share in the holiday fun. While close quarters with extended family can often be stressful, it also provides a multitude of family Christmas memories to bring out the nostalgia in everyone.

Sing some Christmas carols with the family. If there is one thing everyone remembers from their childhood, it’s Christmas carols. Even for those who don’t celebrate the holiday, picking up a song or two is practically unavoidable. When all of the other reindeer laugh and call Rudolph names it brings out those stored memories so get out the hot cocoa, sit around the Christmas tree and sing some of your favorites.

Let loose and let your inner child out — you just might enjoy yourself a little.