Last year, I created a Christmas bucket list for our family of five. With a 4-year-old, 3-year-old, and 1-year-old, I worked to make sure the list was simple yet meaningful. And worthwhile. My list started out with several memory-making activities that I knew would be a hit. Then we did our first bullet point, and I quickly realized I needed to re-write the list.
After a bit of brainstorming and eliminating, I narrowed our list down to six activities. And I’m happy to say we completed all six with memories in-hand. And I plan to make a Christmas bucket list this year, as well. Now, I’m sharing five tips to help you make your own family list!
Keep it simple.
When it comes to small children, everything needs to be simple. Otherwise, “plans” turn into a headache-causing, tantrum-inducing nightmare for everyone. Look for fun—yet easy—activities for all ages.
Limit the bullet points.
I stuck to six activities, and that was enough. We completed them each one and had fun. But any more than that would have been too much. Less is more in this case.
Cater to everyone.
I picked things that I wanted to do and activities I knew my kids would love to do. By eliminating the things that didn’t quite fit the bill for my kids, we were able to concentrate on the fun, thoughtful, memory-making activities.
Record it!
Take pictures. Journal. Make videos. Use social media. Whatever your jam is, make sure you give this bucket list special attention in your family’s memory. And keep your list too!
Think creatively.
I had big intentions of making homemade sugar cookie dough, using our cookie cutters, and decorating them. Then a friend invited us to her family’s cookie decorating party, and I happily switched gears. Less mess for me, and we still found a way to cross something off our bucket list.
Creating a family Christmas bucket list helps beat the no-school boredom that often comes from a holiday break. Plus, it’s a great way to spend quality time with those you love most at this special time of year.
