Here are 15 free or low-cost ways to enjoy the holiday season with children.  These ideas will enable you to spend time together as a family while also participating in activities that are special to the holiday season.  You may want to have a camera handy for some of the occasions.

1.  Take a walk around the neighborhood gathering nature items that can be used in seasonal crafts.  These items might include pine cones, tall pieces of dried grass, pine branches, twigs, colorful leaves that are not curled, and anything else that looks interesting.  Each child should have a bag for carrying his “treasures”.  A slow, leisurely walk is a very pleasant way to spend time as a family.

2.  Make holiday season decorations using the items which were gathered on the neighborhood walk.  For example, the pine branches could be woven into a holiday wreath or a swag with the pine cones and twigs attached to it with the long pieces of dried grass.  Red ribbon bows can be glued onto the twigs for an added touch.  The colorful leaves can be dried between sheets of wax paper in the phone book and then used to make a variety of cards, crafts, and ornaments. 

3.  Attend the holiday concert and holiday play at your local high school or college.  This is much less expensive than purchasing tickets to professional performances and the children seem to enjoy it just as much.  It also helps to support the drama and music departments of these schools.

4.  Find out if there will be a holiday parade within a reasonable distance of your home.  The easiest way to do this is to check the online websites of the chambers of commerce in your community and surrounding communities.  You might also check with your local high school as their bands almost always participate in parades.  This is a wonderful way to enjoy the holiday season with children.

5.  Remember which movie was really special to you as a child — the one which you couldn’t wait to see every year?  Rent that movie, buy some popcorn, and share that moment with your children.  Many kids are naturally curious about what their parents liked when they were the same age. 

6.  Take the children with you when it is time to select the Christmas tree. Show them how to examine the tree for bare areas and brown patches.  It might seem like a mundane chore for an adult, but children are fascinated with going to the Christmas tree lot.  The Christmas tree is very special to children and they will enjoy being included in this activity.

7.  Play some holiday music as your family decorates the Christmas tree.  If you will be using an artificial tree, then set out a bowl of pine scented potpourri or light a pine scented candle. 

8.  Host a holiday party for your child and his friends and classmates.  Have the tree decorated and the home looking festive for the holiday season.  

9.  Walk around your neighborhood after dinner to enjoy the holiday decorations.  Not only will everyone enjoy seeing the pretty displays, but you might just get a few ideas for your own yard displays.  If you walk early enough, just as soon as it is dark, you might even meet some of your neighbors and their children.  It could offer the opportunity for new friendships.

10. If you live in an apartment, take the children to the park on a snowy day and let them sled down the hills.  If you do not own a sled, then take a large piece of  a cardboard carton.  The younger ones may also enjoy making snow angels or building a snowman.  If you live in a house, then they only have to go outside to build a fort or a snowman. 

11.  Buy a holiday themed jigsaw puzzle and work on it together with the children.  Choose a size that is appropriate for the age of the kids. 

12.  After coming inside the home on a freezing winter day, enjoy the season by putting on some holiday music and making hot chocolate for everyone.  Top with whipped cream or marshmallows.  Then read a holiday short story.  Some magazines have children’s short stories in them during the holiday season. 

13.  Bake holiday cookies with the children.  Let them use cookie cutters to make holiday shapes, sprinkle them with colored sugar or decorate them with little candies. 

14.  Help the children to think of homemade gifts that they could give to others.  Then help them to gather the supplies and, if necessary, to help with or supervise the activity.

15.  Buy some art paper and water paints and paint holiday scenes.  The children can get inspiration from greeting cards and story books or simply looking outside at their own yard. 

This list offers 15 ways to enjoy the holiday season with your children.  There are many more.  Look to your children for ideas and inspiration.