Comments on: The 2016 holiday fun list

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 15:57:39 +0000

In reply to Karen. @Karen- thanks! And thanks for the reminder to always look at this on Charity Navigator. I do imagine that any charity with a big consumer facing side (producing "catalogs" and such) is going to spend more on admin and fundraising than charities that don't do that. We give to a wide variety of causes, and this one is partly about having something the kids can understand.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 24 Nov 2016 10:30:18 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving Laura! On this day of thanks, I would like to express my appreciation for your blog!
I also wanted to let you know that Charity Navigator rates Heifer Intl. 3 out of 4 stars. This doesn’t make it a bad charity, but it is something to consider. You can look at the site and see their criteria and make your own decision. I find the site very useful.

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 19:18:03 +0000

In reply to Elizabeth.

@Elizabeth – you know your daughter best, but I can speak from personal experience that taking my 4-year-old last year was not 100% pleasant. She was alternately good and not good. I brought cheese and fed it to her as bribery. I had her Kindle for pre-performance waiting and intermission. She would ask to leave, but then get into it again for a while. I wrote about this here: http://lauravanderkam.com/2015/12/the-discipline-of-joy/ On the whole, I think it was good to bring her, and she wants to go again this year. I think at 5 she will be more patient.
You might show your 3-year-old videos of the Nutcracker beforehand so she will be excited about things she knows are coming.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 18:17:35 +0000

Going to the Nutcracker with my mom is one of my favorite Christmas tradition memories from my childhood. This year I am thinking of taking my mom and my 3-year-old daughter (partly as a Christmas gift for my mom). Do you think 3 is too young? She sat through a live Peppa Pig show with her dad last spring, so I’m hopeful, but at the same time the tickets are expensive enough that I’d hate to have to leave early.

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 00:11:07 +0000

Down in DC, we do the live production of A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theater, followed by dessert at CoCo Sala, a chocolate restaurant.

By: Kristi

Kristi — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 02:11:09 +0000

In reply to lauravanderkam. Are you familiar with Peter Spier's Christmas? It is an amazing picture book. I would also recommend Cranberry Christmas by Wende and Harry Devlin.

By: lauravanderkam

lauravanderkam — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 20:56:43 +0000

In reply to beth.

@beth- my oldest doesn’t like simple picture books so much, but if they’re interesting kids books (like The Day The Crayons Quit, or Dragons Love Tacos — not that those are Christmas stories, but books like that) he’s fine with it. I probably won’t have books aimed specifically at the toddler. Or maybe he can get his own small pile of books. Hmm…

By: Melanie Keel

Melanie Keel — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 17:41:43 +0000

I recommend Milly and the Macy’s Parade as a great Christmas book. I think the older children will really like it.

By: Katherine

Katherine — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 17:32:17 +0000

Growing up in 1970s England I read and re-read all Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books many times. I always particularly liked the Christmas chapters and often re-read them before Christmas even now. I see there is a collection available on Amazon of all the Christmas chapters in one book and would thoroughly recommend them. Just right for the older two of your children I would have thought.

By: cathy

cathy — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 16:59:13 +0000

I keep my 3 grandkids (11, 7 and 6 months) every other Friday night thru Sunday night while my daughter works her 12 hours shifts at hospital. This year I’m writing down what I want to experience with them instead of just thinking “We need to do this before Christmas” then it’s after and we never made gingerbread cookies!
Have them cut out and decorate gingerbread people.
I’m having a themed Christmas this year – snowflakes (we live in south and rarely get snow) so have them make homemade snowflakes to tape to all windows.
Go to Christmas parade.
Go to river levee at night and see the Christmas displays.
Decorate my Christmas tree. (traditionally done Thanksgiving night)
See a Christmas concert (been wanting to do this for about 5 years).
Take a Christmas photo for my card – I usually end up using pics taken throughout the year because I never get around to taking one special pic – I have already bought fake snow for the special pic.
Buy and shoot fireworks.