The Ultimate Christmas Gift for Your Child (That Money Can’t Buy)
I’ve been sitting here thinking about what I could share with you as Christmas approaches... Something that reaches your heart and reminds you of something you already know deep down.
And here it is:
The ultimate Christmas gift for your child is your fun spirit.
Yes, yours. The one that might feel buried under the weight of end-of-year busyness. The one that's quietly waiting for permission to come out and play.
This time of year is full... but that doesn't mean it has to be heavy.
There’s so much happening:
🎉 Parties to attend or organise
🎓 End-of-school events
🎁 Gift buying and wrapping
✈️ Holiday planning
🍽️ Cooking and more cooking
It’s no wonder your joy might feel dulled. But here’s the thing...
Even when you can’t feel your own fun spirit, your child can still see it.
When they run into your arms after the last day of school...
When they look up at you through the flurry of wrapping paper and to-do lists...
They see you—not just the tired, busy version, but the spark inside you. The parent who knows how to laugh, play, and be present.
This is the magic of Christmas that no store can sell.
When you see yourself through your child’s eyes, you begin to remember what it feels like to just have fun. And that is one of the most powerful gifts you can give—to them and to yourself.
Some of us already know how to tap into that playful energy. Others might feel rusty. But the truth is... it’s in you. It never left.
So where do you begin? You make a choice.
You choose to ignore some of the pressure.
You choose to cut back on the “stuff.”
You choose to lean into the spirit of joy.
Because when you do, something shifts...
✨ Giggles multiply
✨ Confidence grows
✨ Your happy hormones light up
✨ And time itself seems to slow down
It’s not about the spirit of Christmas.
It’s about the fun spirit of being a parent.
Here are some simple ways to bring it back:
🎶 Sing Christmas carols at the top of your lungs
🍪 Bake cookies and dab a little flour on your child’s nose
🎄 Pretend to be cheeky elves and chase each other around the couch
💃 Copy silly Christmas dance moves from YouTube
🎵 Make up your own lyrics to well-known carols
☁️ Lie on the grass and look for Christmas shapes in the clouds
🚗 Play "spotto" with houses lit up in Christmas lights
✂️ Make your own tree decorations
✉️ Write letters to Santa and decorate them with glitter and love
And if someone gives you a sideways glance as you and your child dance through the supermarket aisle? Let them. Maybe your joy will be contagious.
I’ve lost count of the times someone has smiled or laughed as they witnessed a shared moment of silliness between my children and me. These are the moments I want all of us to remember.
Because when your child looks back on Christmas...
They’ll remember more than what was under the tree.
They’ll remember how you made them feel.
They’ll remember the giggles, the mess, the magic... the love.
So this season, take the scales of life and gently tip them in favour of connection, joy, and presence.
That’s the kind of gift that lasts a lifetime.
This Christmas, give yourself permission to play.
What’s one small, silly, joy-filled thing you can do with your child this week? Pick it. Do it. And if you’re feeling brave, share it with someone else who needs to be reminded of the power of fun.
