Five children makes life hectic, especially at the holidays. One year my husband and I decided we couldn’t do everything we planned in time, so we saved some gifts and activities for New Year’s Day. We realized the children often put aside the educational items like board games and books they might appreciate better a week later. Plus it might avoid younger ones becoming overwhelmed with opening too many gifts and having a meltdown. It also meant not wrapping as many presents by December 25th, giving ourselves an extra week.

We slowed down, and even left baking some favorite holiday foods and goodies for the week after Christmas. Not only did it lower stress but the children loved it. We had another day of celebrating where they enjoyed new books and games. It became a tradition and a permanent shifting of trying to get everything done by Christmas Day. We discovered we liked the extra time to relax, spread out the busyness, and reflect on the past year. Consider options that will ease the stress of Christmas, and choose a few to try each year.

New Year with a New Focus

In creating our new switch-off of Christmas activities we decided to bridge the birth of the new king (Jesus) to celebrating everything new. As a family we started writing in a small book as a special New Year’s Day journal. We recorded the best and worst of the past year and the big prayers for the coming year. We’d read the entries of the previous year or two, and realize what God had answered and what unanswered requests needed persistence in prayer. We wrote the funniest memory, the worst crisis of the year, the best things that happened, and other family mile markers like finally recovering from a devastating hurricane or another move. We wrote each persons’ best answer to prayer and biggest prayer request for the coming year.

The idea is not to have another stressful day, but to choose a few of these ideas to make the day special or spread activities through the first week of the year

Lower the Stress

We realized we could celebrate the New Year with a few new but simple activities. The idea is not to have another stressful day, but to choose a few of these ideas to make the day special or spread activities through the first week of the year, ending with Epiphany/Three King’s Day when we celebrated being wise enough to follow Jesus. Most of our activities involved chatting, enjoying the last of the gifts, and looking forward to the coming months.

New Year with Scripture Reading

Choose scriptures to celebrate something new, whether creation, the future new earth, or reading about the gifts of the spirit and talking about a New Year to use those gifts, or a Psalm about creation or something new, such as Psalm 8, 19, 96, or 104. Follow it by going outside to look at nature and rejoice in a new year. 

New Gifts

Now that children tired of some of the gifts from Christmas Day, they will have a few new packages to unwrap. Reusing the paper and gift bags from Christmas saves money too. Schedule a time for the gifts set aside to be opened.  Let children know these gifts, full of knowledge will inspire new learning. They will get excited about them because they are the only gifts. It can remind them to do their best as school will restart soon. Play the new game(s). Let each person read the opening lines of the book received, or a random paragraph for a mystery glimpse of the contents. Everyone can respond to share what the book might really be about.

Or sit in a room together while everyone reads for a while. Then let everyone share what they enjoyed about playing and reading.

New Hugs

It’s a great time for a group hug, cheering for one another, and giving new compliments to each person. That will start the year with everyone feeling loved and a reminder to be kind all year.

New Food

Start the year with trying a new food or recipe to add to the fun. It might be a recipe from another culture, something new on the market, or experimenting in the kitchen. It’s also a great time to chat about healthier diets and choosing to try a new fruit or vegetable.

New Choices and Dreams

Chat about the New Year and new choices. Consider letting go of bad habits and making new choices. How can the family exercise together, choose bonding activities to do during the year, and dream about what to do for a family vacation or staycation days. Discuss what new challenges or adventures the family might want to try. There’s no need to decide yet, but it’s good to start the conversation.

New Blessings and Mercies all through the New Year

Read Lamentations 3:23 and talk about blessings and God’s mercy that is new every day. It’s nice to know we can have fresh starts every day as well as every year. You can talk about how forgiveness always gives us fresh starts. Mention that failure is just another learning experience that challenges us to do better. That’s why people often make New Year resolutions. The better approach is to think of ways to improve in one area, and set goals and steps to achieve that goal.

The better approach is to think of ways to improve in one area, and set goals and steps to achieve that goal.

Starting the year as a family and including them in discussions shows children you value them and care about their choices, as well as the heart, mind, and soul of each person.