6 ideas for making the most of Christmas

Christmas is a season brimming with potential for fun times with family and friends. All the ingredients are there… good food, gifts in shiny paper, warm log fires, and parties everywhere. It's a time when families can get together - a rare opportunity to enjoy each other's company and focus on having fun.

So, how do we make the most of this special occasion? Here are a few ideas...

1. Plan ahead

Decide in advance how you want to spend the holiday, and make arrangements. If you're visiting multiple relatives, or you're a lone parent and you're transporting children to their other parent, planning ahead avoids stress and ensures that everyone knows what to expect. Then you can relax and make the most of Christmas. If you are a couple, make time to talk about your expectations for the day in advance; agree what traditions are important to you, what you plan to do and when, and who will be responsible for what.

2. Let's all join in

Most families are bustling with activity at this time of year - whether it's preparing food, going to a carol service, or buying those last-minute presents. It's much more fun if everyone joins in, so that it doesn't fall to one person to get everything ready. Everyone can have a role to play in the run-up to Christmas day - whether they are 4, 40 or 80.

3. Have fun for free

There are lots of ways to make Christmas special without breaking the bank. Set a budget and try to keep to it. Don't forget to include all those extra items that can make a dent in your wallet, like wrapping paper, sellotape and decorations. If you're worried about the impact of celebrations on your finances, look for alternatives. Instead of forking out for the latest pantomime, you could go carol singing with the children, or ask them to put a play on for you themselves! Instead of buying expensive presents, you could make a gift that shows you've thought about the other person. Try putting together a little photo album of times you've spent together. Or you could turn 'present making' into an occasion in itself - spend time as a family baking, wrapping, or preparing treats for people, instead of battling the crowds in the high street.

4. Get outdoors

If we get some snow this year, make the most of it. It's a perfect opportunity to shake off your grown-up reserve and go outside to play! If there's no snow but the children need to run around in the fresh air, make it more fun by joining in with them. Tanith Carey's book, 'How to be an "Amazing Mum" When You Just Don't Have the Time' contains a great work-out plan which combines a trip to the playground with some easy exercises. Have fun with the kids and work off the extra calories from all those yummy treats at the same time. You can order your copy here.

5. Create magical memories

The things we tend to remember about past Christmases are not the expensive presents or perfectly roasted potatoes, but the family traditions we share together year after year. Here's an inventive idea from Janna, which appears on our 'memorable moments' page:

"On New Year's Eve we have a lot of fun sharing a chocolate fondue together. Then we spend the rest of the evening in the lounge, with an open fire and the Christmas tree lights, playing charades, telling stories, playing word games, acknowledging blessings for the past year, sharing hopes for the next year, cuddled up in sleeping bags until putting on the TV at 11:55 to see in the New Year with Big Ben! We have done this with the children ever since they were toddlers, and they still love it now they're late teens!" (Janna, Birmingham).

You can read more 'memorable moments' here.

6. Get into the spirit of things

Most importantly, take a moment to remember the real meaning of Christmas. And make the most of the opportunity to share the spirit of Christmas with others. Choose to affirm and encourage each other rather than to criticise, even if things aren't going to plan. Everyone could do with some goodwill, love, generosity, peace and joy. Think of them as infectious attitudes - when you start sharing them with your partner, your family, people in need, and even strangers, it becomes contagious.

So don't let Christmas pass you by in a flurry of lights and wrapping paper. Make the most of this special opportunity to enjoy some memorable moments with your family and friends.

2009