There’s no manual for creating magic, but kids know when it’s real. Christmas doesn’t have to look like a commercial for it to feel extraordinary. What they’ll remember most isn’t the gifts stacked under the tree but the energy in the house—the laughter, the smells, the sense that the grown-ups around them are truly present. Whether your family goes big or keeps it simple, kids take their emotional cues from you. If you’re stressed, they feel it. If you’re genuinely enjoying yourself, that joy becomes contagious.

So much of childhood memory-building happens in moments we barely notice: a parent singing along to the radio while making breakfast, wrapping paper flying in every direction, hot cocoa that’s slightly too hot but still perfect.

Keep The Wonder Alive

There’s something about Christmas that invites suspended disbelief, and it’s worth leaning into. When kids still believe in Santa, the anticipation is electric. You don’t need to go overboard with elaborate pranks or Pinterest-level elf setups. A note left by Santa in slightly crooked handwriting can light them up just as much as any big surprise.

Even if your kids are past that stage, there are other ways to preserve the sense of wonder. Let them help with decorating, even if the ornaments end up clumped together on one branch. Watch the old claymation specials together and laugh at how bizarre they are. There’s nostalgia in imperfection, and that’s what makes it all feel real.

Feed Their Excitement (And Sweet Tooth)

Food is one of the fastest ways to set the holiday mood. Baking cookies together or making homemade cocoa adds an easy layer of sensory joy that sticks in memory far longer than toys do. When you fill the stockings with Christmas holiday candy from Hershey and your other favorite brands, you’re adding a sprinkle of simple, timeless happiness. Kids associate those little treats with magic—the way the wrappers gleam, the crinkle of unwrapping, the shared “taste this one” moment.

Food traditions don’t need to be elaborate. Even small rituals like pancakes shaped like snowmen or a special Christmas Eve dinner where the rules relax—dessert first, maybe—can make kids feel like the season is special. What they remember isn’t the menu but the mood.

Make It Feel Like A Movie (Sort Of)

We all have a soft spot for holiday movies because they remind us of what the season’s supposed to feel like—messy, emotional, and full of heart. Watching Hallmark movies might make adults roll their eyes, but they also tap into that universal craving for warmth and connection. Kids don’t care about clichés; they care about atmosphere.

Make the living room feel like its own film set: twinkle lights on, blankets piled high, and zero pressure to multitask. The key is setting a tone where everyone can just be. Maybe it’s a movie marathon night or reading classic Christmas stories with the lights low. The goal isn’t to script perfection, just to let moments unfold naturally.

Give Memories, Not Just Gifts

Kids will forget half the presents by February, but they’ll remember the things that made them feel included and seen. A hand-drawn treasure map leading to a hidden surprise. A small ornament chosen just for them. A handwritten note tucked inside the wrapping. These little touches teach them what thoughtfulness looks like.

You can also involve them in giving. Let them pick out something for a sibling or grandparent. It shifts the focus from what they’re getting to what they can create for others, which is one of the best lessons of the season.

Keeping The Magic Going

The magic doesn’t vanish when the decorations come down. If anything, it’s the afterglow that lingers: the new board game that becomes a winter tradition, the story that gets retold every year, the cozy sense that family time still matters even when life speeds back up.

What makes this Christmas unforgettable won’t be the biggest gift or the most flawless meal. It’ll be the feeling your kids carry with them when they think back years from now—that this was a home full of warmth, where they were loved, where the world felt just a little bit enchanted for a while.