Dec 24, 2015 3 min read City Kid Corner

5 Fun Ways To Make Your Christmas Eve Magical

Our family is in that golden age of Christmas magic. At 5, Henry is old enough to understand Christmas, and loves the idea of picking out gifts for friends and family. The best part, though? With all his heart, he truly believes in Santa Claus.

Sometimes it seems like kids nowadays grow up so much faster than I remember growing up. Many of Henry’s friends already know the truth about Santa, so it’s only a matter of time before he begins to question St. Nick’s existence. For that reason, we’re relishing every second of this brief period of wonder, and making the holidays as magical as we can for our son.

If you’re looking for ways to bring Santa and the spirit of Christmas to life in your home, we’ve pulled together five of our favorite Christmas Eve traditions. Check out the details below!

*Volunteers at the NORAD Santa Tracker (Courtesy Master Sgt. Chuck Marsh)*

NORAD Santa Tracker: This one is an oldie but a goodie. Kids follow Santa as he travels around the world, and get a fun geography lesson in the process. At the time of this post, Santa was dropping off gifts to the good girls and boys of Australia.

*Santa is ready to go (Courtesy Portable North Pole)*

Portable North Pole Video: We’ve created Portable North Pole videos for the past several years, and they’re always a hit. You can go with the free version, or chose premium video options ($3.99 for one video or $9.99 for unlimited videos) that feature Santa in locations around the North Pole. Santa speaks directly to your child, showing pictures of everything from their house to toys on their wish list, and near the end will let them know if they’re on the naughty or nice list.

Catching Santa In The Act: If seeing is believing, then kids will love a snapshot of Santa in their own living room. Websites like Capture the Magic allow you to upload a photograph of a room in your house, and then insert Santa into the scene. If you’re good with programs like Photoshop or PicMonkey, though, this would be an easy project to DIY.

A bell from Santa's sleigh (Courtesy Polar Express) — *A bell from Santa’s sleigh (Courtesy Polar Express)*

Does The Bell Ring For You? The Polar Express has been a favorite in our house for years. After reading the story, present your kids with a bell and watch their faces light up when they hear it ring.

*Magic Reindeer Food (Courtesy Idea Closet)*

Reindeer Treats: Santa isn’t the only one who gets hungry during the long Christmas Eve journey. Have kids put together a special treat for Santa’s team – made up of oats and sprinkles – to leave with the cookies and milk. Who knows, Santa might leave an extra goodie for their thoughtfulness.

What are some of your family’s Christmas Eve traditions? Share them with us in the comments below.