In my last article, Grandparenting with Intention, I introduced you to Julie Walder—a grandmother with a background in early childhood education and a passion for creating fun, meaningful moments with her grandchildren.

In this installment, I’d like to share a seasonal activity that Julie has continued from the generation before. Though it’s specific to Christmas, it offers a great example of how you can tweak family traditions and make them your own. Or, if you’re like me, maybe you’re looking for a new idea or two to incorporate into your own holiday celebrations.

When Julie’s children were young, her mother would invite them over to help decorate the Christmas tree. They’d trim the tree together and then spend the night beside its twinkling lights. Inspired by that tradition, Julie has created a similar experience for her grandchildren.

Over the past few years, the Walders have turned this tradition into something truly special. In addition to decorating the tree, the grandkids now play games, enjoy pizza, and receive matching pajamas. They spend the night around the Christmas tree—just as their parents once did—and the next day, they make homemade ornaments.

One year, Julie and her daughter Katie even created a video invitation for a Grinch-themed party. Ornament themes have included Bluey, Paw Patrol, and Minecraft. Julie recommends basing the ornament designs on whatever the kids are “really into” at the moment. She also suggests using Pinterest as a fantastic source of inspiration.

And here’s the best part: each grandchild also makes a second ornament—just for Grammy Julie’s tree.

In addition to carrying on a family tradition that her mother began, she has created her own traditions.

Julie shared that one year, she was going through a particularly difficult season in her life, so she decided to pour her energy into something positive and uplifting—something that would energize her. Even though she doesn’t enjoy cooking, she loves decorating and creating an experience. With Valentine’s Day approaching, she put together a fun family dinner for her young adult children.

What began as a way to boost her own spirits has now become a sweet tradition for her children and grandchildren. Since she enjoys decorating more than cooking, she pulls out fancy dishes and tablecloths and adds little touches to make the dinner extra special. For her grandkids, that might mean milkshakes with sprinkles or colorful straws stacked with donuts. You can attach all kinds of fun things to a kid’s drink to make them smile! Homemade place cards are another fun and personal touch.

Julie loves creating special events and moments for her grandchildren. In sharing her ideas, I hope they serve as a launching pad for you and the traditions—old or new—you’d like to start with your own grandkid crew.

The holidays can be pretty stressful. May I suggest that you focus on the outcomes that are important to you, add in a dose of reality (leaving the Hallmark movie scenes to film), and apply grace?

Amount of time: Are you able to give two days to this activity, or do you need to trim it down to fit into a morning, afternoon, or evening?

Amount of space: Do you have more grandkids than square footage? Consider splitting the activity by boy cousins, girl cousins, family, or age group. Or, if they’re willing, kick the parents out for a date night and take over one of their houses.

Think about your skills: How much creative power are you planning to put into this? Keep it realistic and remember that giving your grandkids time to do an activity with you is what they’ll most remember and value later on. Just keep it simple and focus on the details you personally enjoy.

Hopefully, what Julie shared can help inspire your own holiday traditions and a gathering of the grandchildren. Have fun with it, and don’t play the comparison game or add undue stress to an already busy time of year.

If a gathering doesn’t work for you, click on “Resources” in the menu to find ideas and tips that fit your grandparent style.

Next time, I’ll share how Julie creates a fun activity for her active grandsons.