Christmas traditions engage the little ones

December 02, 2009 Dave Ullmann

Weekends during the holiday season can be jam-packed and stressful. If you need to find ways to keep kids busy during the Saturdays leading up to Christmas, plan out a few crafts.

Popcorn strings are old-fashioned and festive, but kids love making (and snacking on) them. To make this craft quick and easy, just pop two or three bags of microwave popcorn and thread large gage needles with yarn. (The larger needles will be easier for kids' fingers to handle and won't be as sharp.)

Then, help the little ones thread up all of the corn, creating an edible garland that they can hang in their rooms.

Almost everyone has a favorite classic holiday movie. One of the great things about kids at Christmas is that so many traditions are still new to them. Pop in a DVD of A Charlie Brown Christmas or How the Grinch Stole Christmas, both of which are great animated films from the '60s. Kids will be transfixed, and you'll have some time to wrap and hide presents or take a break.