|
|
|
Dyin' From Vacation
From the book Spider’s Night on the Boom by Gary E. Anderson www.abciowa.com My parents visited from Oregon this summer, and we saw more of Iowa than we'd seen in all the years since our own arrival. It was a perfect excuse to visit...
Help Your Baby Develop Character
How Can We Help Children Learn about Character? Children learn about strong character when parents and other adults in their daily lives · set a good example through their own behavior and actions, · set and communicate high standards and...
How To Help Your Child With First Day Anxiety
Summer vacation is coming to a close. All the trips, fun activities, and camps are soon to be wonderful memories. Hopefully, your child or children had a great period of down time and are refreshed and ready for a new and eventful school year. I...
Jesus' Birthday: Sacred Children Series - 2 of 3
I had visions of my daughter for about five years before she finally showed up. She turned out exactly like the little girl in my dreams who had haunted me all that time. I was so very glad to see that she was alive and real. I always thought...
What 10 Things Divorced Parent Should Do To Promote Positive Child Adjustment?
The effects of recent enlargement in divorce rates are negative effects. Divorced children are more probably to get pregnant as teenagers, drop out of high school, abuse drugs and have aggressively emotional and behavioral problems, which lead to...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quick and Dirty Holiday Decorating
You're tired. You've worked hard all week. Suddenly, the kids shout gleefully... "let's decorate!" ... in anticipation of the coming holiday. The "let's not" is miraculously not permitted to escape your lips. Instead you take a deep breath while you wonder
about how this decorating could become an easier and more fun-filled activity.
Well, it can be!
- First, insist on family members pitching in to help and treat this like a family project. This should not just rest on your shoulders to accomplish and it will be much more fun if you all are making changes and creating memories together.
- Next, pick a day and time you'll all devote no more than one to two hours for a quick holiday makeover at your home (for a major decorating holiday schedule two or three longer blocks of time). It helps if you can set the decorating date about one to two weeks
from now, if time still allows for that. This gives you time to gather items together for the project.
- Ask the kids to create one or two new arts and crafts decorations that are suitable to the holiday to have ready for the decorating day. Or, ask them to select ones from among any they may already have on hand, for instance, from school projects.
- Decide on 3 to 4 areas you will focus on decorating this year. Here are some choices: the front door, the front yard, the entry hallway, the kitchen table, the dining room table, the living room, the patio, the bathroom, the bedroom. There are other areas you
could consider as well. But if you want quick and dirty, then focus in on only 3 to 4 of the areas for decorating this year. Anyway, you can select other areas next year for a change.
- Keep holiday decorations in separate bags, boxes or baskets in the same closet or in the attic so they'll be easy for everyone to retrieve when they are needed next.
- Buy items you really love when you see them advertised or they may not be available when you later. It's common for seasonal merchandise to change from year to year and also they are not stocked year-round typically. So, your item may no longer be available if you wait too long to decide you want it. Then stash your figurines, statues,
wall hangings, and other holiday
decorations in your bags or boxes, sorted by holiday.
- Make or buy some snacks or treats to enjoy together at the completion of your decorating time.
Here are some favorite quick and dirty decorating areas and tips:
1. The front door- Have a welcome sign that is theme oriented and you can easily change by season or by holiday. You can either hang up a completely new themed sign, or there are some that come with interchangeable pieces you swap in and out representing different
holidays or themes.
2. The dining room table or a table that is centrally located but not
used that often- Change the table runner or the tablecloth to a holiday themed one. Then showcase your holiday decorations by arranging a combination of your kid's holiday creations and
your own figurines or other holiday decor on the table.
3. The mantel or entertainment center- Add a string of lights and if you wish, you can also vary the string of lights by color best suited for the coming holiday theme. Wall hangings can be changed around this area temporarily as well. Holiday accessories, flags, figurines, etc. are easy to rotate in and to view on or around this area of your home.
4. Special areas by kid's choice- Smaller children can help by adding little decorations to windows and glass doors. They enjoy taping up their creations or they can easily put up static cling decorations. Other areas small children enjoy decorating include
outdoors, the dog house and their own rooms. Allow them to handle this aspect of decorating while you take pleasure in their big smiles and hugs!
Finally, make your decorating time even more enjoyable by having holiday background music or other favorite tunes playing in the background. Then, when you're done decorating, finish up with a big family hug and munching on tasty snack treats together!
© 2003 Elizabeth Hekimian-Williams, Giftsprings
About the Author
Liz Hekimian-Williams is owner of Giftsprings.com, a gifts and home decor online shopping site. Sign up for your complimentary subscription to the Giftsprings ezine and browse the store at http://www.giftsprings.com
|
|
|
|
|
|