The holidays are quickly on their way, and while there are tons of ways to celebrate, you should feel free to get a little creative with it and make your own traditions (there’s no law requiring you to dress everyone in matching red velvet jumpers to sit on Santa’s lap). So instead of battling between getting the perfect picture and your baby’s natural urge to wiggle, harness the power of those inevitable Hallmark moments—the first giggle, the budding personality, the two-toothed grin—to make your December super special.

Here are six new traditions you can start to meet your little one where they are and celebrate joy in this season—without all the stress.

1. Make DIY ornaments

meaningful and fun ways to make babys first holiday memorable 0 Motherly

Decorating the tree is a beloved tradition, and having a little one is all the more reason to get into the spirit of it. Get the baby—and the rest of the family—involved in the fun by letting everyone color or paint on an unbreakable, homemade ornament and hang them towards the bottom of the tree. And sure, your infant may not create any masterpieces at this age, but not only will the precious family heirlooms stay higher up (read: away from tiny hands), you’ll also be creating keepsakes to build on for years to come.

2. Bring a holiday scene to life

Connecting your children to the spirit of the season is an important part of teaching them what it’s all about, but it’s not always so easy to do through books and stories alone. Instead, offer them the chance to live it out! Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas or another significant holiday, playing pretend is the ideal way to teach and have fun along the way for everyone in the family. Use a kid-friendly nativity book as a guide or make your own menorah as you explore the story of the oil that burned for 8 nights—whatever your religion, there’s an important tale to tell.

3. Make video cards

There is joy in receiving physical mail and holiday cards are a wonderful way to make your loved ones feel special. But don’t stop there! Record a video greeting to send to your nearest and dearest to keep even the most far-away relatives feel like they’re right there with you. Everyone will love seeing the baby’s latest milestones in live-action, and it’s a great way to spread the season’s warmest greetings.

4. Start a time capsule box

Making (and maintaining) a baby book is a fabulous idea, but sometimes keeping it up-to-date gets lost in the shuffle of parenthood. Use the holiday season as a time to reconnect with all those beloved memories for your kiddo by starting an annual time capsule box: Each year, have all members of the family add one item of their choosing (or your choosing, depending on age) to the box and label it with a little note. Things can range from a favorite holiday-themed blanket or toy to something they no longer need but aren’t ready to throw away.

5. Begin a culinary tradition

Nothing says “cozy” like a yummy-smelling kitchen filled with laughter. While your tot may still be too small to really help in the kitchen, it’s never too early to kickstart their love of cooking. Pick a recipe you’ll make every year and get them “involved” with a spoon and an empty mixing bowl. You’ll get to enjoy the fruits of your labor together and it’ll help encourage them to cook with you more year-round, too.

6. Play king for a day

We all know that as babies grow up—independence is a priority, no matter how ready for it we really are. This year, give them the gift of being in charge. By allowing your little one to eat what they want, wear what they pick (a sparkly tutu? No problem. An adorable Christmas cape? Great!) and play with what they prefer, you’ll be empowering them with a sense of self and giving yourself the gift of hilarious photo ops for years to come.

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