Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Halifax, NS

I never realized how holiday traditions grew with your family. That the traditions start off small, with your small children then grow into memories of a lifetime. We have moved and spent most Christmas' in different locations since my preschooler was born. Yet there are was a few things that always remained the same. Since preschoolers thrive on predictability keeping traditions around the holidays becomes ever so important.

One of our Christmas traditions is setting up the tree together. We all gather in late afternoon (usually after afternoon nap), play some Christmas music and set up, then decorate the tree. Our preschooler hangs most of the ornaments with care. A lot of the ornaments end up clustered together (I usually sneak in and place them more evenly later). Every ornament on our tree is special. We do not have a lot due to moving, so each year we find that special one ornament that will enhance the tree. While in California we purchased a surfing Santa from Downtown Disney and a Native American made red chili from New Mexico the following year.

We still need to find our special ornament for this year. We joke that it should be a lobster or lighthouse, common trademarks of the Maritimes. We also need a family ornament with all our names on it. The last one we bought in Ontario, did not include our youngest!

As Christmas draws near, traditions and celebration take hold. Having our family together in our new home is absolutely perfect.

What are some of your holiday traditions?