Make holiday memories with your family

Family traditions can take on special significance this time of year. Whether you want to launch new customs or ensure that long-held rituals continue, here are some fun ideas to add to your repertoire.

• Start an ornament timeline. This is easy, works for all ages, doesn’t have to cost a lot and provides children, when they become adults, with a wonderful look back at their childhood.

Each year, buy an ornament based on something the child is interested in or to mark a milestone in their life — baby’s first Christmas, hobbies, favorite sports teams or family trips. Keep a box for each child. When the little ones are ready to leave the nest, give them their box. They’ll have decorations for their tree and wonderful memories.

• Make gifts for loved ones. Kids love to show off their handiwork, and craft stores are loaded with ideas for special projects. Plus, quiet craft time is perfect for heart-to-heart conversations.

• Host a holiday sleepover. Gather at Grandma and Grandpa’s; invite aunts, uncles and cousins. Wear pajamas, make popcorn and hot chocolate, then choose a favorite holiday movie to watch or holiday story to read.

• Volunteer. This is a great way to spend quality time with children, and it provides a strong message about the importance of giving back. Children as young as 8 or 9 can help out at a food pantry, ring a bell for the Salvation Army or pack boxes of food or clothing for needy families. Older teens can wrap gifts to raise money for charity, work as servers at a soup kitchen or visit nursing homes to help residents write holiday cards or wrap gifts. Even small children can help make Christmas cards for military members overseas.

Doing a volunteer project every year can show children that the holidays are about more than just presents.

• Share family recipes. Teach children how to make family recipes. More important, share with them the history of each dish and its connection to your family. Shoot video of yourself and the children preparing the dish. As you work, talk about when you learned the recipe, why you continue to make it and where it comes from. Once the video is complete, package it with the recipe to create a family keepsake. Do this over the years, and the youngest members of your family will be left with an amazing collection of recipes and memories.

Or keep it simple ...

• Count down with an advent calendar or paper chain

• Get active; run a 5K, play a football game or go for a walk to see your neighborhood’s lights

• Make a list of what you’re thankful for. Add a new item each day.

• Go ice skating

• Attend a religious service

• Sing holiday songs

• Bake cookies

• Decorate — the tree, your front door or your whole house