The holiday season is a magical time of year. Seeing the wonder and excitement in my children’s eyes has made me realize that more than ever. They have helped me slow down and appreciate the little things. Growing up we had many family holiday traditions. Now with my own children, we have created our own. Here’s a list of fun activities to consider doing with your children during the holiday season.
Head to your local tree farm to find the perfect tree to put up in your home. This is my family’s absolute favorite tradition. My children have so much fun trying to find the perfect tree. The local farm we go to every year has a bonfire to roast marshmallows, hot cocoa to sip on and children are even able to meet Santa.
Consider checking out your local zoo to see if they have an evening lights display during the holiday season. It’s a great way to get outside and see some magical lights on display, and of course maybe some animals too.
You have probably heard of the Elf on the Shelf. This is a fun tradition my family started doing last year. I think my husband and I have more fun trying to come up with creative places to hide our Elf more than anything.
The Santa Parade is another favorite for my family. Many towns big and small have one, and the excitement of the crowd is captivating. Not to mention all the incredible floats and Santa himself. My children always come home sticky from eating too much candy, but I can honestly say it’s always worth it.
If you have a historical village near you, chances are they put on some sort of holiday event. It’s a wonderful way to step back in time and experience some old-timey holiday activities from candle making to playing with old train sets.
Check to see if you have some sort of Polar Express or Santa train near you. We love this tradition so much that we go on two different trains near us. My boys are able to sip on hot cocoa and even sit with Santa.
If you have any botanical gardens near you, then you might want to look into whether they have a holiday display. Our local conservatory has the most incredible wooden train set on display. It’s also a great way to escape the cold.
Don’t forget some of the most fun can be had right at home. If you live in a colder climate where you have snow, consider making snowmen or sledding. These are two things you will often find us doing during the holidays and the great thing is it is fun for free.
We spend a lot of the holiday season baking. It’s always a little bit of a mess getting my children involved with cooking, but some of my fondest childhood memories were baking with my grandmother.
The holiday season is obviously a busy time, but in between the hustle and bustle I hope you are able to enjoy some holiday fun with your children. I’m reminded often that this time goes quick. More than anything, I hope these activities bring you as much joy as they do my family. And I hope these photos help you find your own inspiration for capturing your own holiday memories.
SIGMA Ambassador Meg Loeks lives in a remote part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula with her husband, four young children and several animals. Her photography journey started when she was young, shooting with film and developing her own prints. Drawn to low light and color, she is a portrait and lifestyle photographer. Meg is a mentor and instructor at Clickin Moms, and a Profoto Legend of Light. She is also a volunteer photographer for The Gold Hope Project, a nonprofit organization which gifts families battling pediatric cancer a free photo session.
Nice work, yesterday we go snow for the first time in years but it was night and it’s stop and now melting. Great tutorial.
Beautiful..love them all.
So Pretty trying to make to the snow this weekend