Jump off the Stress Express--Bring Back the Holiday Spirit with Family Christmas Traditions

Written by Chris Wondra


'Twasrepparttar week before Christmas and all thoughrepparttar 110694 house everything was in shambles. Too much to do and not enough time. More shopping to be done, presents to wrap, cookies to bake and decorating await. Ohrepparttar 110695 hustle and bustle,repparttar 110696 extra work andrepparttar 110697 stress. Is it any wonder you feel likerepparttar 110698 Kranks?

If your holiday season rings in more stress than joy, you're not alone. Consider these facts:

oIn a recent survey, 96% of 8-12 year olds included a big screen TV in their wish list. This despite 73% of parents wanting to limit their children's TV time.

o It takes an average of 4 months for a credit card user to pay off what they buy duringrepparttar 110699 holidays

o Americans plan to spend $1,564 per household duringrepparttar 110700 holidays. $1,042 for gifts.

o A national survey suggests that 70% of Americans would like less emphasis put on spending and giving gifts.

Helpless to resistrepparttar 110701 pressures of a “spend it” society, many people feel obligated to get onrepparttar 110702 frenzied commercialized Christmas train - and they don't know how to get off.

If your holiday season tends to exhaust rather than uplift, maybe it's time to wrestlerepparttar 110703 holidays fromrepparttar 110704 clutches of commercialism. Pump joy and love back into your holiday, filling it withrepparttar 110705 true spirit of Christmas.

What do kids really want?

The crowds,repparttar 110706 cash,repparttar 110707 Christmas Crunch. The wrapping,repparttar 110708 toys,repparttar 110709 noise. It's burning you out-right? So why do we do it? For most,repparttar 110710 typical answer is not surprising, “We do it forrepparttar 110711 kids.” For many people Christmas is about children and bringing them as much joy as possible. But think for a moment about your own childhood. What maderepparttar 110712 holiday season special for you?

Not sure your answer best representsrepparttar 110713 feelings of most kids? Think again. We askedrepparttar 110714 kids. A recent survey of 7th graders reveals their fondest memories related torepparttar 110715 holiday season and Christmas in particular. You may be surprised to see what they had to say.

“The thing I likerepparttar 110716 most is being able to see all of my relatives. We get together at my grandparents' houses and have big meals, which leads to another good part. The food. We usually have big hams and mashed potatoes and other good stuff. Then I feel like I won't be able to eat for another week." Ryan, age 12

"I always have a good time at Christmas. On Christmas Eve we stay up late and play video games. Then inrepparttar 110717 morning I get my stocking. Then I wake up my family and we open up our presents and eat pixie sticks and then we eat a big breakfast. After that we go outside. We also play board games. I love Christmas." Meg, age 12

"All of my Christmas's have been jolly. I think my best memory has been spending time with my family." Devin, age 12

"The first thing I think about when somebody mentions Christmas is picking out and putting up a tree and decorating it.” Jessica, age 12

Now, I know what you're thinking, “Sure, he took four quotes from a stack that suited his purpose.” Not true. Ofrepparttar 110718 75 students surveyed only 12 even mentioned unwrapping presents as a significant memory for them. Family gatherings and family activities createdrepparttar 110719 fondest memories for 84% ofrepparttar 110720 group.

If you are racking up credit card debt to createrepparttar 110721 perfect memory for your kids, you are wasting time and your money.

Creating a Joyful Season

Bill McKibben, author of Hundred Dollar Holiday, gives this piece of advice: “I guessrepparttar 110722 most important thing would be to think about whether or notrepparttar 110723 things you're doing are actually makingrepparttar 110724 season joyful for you or not. Keep real careful track and try to figure out if that's what you really want fromrepparttar 110725 Holidays. You can't change your life or your celebrating patterns overnight, but there's plenty of time to observe yourself and find what makes you feel happy and joyful.”

The Best Holiday Gift for Babies

Written by Dian Dewi


Still wondering what kind of gift you should giverepparttar baby of your life this holiday season ? Should you give picture books ? Toys ? Clothing ? Shoes ?

Wonder no more ! Choosing a gift for a baby should be simple. Just ask yourself what delights a baby.

There are many things which delight a baby. But toys are undoubtedly atrepparttar 110693 top ofrepparttar 110694 list. Children, even at a very young age, have already been delighted with good toys. Playing with toys is baby's work. And if you shop wisely, not onlyrepparttar 110695 baby will get fun toys which you feel good about giving. She will getrepparttar 110696 educational ones too.

So why not give a nice baby educational toy this holiday season torepparttar 110697 baby of your life ?

Choosing an infant toy which is fun, safe and educational sounds simple, but in reality it is not that simple. Go to any toy store and you will know what I mean. Today's market seems to be saturated with baby toys, all marketed as baby educational toys. Deciding which toy to buy is becoming an art that not everybody are skilled in doing.

Here are few tips to make your shopping for baby educational toys easier:

First,repparttar 110698 toy has to meet safety standard. This means that you have to adhere to manufacturer's recommended age. Don't buy toys which are intended for older children, even if you thinkrepparttar 110699 baby is genius. For safety reason, don't buy any toy which has these followings : sharp parts, small parts which can easily be put intorepparttar 110700 mouth and swallowed, and long string.

Second, buy toys which are durable and have a good play value. Aim for a toy which can be played in many different ways and atrepparttar 110701 same time can grow withrepparttar 110702 child. Getrepparttar 110703 good quality version of toys of this nature because they are worth it.

Third, if you plan to buy more than one toy, try to get toys which address as many as key developmental area as possible. What arerepparttar 110704 key development areas we talk about here ?



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