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Christmas

Make This a December to Remember

a collage of four holiday photos including a mom and daughter tobogganing

By Sharla Kostelyk

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It’s no secret that 2020 has been a hard year. Coming up to Christmas, you may be feeling a mix of emotions. This year, your holiday celebrations and traditions may look very different than past years. But there are ways to make the best of it and make this a December to remember.three people looking in a window at a Christmas display. Text reads "A December to Remember"My friend Courtney from Click-it-up-a-Notch has designed a course called A December to Remember. This course will help you capture the moments and memories this holiday season and ensure you never forget.

Courtney has a gift for simplifying photography tricks. She allows moms to feel confident in forever preserving those treasured moments.

We all know that kids grow up too fast. Even by next year, they will have changed. That’s what makes photos such a blessing. 

If you struggle with things like:

  • how to capture a good shot when your subject (aka busy child!) is constantly in motion
  • memorializing those candid moments without it feeling forced
  • taking good photos by the tree or Christmas lights
  • the inspiration to document the moments before they’re gone
  • getting that group shot without everyone feeling frustrated
  • knowing how to create a heartwarming video using your phone camera
  • taking memorable photos of the people and traditions you love,

then this is for you!

collage of four Christmas photos including a baby in front of a treeI know that this Christmas and the weeks leading up to it might look very different than you’re wishing they did. But I also know that you can make the best of them.

Create new family traditions.

  • Do a holiday puzzle.
  • Play board games.
  • Watch Christmas movies snuggled under blankets.
  • Make a hot cocoa bar. 
  • Read a novel together every night.
  • Bake cookies.
  • Go toboganning.
  • Decorate gingerbread houses.
  • Sponsor a less fortunate family for the holidays.

a collage of four holiday photos including a mom and daughter tobogganing

Then capture those new traditions as well as some of your old ones using your amazing new photography skills. (there are also holiday video tips in there too…)

I’ve learned so much from Courtney and I’m sure you will too!

For those who want to get a jump start and just take the course now, Courtney is offering a $30 off discount for my readers with the code: CHAOS.

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Filed Under: Christmas

12 Days of Christmas Giveaways 2020

excited girl in purple coat stands in front of a decorated Christmas tree. Text "12 Days of Christmas Giveaways"

By Sharla Kostelyk

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I want you to know that I appreciate you. If it weren’t for you, my readers, I wouldn’t get to do what I do. I love being able to write and share things that hopefully make a small bit of difference out in the world. 

You reading and interacting and sharing what I write allows me to keep doing that. Not only does it help support my family (those pesky ads actually help pay our groceries 😉), it also gives me the motivation to keep writing, to keep sharing. excited girl in purple coat stands in front of a decorated Christmas tree. Text "12 Days of Christmas Giveaways"As a sign of my appreciation, I decided to host 12 Days of Christmas giveaways. I know 2020 has been a hard year for many of us. I also know that a few free prizes aren’t going to make up for all that loss. But they might bring a bit of extra cheer. They are a nice distraction too.

I thought a lot about what you might want. While I may not know each of you personally, I hear from many of you.

I know that you likely hold some of these traits:

  • care deeply for a child or children
  • kind
  • overwhelmed
  • hard working
  • parent, grandparent, educator, or therapist
  • fierce advocates
  • put the needs of others first
  • tendency to neglect your own self-care

So it stands to reason that you are TIRED. 

I’m right there with you.

While I can’t afford to hire you a maid or nanny, I’ve tried to choose things for the giveaway that will bring a smile, make your life a tiny bit easier, or allow you to better practise self-care.

I’m so excited! Wait until you see all the amazing prizes!

It’s actually hard for me to keep this secret and not spill the beans about what’s included each of the days…

2020 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway

I am so grateful for my readers, especially this year. In the midst of so many challenges and uncertainty, you have been a bright spot for me. I’ve watched you pivot and adapt in order to help the kids you care about. I’m so proud of all of you!

I wish that I had unlimited resources and could do something extravagant to help you. Consider these 12 days of giveaways and freebies a small token of my appreciation for who you are and what you do.excited girl in purple coat stands in front of a decorated Christmas tree. Text "12 Days of Christmas Giveaways"

How it works:

Every day from December 1-12, come back to this page. You will find a new giveaway “unlocked” each of those days.

If you missed entering the previous days, you can still enter those draws by visiting each of those pages and participating in the giveaway. 

You can enter each one of the giveaways, giving you 12 chances to win!

All giveaways will end on December 12, 2020 at 11:59 Pacific time. You must be entered before this time to qualify. 

Winners will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address or another winner will be drawn.

1rst Day of Christmas Giveaway

My Favourite Things

I’ve compiled a list of my favourite things of 2020. The winner of this draw will receive one of each of the items. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Click here for a chance to win MY FAVOURITE THINGS.

2nd Day of Christmas Giveaway

A December to Remember

white circle overlay on dark background. Text reads "12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 2"Click here for a chance to win A December to Remember.

3rd Day of Christmas Giveaway

Sensory Tools

white circle overlaid on top of another photo. Text reads "12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 3"Click here for a chance to win 3 Amazing Sensory Tools.

4th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Sensory Bin Starter Kit

circle overlay on a photo of hands playing with pompoms. Text reads "12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 4"Click here for a chance to win a Sensory Bin Starter Kit.

5th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Family Fun Night

Click here to enter for a chance to win what you need to create a Fun Family Night.

6th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Learning Resourcescircle overlay on a picture of a girl in a pink shirt working on a computerClick for a chance to win 7 incredible learning resources.

7th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Christmas cheer

Enter for a chance to win a bit of extra Christmas cheer.

8th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Special Needs Resourcescircle overlay on a photo of blue string lights. Text reads "12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 8"Visit and enter for your chance to win some great Special Needs Resources.

9th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Happy at Homecircle overlay on photo of lady. Text reads "12 Days of Christmas Giveaways Day 9"Visit and enter for your chance to win items to help increase your happiness.

10th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Sanity Savers for Busy Moms

circle overlay on photo of woman sitting at table

Enter to win these Sanity Savers for Busy Moms.

11th Day of Christmas Giveaway

Echo Dotcircle overlay on photo

Visit this page and enter for your chance to win an Echo Dot.

12th Day of Christmas Giveaway

circle overlay on photo of a gift

Today I’m giving away $100 Amazon gift card or $100 sent through PayPal. If you live in the USA or Canada, you can choose between the gift card and the money. If you live anywhere else in the world, I will send the $ through PayPal.

Simply enter in the Rafflecopter entry form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Filed Under: Christmas

Christmas Movie Bingo

green and white holiday bingo card

By Sharla Kostelyk

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Watching sappy, predictable holiday movies has long been a part of our Christmas traditions. Last year, we discovered that watching is even more fun if paired with Christmas Movie Bingo!red and white grid text reads "Christmas Movie Bingo FREE Printable Bingo Cards"My girls and I like to curl up in our pyjamas or our matching Christmas movie watching shirts in front of the TV. Add in some holiday baking or popcorn and hot chocolate and you have the recipe for a relaxing afternoon.

Those Hallmark Christmas movies can be a wee bit addictive! Often, before we know it, the whole day has slipped by.

The reason it’s so much more fun to watch with your bingo cards in hand is it makes the predictability of the movies even funnier. 

Hallmark Christmas Movie Bingo:

Supplies needed: 

  • Christmas Movie Bingo Cards (download yours here)
  • marker, bingo daubers, or holiday stickers to cover the game squares

Directions:

  1. Download and print out the bingo cards. 
  2. As you watch holiday movies, mark all the squares that apply.
  3. The winner is either the first person to fill five in a row OR you can just keep watching movies until you’re able to fill in every square on the cards.

So print off those bingo cards, pop some popcorn, get a mug of hot cocoa, and get ready to binge watch this season’s best!green and white holiday bingo card

Last year, my girls and I filled out all the squares on our cards.

That’s an awful lot of TV watching (!), but we sometimes made ornaments or iced cookies while we watched. One year, we rolled croquettes during the shows and the cheesy romance films were a great distraction for a tedious task. 

If you want to give prizes to the winner, you can choose holiday themed treats like candy canes or holiday baking. And instead of yelling out “Bingo”, you can choose a word more fitting to the theme like “Mistletoe”!

Sign up to receive your free Christmas Movie Bingo and you’ll also receive our email series 5 Secrets to Powerful Family Connection.

If you’re looking for other family holiday fun, you’ll want to check these out:

Christmas Minute to Win It Games

Christmas Printable Activities

Christmas Games for Kids

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Filed Under: Christmas, Family Games

Christmas Games for Kids

By Sharla Kostelyk

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These fun Christmas games for kids can be played at in the classroom, at holiday parties, or at home with family. They are simple to set up and provide hours of possibilities. We like to add activities to all our holiday events. Laughing together as a family is a wonderful way to create memories.a collage of images of different holiday activities with text that reads "Christmas Games for Kids"

Easy Christmas party games for kids make great ice breakers. Everyone can focus on the fun and before long, laughter ensues and new friendships are made.

Christmas Games for Kids:

By far our family’s favourite are the Christmas Minute to Win It games. They are hilarious to play and so easy and inexpensive to set up. Great for all ages!

The printable Christmas Who Am I? Game at Childhood 101 is kind of like a holiday version of the popular game Hedbanz.

I’m a huge fan of the cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies. So huge in fact that I just ordered myself this shirt to wear this cheesy-movie-watching season! If you’re also a fan, you’re gonna love our Christmas Movie Bingo. And y’all? These bingo cards are funny. If you’ve seen a lot of the movies, you know there’s a formula and some common themes which is what makes these cards so clever.

The Saran Wrap Ball Game is always a hit. Everyone wins something so it’s great for all ages. It’s easy to set up and you can make it have a holiday theme.collage of photos of making a ball of plastic wrap filled with prizesSilliness will abound with these Christmas Movies Emoji Game printable pages from Play Party Plan.

Roll a Santa with help from the printable game at Kiddy Charts.

The whole family can participate in Christmas Charades with the printable cards from Teach Beside Me. It’s a great game if you have a group with a variety of ages.

Get cards to play Christmas Charades at Childhood 101.

Snowman Twister is an adorable activity for kids. It’s easy to set up and tons of fun. This would be really cute for a children’s party.

Sunny Day Family shares a fun Christmas Music Bingo for families with three variations.

The Christmas Bingo sets from Rock Your Homeschool are so cute and kids can use jingle bells as their marker.

You can find another version of Christmas Bingo on Sunshine and Hurricanes.

Holiday entertainment doesn’t have to be expensive. You can find a free printable North Pole MixUp Christmas Game to play at Line Upon Line Learning.

If you’re looking for a holiday classroom activity, try Fun Learning for Kids’ Gingerbread Board Game. It can be edited for math or literacy centers.

This idea for a Gift Tag Memory Game from Play, Teach, Repeat is so simple to set up.

The Magnet Bell Christmas Game on Teach Beside Me combines learning with fun.

Christmas Tin Can Bowling is a familiar activity with a holiday spin from Red Ted Art.

Play Christmas Tree I-Spy Ornament with the printable from Joy in the Works.

Pin the Reindeer Nose is demonstrated on Red Ted Art.

If you’re looking for something to play one-on-one with your child, this Christmas Matching Memory Game from Simple Everyday Mom is perfect.

Set up a simple Gingerbread Scavenger Hunt.

Christmas Board Games:

The Santa Claus GameThe Santa Claus GameThe Santa Claus GameChristmas Scavenger Hunt GameChristmas Scavenger Hunt GameChristmas Scavenger Hunt GameChristmas TriviaChristmas TriviaChristmas TriviaPin The Nose on The Snowman Christmas ActivityPin The Nose on The Snowman Christmas ActivityPin The Nose on The Snowman Christmas ActivityTis The Season Christmas Trivia GameTis The Season Christmas Trivia GameTis The Season Christmas Trivia GameSpot It! HolidaySpot It! HolidaySpot It! HolidayChristmas-opolyChristmas-opolyChristmas-opolySanta's Sleigh RideSanta’s Sleigh RideSanta's Sleigh Ride

Printable Holiday Activities:

Keep kids occupied while you’re busy baking or wrapping with these free printable Christmas activities. You’ll find games, countdown calendars, learning activities, and colouring sheets.

Christmas Wonderland Roll and Cover Game – Simple Fun for Kids

Christmas Doodles I Spy Game – And Next Comes L

Printable Christmas Games Coloring Workbook – Darcy and Brian

Christmas Kindness Countdown Chain – Coffee and Carpool

Rudolph Word Search – Baby Budgeting

Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt – Empowered Single Moms

Roll and Colour Christmas Game – Picklebums

Printable Elf Jokes – Artsy Fartsy Mama

Snowglobe Activity Sheets for Kids – Crafts on Sea

Roll a Santa Numeracy Game – Kiddy Charts

Christmas Acts of Kindness – Learn in Color

The Best Wish List for Kids – Pint-Sized Treasures

Free Printable Advent Calendar Activities – Real Life at Home

Printable Christmas Mazes for Kids – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Christmas Word Scramble – Crayons and Cravings

Free Printable Christmas Coloring Sheets – Sarah Titus

Printable Grinch Countdown to Christmas – Three Little Ferns

Free Christmas Rhymes – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Find and Colour Christmas Doodle – Your Therapy Source

Christmas Addition and Subtraction Cards – Living Life and Learning

Spin and Cover Christmas Math – 3 Dinosaurs

Christmas Language Arts Pack – Real Life at Home

Christmas Ornament Sorting – PreKinders

Elf Paper Puppet – Red Ted Art

Christmas Coding STEAM Activity – J Daniel 4’s Mom

Free Christmas Playdough Mats – 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Printable Cards – For Modern Kids

Looking for more ideas for family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

Be sure to check out:

You can also find 26 Christmas Party Games for adults and children.

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Filed Under: Christmas, Family Games

On the Go Christmas Sensory Tub

By Sharla Kostelyk

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The holidays are full of excitement. They also carry with them their fair share of stress, even for kids. It’s with that in mind that we created this On the Go Christmas Sensory Tub.

Sensory play can be very calming for kids. Being able to take something like this with them to events or in the vehicle can help your child better manage their emotions. It would also make a good addition to their Christmas Calm Down Kit. red and white sand with green jingle bells and clear gems with text "On the Go Christmas Sensory Tub"The items for this portable sensory activity were all purchased at the Dollar Store, so it is very inexpensive to create.

The red and white sand swirled together gives a bit of a candy cane look. The jingle bells add a sound element as well as giving a nice contrast of colour.

On the Go Christmas Sensory Tub:

Supplies needed:

  • plastic container with lid
  • white sand
  • red sand
  • white round beads
  • clear gems
  • green jingle bells
  • scoop or spoon

Directions:

  1. In a bowl, mix together the red and white sand.
  2. Toss in the other materials. Mix together.
  3. Transfer into portable containers with lids.

As with all sensory activities, adult supervision should be used at all times.

Helpful tip: If you’re wanting to use this in the vehicle and are worried about mess or spills, you can transfer the contents to a resealable bag and seal to create a Christmas Sensory Bag.

This on the go Christmas Sensory Tub engages the visual, tactile, and auditory (because of the jingle bells) sensory systems.

Check out these other holiday sensory activities:

Fill an Ornament Sensory Bag

Deconstructed Christmas Tree Sensory Bottle

Christmas Gifts Sensory Bin

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Filed Under: Christmas Tagged With: sensory bin, sensory play

Snowballs and Jingle Bells Sensory Bag

By Sharla Kostelyk

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Looking for an easy holiday themed sensory activity for your kids? This Snowballs and Jingle Bells Sensory Bag is portable and simple to create. It uses items purchased from the Dollar Store, so it’s also inexpensive.

clear plastic bag filled with red and green rocks, gold jingle bells, and frosted balls with text "Snowballs & Jingle Bells sensory bag"Snowballs & Jingle Bells Sensory Bag:

Supplies:

  • clear plastic resealable bags
  • red glitter gravel
  • green glitter gravel
  • gold jingle bells
  • small frosted decorative balls
  • optional: holiday duct tape

Directions:

    1. Mix together red and green glitter gravel.
    2. Drop in the frosted “snow”balls and jingle bells.
    3. Stir. Add into resealable bags and seal.
    4. If you’re going to use this with smaller children, you can seal the edges by folding over holiday themed duct tape.

Tip to expand the activity:

You can also make this into a sensory bin either before putting the items into bags or after by dumping the bag contents into a bowl or plastic tub. Toss in a scoop or a few spoons and you have a Christmas sensory bin!

This snowballs and jingle bells sensory bag offers visual, tactile, proprioceptive, and auditory sensory input. Important note: As with all sensory activities, adult supervision should be used at all times even if you’ve sealed the edges shut. Note that the glitter gravel can have sharp edges and can sometimes cut through the bag.

Check out these other Christmas themed sensory bags:

Nativity Sensory Bag

Fill an Ornament Christmas Sensory Bag

Christmas Sensory Bag

 

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Filed Under: Christmas Tagged With: sensory bags, sensory play

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