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Editor’s note: Daryl Hoole is answering homemaking questions from readers. These answers are appearing once a month on Mondays, alternating with her regular At Home column. Questions from readers will appear in boldface, with answers in normal type. If you have a homemaking question for Daryl, instructions on how to write to her can be found at the end of this column.

Question

“What can I do as a mother to help my children to be less preoccupied with the commercialism of Christmas and to be more focused on the true meaning of the season? Also, what are some good ideas for helping children “wait” for Christmas? December can seem endless to young children.

Response

Good questions! Many mothers have these concerns. It can be a good idea to help your children understand that Christmas can be celebrated all month long. It’s Christmas every day during December. The 25th is just the day we give and receive presents. Following are some suggestions for Christmas-type activities for each day of the month. As you consider them, please keep in mind these points:

• This list is only a smorgasbord of ideas from which to choose. Hardly a family anywhere could do all of these, and they needn’t be done in the order listed.
  
• The intent of these suggestions is not to add to your work or stress; it’s just about adding some extra anticipation and enthusiasm to things you do anyway to turn them into an occasion or celebration.
  
• You may wish to set aside your regular family scripture reading course during December and select passages on the life and mission of Jesus Christ.
  
• Create a Christmas atmosphere in the house. Play Christmas music and create spicy aromas from cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove, or candles on warmers.
  
• In order for everyone — including Mother — to enjoy each celebration, everyone will need to help with the housework and the holiday preparations.

So if this concept appeals to you and your family, set up a calendar, and with the help of these suggestions, celebrate Christmas all month long.

• December 1
  Decorate the tree. Enjoy Christmas music as you work, and be sure to take a break for hot chocolate and cookies.
  
• December 2 (Sunday)
  Attend or view via television the First Presidency Devotional broadcast from the Tabernacle on Temple Square in Salt Lake City. If you don’t have TV reception, obtain a DVD from last year’s devotional and enjoy it with your family.
  
• December 3
  Decorate the house. Play favorite Christmas music and treat everyone to hot wassail and donuts as you work. You may wish to maintain your family night pattern with a song and prayer and a brief message before doing the decorating.
  
• December 4
  Attend a musical concert or join in a Messiah Sing-Along.
  
• December 5
  Invite every family member to participate in a family talent night. Encourage each one to share a talent, whether it be instrumental, vocal, telling a story, showing a piece of art work, or a craft.

  OR if you’re Dutch or German (or would like to be for a few hours) you could celebrate Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) Day on the eve of the anniversary of his death (which was December 6th). This is done by children setting their shoes by the fireplace or door the night of the 5th in the hope that Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) and his helpers will come along and fill them. The children will wake up to find surprises such as candy, fruit, and maybe a small gift.

• December 6
Children’s Choice — Invite the children to choose an activity and plan and prepare for it as much as possible according to their ages and abilities.

• December 7
Assist children in preparing cards or notes for their teachers and others who bless their lives. Missionaries and servicemen who represent your ward could also be remembered.

• December 8
Make or purchase gifts for other family members. You may want to exchange gifts with everyone or perhaps you prefer to draw names at your house.

• December 9 (Sunday)
Tell Christmas stories and relate favorite experiences such as “The Christmas You Remember Best.” Enhance the occasion by turning off all the lights in the room except those on the Christmas tree. Enjoy brownies and cold milk for a bedtime treat.

• December 10
Continue the gift-making or purchasing project from Dec. 8th and then wrap the gifts.

• December 11
Children’s Choice — Invite the children to choose an activity and plan and prepare for it as much as possible according to their ages and abilities.

OR, create hand puppets for re-enacting the Story of the Nativity on Christmas Eve. (See December 24th for details and a note at the end of the column about patterns for the puppets.)

• December 12
Make it a family game night. Play a favorite board game, put a jigsaw puzzle together, or enjoy some lively rounds of charades.

• December 13
Attend a church, school or community program or play. Non-professional productions of classics such as Dickens’ Christmas Carol or the Nutcracker can be free of charge.

• December 14
Drive as a family on a self-guided tour of Christmas lights around the city.

• December 15
Go sledding, skiing, ice skating; build a snowman or enjoy whatever outside activity the weather permits in your area.

• December 16 (Sunday)
Read Christmas stories such as Christmas Oranges (Linda Bethers), The Polar Express (Chris Van Allsburg), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Dr. Seuss); Snowmen at Night (Caralyn and Mark Buehner), The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey (Susan Wojciechowski), ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (Clement Moore), Christmas Day in the Morning (Pearl S. Buck), or “A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens) as you sit around the tree. Enjoy a favorite treat such as hot wassail and donuts.

• December 17
Go caroling as a family to neighbors, a senior adult care center, or a hospital.

• December 18
Bake and decorate sugar cookies or gingerbread men (see recipe below for gingerbread that is easy to handle and delicious to eat.)

• December 19
Organize a neighborhood cookie exchange.

• December 20
Enjoy a Christmas movie on television or DVD such as Mr. Krueger’s Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Miracle of 34th Street, or It’s a Wonderful Life. Pop plenty of corn and enjoy it and other munchies as you watch.

• December 21
Prepare for a family service project.

• December 22
Carry out a family service project.

• December 23 (Sunday)
Consider a family devotional, in addition to your regular meetings, wherein you remember the Prophet Joseph Smith’s birthday and talk about his life and mission.

• December 24
Make this the grandest family night of the year. Enjoy a delicious dinner or light supper, according to the tradition of your family, followed by a beautiful evening of music and the Story of the First Christmas from the Book of Luke.

If you’re one of the many families who enjoy re-enacting the First Christmas, you might be interested in a short, three-page Nativity skit that was published in the Friend magazine a number of years ago. It includes speaking parts, scriptural passages, and musical references and appeals to all ages. If you would like a free copy, please visit my website. See below for information.

If you’d like a change from the children taking parts and dressing up in bathrobes, shawls, and white sheets, let the children manipulate hand puppets this year. (The skit, mentioned above, works well with either live actors or hand puppets.) Free patterns plus photos for creating the hand puppets can be obtained from my website. See below for information.

• December 25
Open gifts! Rejoice and be thankful over both the gifts you’ve given as well as received. And sometime during the day or evening, while you’re gathered around the table or the Christmas tree as a family, remind the children that Christmas is all month long, not just a day. Recall with them the celebrations you enjoyed as a family during December. “Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind.” (Mary Ellen Chase).

Merry Christmas from Daryl

* * * * *

Gingerbread Cookies

Cream together:
1 c. molasses
1 c. shortening cream
1 c. sugar

Add:
3 eggs

Add:
5 c. flour
1 Tb. soda
1 Tb. ginger
! tsp. salt

Roll ¼” thick, cut and bake 10 min. at 350 degrees. Decorate with raisins, sprinkles, frosting, etc.

* * * * *
If you are interested in free homemade patterns plus photos for nativity hand puppets, please visit my website at http://www.theartofhomemaking.com/nativityhandpuppets.htm.

* * * * *
A number of years ago the Friend magazine published a short skit (three pages) about the Nativity, with speaking parts, scriptural passages, and musical references. It appeals to all ages. If you would like a free copy, please visit my website at http://www.theartofhomemaking.com/nativityskit.htm.

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Daryl Hoole has written and lectured extensively on home management and family living. She authored six books, including the long-term, best-selling The Art of Homemaking. Recently her new book The Ultimate Career — The Art of Homemaking for Today was published and is being enthusiastically received. She has been in demand as a speaker for women’s groups throughout the United States and Canada and has spoken at Education Weeks for over twenty-five years. She has served in all the Church auxiliaries and was a member of the Primary General Board. She fulfilled two missions to The Netherlands, once when her father was mission president and later when her husband presided over that mission. In addition, she and her husband recently served a third mission in Asia as area welfare-humanitarian administrators, based in Hong Kong. Daryl and her husband, Hendricus (Hank), are the parents of eight living children and the grandparents of thirty-six. She currently serves with her husband as a member of the Young Single Adult Coordinating Council of the Bonneville Region in the Salt Lake City area.

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