As the days get shorter and the nights get colder, we find ourselves wishing more and more for the holiday season to arrive. Now that we have just started the month of November, sleigh bells are ringing, and depending on where you live, snow may have even started falling! What better way to celebrate the holidays than to spend time with your family? Today we’re going to be looking at a couple of things that you can do with your family to get into the holiday spirit!

Elf on the Shelf

An easy way to get your family into the holiday spirit is to set out the Elf on the Shelf! This helps ensure that your kids behave during the holiday season but also gives them a sense of joy as well. The Elf on the Shelf is a special holiday elf sent to your house to make sure your rambunctious kids pick up their toys, clean their rooms, and treat each other with respect! 

By day, the Elf “watches” your kids from the position you place it in, be it on the toybox, the mantle, or a bookshelf, and by night, they return to the North Pole with a report for Santa on whether the kids were naughty or nice! The only thing is that kids aren’t allowed to touch the elf, or they lose the magic. Then it’s just a doll! 

Deck the Halls

With boughs of holly (or just regular garland), decking the halls of your house is one sure-fire way to bring the holiday spirit to your home. Try not to focus on the “aesthetically-pleasing” Christmas decorations, especially if your kids are little. Glass ornaments may be fun and pretty, but handmade ornaments your children made during school and ornaments they’ve received over the years as gifts bring a certain je ne sais quois that adult trees don’t entirely give. 

If you do give your kids free rein over what ornaments go where it’s undoubtedly going to be quite an interesting tree! As your kids get older, be sure to explain to them how they got each ornament. This gives a special memory each time your kids take out their collection of ornaments. 

Make and Send Out Holiday Cards

Holiday cards are an incredible way to send your thoughts to someone you may not see every day. Taking photos with your family lets, you show everyone how much love your family has for each other. You could get together and create a gimmicky card of you and your family at the beach or a beautiful photo of you all together in the snow. Creativity is key for these cards! Maybe you all could dress up in matching pajamas or Christmas sweaters! 

Taking family photos is another great way to document your children growing up throughout the years as well. It’s also an incredibly thoughtful thing to do! Be sure to display the holiday cards you get where your family can see them as well.

Whether it’s taking Holiday card photos, decorating your tree and your house, or a secret elven scout for Santa Claus, there’s always something that you can do to get your family involved in the holidays.

Erik Halvorsen is a devoted father, loving husband, and ambitious innovator; he is consistently searching for new technology to help cure diseases, benefit patients’ lives, and change how we experience healthcare. He was named one of the top 30 Chief Innovation Officers in healthcare in the country, and he has been listed as one of the Top 40 Under 40 in Boston. Erik is also a member of the Forbes Technology Council.