Today is day 13 of 25 Days of Activities to do with your family this Christmas season. And, today we’re talking about making Christmas presents for the grandparents. Each year I find an easy project that my children can replicate in order to make Christmas presents for their grandparents, aunts and uncles, and close family friends.

Make Christmas Presents

The notion of a homemade Christmas goes way back. I remember learning about it while reading the Little House on the Prairie books back in the day. And, I remember making Christmas presents for my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and friends.

To this day I still enjoy getting and giving homemade gifts. The homemade/handmade girts might be more complicated now, like the quilt I made for my husband last Christmas. However, I think most people can appreciate the idea of a homemade gift especially when it comes from kids.

Last year, I bought an easy kit to make cute pom-pom ornaments with craft foam. The Boy helped with a few and then quickly got bored, but Sunshine loves making crafts and she quickly made and wrapped all of the presents which were enjoyed by all the adults who received them last Christmas.

25 Days of Christmas Activities

So, we hope you will join us in this fun family tradition to make Christmas presents for family and friends.  I hope that you will give it a try this December.

Be sure to stop back tomorrow and for the next 15 days to find other great traditions to share with your family during the 25 Days of Christmas Activities.  And don’t forget to check out the first nine days too.

Don’t Miss a Day of 25 Days of Christmas Activities to Do with Your Family–Join our Email List today!

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Today is day 11 of 25 days of activities Christmas Activities to Do with Your Family. And what child wouldn’t love to get an email from Santa? This is a great program that I learned about from Ali Edwards years ago. It can be free and it is personalized to your child.

Send an email from Santa

Each year, my children get a personalized email from Santa via the Portable North Pole. They have a website and of course they have an app. For years, I used the free version through the website.

Last year, I decided that Sunshine, a second-grader, might catch on if she got nearly the exact same email as last year and nearly the exact same email that her brother got. So, I invested in the app. It is way more than I usually pay for an app but I figured it was worth it. And, I figured even if I had to pay that amount again, it would still be worth it.

The app updated on November 1 and it has new story lines, however,  I will have to pay again to access all but the ones that would also be free on the website.

Delight in Getting Email from Santa

My children squeal with delight each year when they get their emails. The Boy especially loves to watch them over and over and over and over. The app also has a feature where you can record their reactions to the email which I did last year and it was priceless. The app also has a coded parent area to keep it separate from the part that the children access. In addition to the videos, there are several games and this year a new section for taking selfie’s with Santa’s beard, elf hats, reindeer antlers, etc. The Boy also loves the part of the app where you can change your voice to sound like one of Santa’ elves.

The email will address each child by name and give background information that Santa knows about them. It will tell them whether they are naughty or nice or in between. And, you can even tell them that Santa knows what’s that what their most desired present is. That one is sometimes tougher because you have to choose from a list. In addition, in the app there are several story lines you can choose from. Which allows you to make a unique email for each child.

I usually aim for the emails to arrive around the middle of the month. This just like our elf friend can help with behavior.  Last year, emails arrived early in the month and told both children that they were on neither the naughty nor the nice list as means of a warning from Santa.  It ended up being meaner than I anticipated.  A follow up email did arrive around December 23 to let each know that they had been moved to the nice list.

25 Days of Christmas Activities

I hope you will join us in this delightful tradition. It is something my children look forward to each year. And, I am excited to see the new stories.  It is definitely worth it to get the all access pass.  Consider it part of your Christmas shopping!  I hope that you will give it a try this December.

Be sure to stop back tomorrow and for the next 14 days to find other great traditions to share with your family during the 25 Days of Christmas Activities.  And don’t forget to check out the first ten days too.

Don’t Miss a Day of 25 Days of Christmas Activities to Do with Your Family–Join our Email List today!

PS. This post may contain affiliate links. When you click the link and make a purchase through the link, we make a little money, this helps to keep The Semiconservative Granola Girl going. Thank you for your support.  Portable North Pole is not an affiliate, just something we love!