When my oldest kids were little, we started a new tradition. Before December begins, Mommy and Daddy wrap 24 Christmas Books. Every night of December, we allow one kid to open a package and either a parent or an older child reads the story to the family as we all sit around the Christmas tree, before bed.
It's such a sweet tradition... we may still do this when the kids are older. Every year I try to buy a new "surprise" book. But most are books that the kids have heard already. And as time goes along, I start weeding out the books that no longer appeal to the kids. For example, the Wiggles Christmas went on Freecycle this year. Ha ha!
I try to keep the books partly Christian and partly secular (Santa, reindeer, etc.) That's our choice. Then on December 24th or the morning of Christmas, we'll often read the story of Christ's birth in the Bible.
With four kids, how do we pick WHO gets to open the book (and pull out the goodies from the Advent Calendar)? Same way we choose who gets to say the prayer at dinner each night.
We have "person of the day"... our oldest gets days 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29. Second oldest gets days 2, 6, etc. And so on and so on.
Sorta reminds me of my preschool class and the Special Buddy of the day... only we don't do Show-And-Tell at home.
Christy, I did this and Eli is having so much fun. Emily (12) is absolutely loving it, but don't tell anyone.....
ReplyDeleteBen and Reagan love it too... they get to be readers some of the time. :)
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