Christmas Tradition – Create a Christmas Tree Ornament Collection for your Kids

A short while back I posted one of my favourite articles, ‘Tis the Season for Family Traditions – 10 Simple Family Tradition Ideas.  Then, I pulled out my bins of Christmas decorations this week and was reminded of a super simple but special idea (if I do say so myself!) that I wanted to share with you.

It combines a few of my favourite things… Christmas Eve, a Christmas tree with LOTS of lights and ornaments, and my kids.  

Starting a Christmas Ornament Collection

A number of years ago, I started buying the kids their own Christmas ornaments. They open them up on Christmas Eve and on the tree they go.  I buy a little box or container for them from a dollar store, label it with the year and name of the ornament in Sharpie (nothing fancy), and pack it away with the others when the tree comes down.

Christmas ornaments for kids Gravel Road Living
Packaged and labelled!

They love to check out their just-for-them ornaments when Christmas tree decorating day arrives.  As well, their ornaments tell a bit of a story about the things they have loved over the years. 

Christmas ornaments tradition
Christmas tree ornaments tradition for kids

 

But most importantly, we started this tradition so that one day, when the kids are decorating their own tree for the very first time, they will have a little collection of ornaments of their own ready to go to get their tree started.

And I think we can all relate to the fact that Christmas ornaments can hold really powerful memories.  My mom saved a few of our family ornaments for each of us to add to our own collections and they are my favourites. This one is particularly old as it decorated her tree when she was young.

vintage elf Christmas tree ornament gravel road living
An ornament from my mom’s childhood tree.

However, I’m not sure which of the five of us got the last ornament to always be placed on our tree… our friendly, little elf head on a pipe cleaner.  Mom? 🙂

How to Create an Ornament Collection For Your Kids

I know this section isn’t even needed but just so you know how darn simple it is…

Step #1 – Buy an ornament.

Step #2 – Buy a cute little box or container for it and label it.

Step #3 – When the day comes, pack them all up for your child(ren) to take with them when they go.

Step #4 – Have a good cry.  But no worries, if they are anything like most of us, they will likely turn up for Christmas dinner!

Remember, saving these little Christmas memories doesn’t need to come with expensive ornaments in beautiful packaging.  You can just keep it simple because we all know that fancy stuff doesn’t matter to kids.

My Christmas Ornament Plan for This Year

So what’s on tap for me for this year for the kids’ ornaments?  Well, I found these cute little bottles at the dollar store so I’ve changed them up a tad bit and created a “message in a bottle” ornament, with a little handwritten note inside.

message in a bottle Christmas tree ornament
message in a bottle Christmas tree ornament gravel road living
Message-in-a-bottle Christmas ornament

I’ve also added a sleigh bell to each bottle from my collection of bells that my dad has given to me at Christmas over the years.  I’ve kept them all.  He’s a big believer in Christmas magic and he’ll always be able to hear the bell ring.

I’m going to “wrap” them in these little wooden boxes.

Christmas ornament

Total cost… hmmm, about $2.50 each.

It’s Never Too Late to Start

If you’re thinking that your kids are a bit older and it’s too late to start, just remind yourself that it’s never too late to start something that’s important to you.  So give it a go for your kids or grandkids and help them build their future Christmas tree, year by year.

Happy tree decorating and memory making!

KJ 🙂


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