If you are looking forward to getting out of the house this season, rather than staying in during all of those vacation days, why not take your kid and a few of his best pals out to the movies. This is a perfect birthday and/or holiday outing, especially if movie tickets are found in your stocking.

This is really easy to put together as well. Casually, call up a few of your kids’ friends’ parents and see if they wouldn’t mind an afternoon on their own while you take them to the show. I bet most will be more than happy to have their children go to the movies. Make sure that the kids have enough money for their ticket and a treat at the movie. If this is a part of a birthday party, then most people will expect the host to pay for the whole outing, but if it is a holiday outing make sure the kids have the money they will need.

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Do you remember the movie A Christmas Story from 1983? It’s the tale of Ralphie Parker who desperately wants a BB gun for Christmas. Ralphie has to beg his parents, and his Mom is never quite convinced it’s a good thing while his Dad thinks boys will be boys. Ralphie has lots to handle during the holiday season, including a bully that may or may not get him to Christmas day and his BB Gun.

Of course, during the story, everyone tells Ralphie “You’ll shoot your eye out” with a BB Gun, but it doesn’t dissuade Ralphie from wanting his very own.  If you have school-aged kids, perhaps they would like to watch this tale.  Since 1983, it’s not so fashionable to have a BB gun on hand, but the movie is still popular.

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The seven days from December 26 to January 1, is celebrated as Kwanzaa by the African-American community to celebrate both their heritage and shared community values.  Each day a principle is upheld and celebrated.  These seven principles include: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith.  Clearly, these are universal values that all children can learn from during the holiday season.

Each day discuss the principle and what it means for your family and children.  You can also have some fun with the celebration by doing activities that embrace these principles, i.e. write a story about being determined, make a poster that shows ways of being responsible in your neighborhood, feed the homeless one day, set up a small business to earn money, e.g. sell hot chocolate!  Each day a new activity can be done to embrace the principles.  The kids can even determine their own activities after you have discussed the principle.

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It’s a great time of year to make a festive holiday menu – whether for a holiday party, an informal gathering, tree trimming, and beyond – it’s easy to take what you have around your kitchen and make it merry and bright for your kids.

Check out these easy holiday menu ideas to keep ‘em happy this season:

Use festive cookie cutters to cut out yummy sandwiches filled with anything that is easy, cream cheese and strawberry jam would be festive

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Here are more clues to keep the kids guessing during your annual holiday treasure hunt:

Cocoa: Creamy and frothy, a delectable treat with chocolate chips and peppermint sticks!

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If you are looking for the names of Santa’s 8 Reindeer, here they are: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen … and, of course, Rudolph leads them with his bright red nose!

Speaking of, I think it’s about time to curl up on the couch and watch Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  I love those holiday classics!  Don’t you?

If you are looking for a kids’ holiday party idea that can be used as a stand-alone party, as part of a birthday party, or just a traditional gathering during the festive season … why not make cookies? If the idea appeals, it is really quite easy to put together.

One note: take into account the age of the kids who will be attending to determine how much actual baking will be done. If small kids will be there, having the cookies prepared beforehand and having them decorate the cookies would be excellent. A little bit older kids could handle rolling out chilled dough, cutting them into shapes with cookie cutters, doing an activity while they bake and cool, and then decorating. Older kids will appreciate taking on the challenge of making the cookies themselves from start to finish.

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