Holiday traditions for 2 y/o

[Mrsboyko]

So, here's the deal. We want to have a few traditions with our little family, but neither DH nor I know what to do. My parents were kinda scrooges and his mom was struggling for the minimums most of his childhood, so we have nothing to go on. So far we have gotten a real tree (from the Kmart parking lot ) and decorated it with christmas music playing. She got to direct where the plastic ornaments went. I think we are going to do a popcorn garland line next weekend which should be fun.

We aren't promoting Santa or his elves spying and such, so nothing to do with that, but we need tradition ideas. Most food related things are kinda out as DD is egg, dairy and citrus allergic. We have tried making ornaments and it kinda turned into a disaster. Paint, ceramic, glass and glitter is just too much for her right now. So, give me all you got!!!

[Mama Poot]

We had the kids help us decorate the tree. Last year we even took them out to the farm and they watched us cut it down, but it was freezing and horrible, so DH and I made that venture adults-only this year.

You can drive around and look at xmas lights. Our local park sets up a big light display every year, check and see if anyone around you is doing something like that.

[LaughingHyena]

This year we have had an advent callender for the first time. Some days we have had sweets but we have also had "messages" with things to do that day. DD is 4 and is very into this DS is 2 and seems to be enjoying it too.

So far we have
put up the lights outside
Decorate the tree
Dress up for our annual photo for their grandparents
made chocolate snowballs (rice cereal & white chocolate)
Baked gingerbread

I'm sure we will have more cooking/baking soon as we've got some hampers to fill.

[Rivka5]

We do a LOT of carol-singing. For the month of December I am replacing my usual bedtime repertoire of folk songs with Christmas carols, and my daughter loves it. We also listen to Christmas music in the car, sing while we're cooking, etc.

[Boot]

Depending on where you live you can make it an annual tradition to go somewhere cool. Here we have a ski mountain with santa, reindeer, skating, carol singers, etc. We also have a miniature christmas train. We plan to visit both. Do you have an advent wreath with candles? We have one and we light the candles and sing a little advent song during meal times. DS love this (20 months). I am planning on having my friends kids round for a walk round the neighbourhood to see the lights followed by tea and toast on the 21st which is the 4th sunday of advent as well as solstice. I'm hoping that will become a new tradition. Salt dough is fun but she might be too young for it. advent calendars are great. I also downloaded a ton of my favourite carols onto my mp3 and play those a lot and sing along. That's all I can think of just now.

[Wittyone]

Ds is 2.5 and so far we've done the following...

he helped decorate the tree

our "advent calendar" is a large stocking with a pocket for each day - it is his job to move the stuffed tree place marker to the next pocket each morning (may add treats in the future but right now it's just really exciting to move the tree )

we bundled up and took an evening walk around the neighborhood to see lights

a walk around the mall to see decorations and ride the little holiday train (the boy loooves trains)

this year I'm starting the tradition of new pj's to open on Christmas eve

we only do professional photos once a year, a holiday themed one to give out to family/friends

if you do stockings, there was this recent thread in the toddler forum for ideas of what to include

I love this time of year and hope to share some special traditions with ds as he grows - more experience-based than consumer-based since then it won't matter if we are having a frugal year or not

[ewe+lamb]

For decorations, we've made loads of salt doh decorations, cheap and easy to make and then just a little glue and glitter brightens then up, if you want to stay away from paint you could put colouring in the play doh, we bought a box of plain baubles and decorated them again with glue and glitter and then I buy a couple of cheap decorations every year - just one or two and the collection slowly builds up, we also have decorated pine cones with little pieces of felt and beads, paper hearts are easily made as well, threading through helps fine motor development, we also made little hanging decorations with sparkly beads and tooth picks - let your imagination run and feel for your artistic side - it's just as much fun for us as it is for the kids.

[soposdedi]

How about reading children's books/stories about the various holidays celebrated this time of year.... Xmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Yule.. etc.

[cappuccinosmom]

What my toddler's enjoy
Christmas tree
singing carols
Advent calendar--you can do all sorts of neat things. There are paper ones where the kid gets to open a door each day, you can make paper chains with the kid taking one loop off every day, you can fill envelopes with small toys or treats or tree ornaments (one to be opened each day), etc.
go for walks/drives to see the lights
helping with special baking/cooking that we do
coloring "Christmas cards" that I can stick in the envelopes with the ones I send
cutting out and pasting on paper last year's Christmas cards--I think they like how shiny and colorful they are

[karemore]

We made a christmas cd of our favorite carols by our favorite artists, DH made a cover for the case with a photo of our holiday decorations from the year we made the cd.

Every year we drive around to look at lights and eat at the same place. We take my niece as well.

We make cards and ornaments for family members. There are plenty of materials out there that are fine for toddlers to work with. No reason to use glitter or glass this young.

Cooking doesn't have to be cookies etc. Just the act of cooking or baking together creates memories children will carry with them.

We donate food to the local food pantry together, since DD was an infant.

We do an early Christmas eve service so DD is not too sleepy.

I let DD open the christmas cards and put them in a christmas basket.

Pretty simple stuff, but doing the same things the same way each year is all it takes to build traditions.

I hope you find some things that feel right for you!! Happy Holidays!

[reece19]

-Pipe cleaner ornaments (she can make them into whatever she wants...my girls usually made a bunch of unidentifiable things then made halos for themselves )

-An evening with warm drinks, carols on cds and putting together Christmas puzzles

-make paper chains to go around the tree

-Take toys to a local shelter (my girls and I have done this every year - we clean out closets and toys and give everything in good shape to the local battered women's shelter)

-Read stories about Christmas, Hanukkah, etc. and talk about the various traditions

-Write letters/drawings to friends and family

-Watch a favorite Christmas movie all bundled together on the couch

[Norasmomma]

My DD and I made ornaments out of dough and baked them inthe oven then I applied the glue and she got to shake the glitter over-no disaster or breakables.