20 Ways to Create Holiday Magic for Small Kids

What could be more magical than spending the night under hundreds of twinkling lights? Pull out sleeping bags or cozy quilts and throws and, for the night, let the whole family sleep under the Christmas tree. It'll be an evening they'll never forget.

Blast the holiday music and starting trimming that tree. Even young toddlers can help with the ornaments. It may make your tree a little bottom-heavy, but that's part of the charm of little ones. (And if it really bothers you, you can always redistribute after they go to bed.) Make it a tradition with a recipe you make every year, whether hot chocolate and popcorn or cinnamon rolls and milk, your kids will delight in the fun treat you all share while decorating your tree.

This can be as simple or complicated as you want. Graham crackers and store-bought icing, a boxed gingerbread set or homemade gingerbread and royal icing. Just have tons of candy to decorate — that's what kids love doing anyway. If doing this with littles, go ahead and put the house together, and let it set up before calling them in to decorate. Waiting 20 minutes for icing to harden is an eternity in toddler time.

You simply can't send kiddos to bed without leaving out cookies and milk for Santa. Oreos, homemade chocolate chip, sugar cookies decorated with icing and sprinkles — it doesn't matter what you leave out, the big guy in red will gobble them up. Don't forget about Prancer and the rest of the reindeer. Set out carrots and apples for Santa to take back up chimney to his hard-working friends.