Celebrating Christmas? Involve the Kids in Decorating
By Carleton Varney- Special to the Palm Beach Daily News
Last week I wrote about embracing simplicity in Christmas decorations. This week, however, is for you maximalists.
If there is any time of year suited for decorating, it is now.
And if I know a family who takes that sentiment to heart, it is my friends the Pridhams of Rhode Island and Texas — and one day soon, I hear, Palm Beach.
The Pridhams are true Christmas lovers and decorate a tree for each room of their home, including all the children’s bedrooms. There’s a tree for Brooke, another for Graham and one for Noah. And, of course, there’s a happy colorful tree in the master suite for Emberli and her husband, David.
As the Pridhams’ holiday decorations illustrate, there are many styles of Christmas trees. And each of us who celebrates the holiday has the opportunity to express our own color choices.
Emberli has selected decorations for her children’s trees in pastel blues and and pinks complemented by naturals. For her living room, she chose more traditional tones of golds, reds, silver and green.
Emberli and her husband are children’s book authors known for their “If Not You, Then Who?” series. Emberli loves working with her own three children to create the stories she writes about.
She also believes in getting her children involved in the Christmas-tree decorating. She knows that her children love to hang ornaments on the tree, baubles that bring remembrances of Christmases past. She knows every year offers a new adventure and a chance to make new memories.
When I was a child, my parents had what we called a “growing stick” painted on our kitchen wall. At Christmas, my height was recorded as was my sister’s. It was as much a childhood tradition in our house as decorating the tree.
If you’re putting up — or have already erected — a Christmas tree this year, why not consider adding a tree or two in other rooms, even if they are just sized for a tabletop. We've all been through a lot over the past 22 months, and the spirit and joy of the holidays seem more welcome than ever as we gather — safely, of course — while looking forward to 2022.
Whether the choice is a green tree or a white one, the decorative options are many. You can go pink, blue, red, green — whatever colors you fancy — and enjoy the creative process.
And should you have your own little Brooke, Graham and Noah in the house for the holidays, you can be certain they will love decorating the tree — or trees — with you.
- Tags: carleton varney Celebration children Christmas creativity decorating holiday decorations holidays maximalist trees
3 comments
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Lynn Taylor on
Wishing EVERYONE at Carlton Varney a safe and healthy Holiday Season and New Year 2022! 🌴 Lynn
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Isabel moore on
I decorated a total of six trees. The sixth one was for the dog. When the children got older we went to the Greenbrier for Xmas and enjoyed their trees and festivities. Merry Christmas Carlton. Isabel Moore
Will you be hosting a decorating weekend at The Greenbrier in 2022? I would LOVE to attend, bring friends and meet you in person!
Blessings, Kimberly Bean