5 Ways to Make Your Home Kid Friendly for the Holidays -

5 ways to make your home kid-friendly for the holidays so that you all have a wonderful time making memories without worry!

Something very exciting is happening this year! We are hosting our whole family on December 25 for a special feast & white elephant exchange!

We did this last year too, but this year our whole family will be attending!

In just a couple of weeks, Roger’s sister & her family will be moving back to the area from Africa! This means adding 6 more people to our dinner table. Which means we will have 11 nieces & nephews hyped up on sugar & holiday spirit running around our house!

I can’t wait!

I’m also a little unsure of how we are all going to fit everyone around the tables in our living room. But we will make it work! Even if it means we are all extra cozy next to each other!

And even with all of my excitement about being with all of our family this holiday season, I know I need to prepare our home a little bit more before they all arrive for the fun. Especially because we are a family of two, which means our house isn’t exactly childproof.

That being said, our nieces & nephews come over quite a bit, so it’s not like we need to duck tape bubble wrap to everything. They definitely know how to behave, but there is no such thing as being too prepared!

And I know not everyone has as many nieces & nephews to give them practice before the holidays. So I thought I would share some tips to help you make your home kid-friendly this season.

Because let’s face it while kids are always lovable & snuggly they can also be sticky, dirty, unpredictable, & all over the place. Which means you need to be prepared for anything & everything, including messes! Which is why I’ve teamed up with Walmart to help you be prepared for whatever that sweet little firecracker throws your way!

The closer we get to the end of the year the busier you will become. So before I get to the five tips below, I have a quick tip to help you become more efficient. You can purchase your favorite household essential products in Walmart or online & get cash back through Ibotta!

YAY!

This means you can pick up MORE things in LESS time. You can save time & get the best deals from Walmart by ordering online or pick-up right in the store!

And here’s another little tip for your convenience. Walmart’s free two-day shipping lets you skip that extra trip to the store & have everything delivered to your home instead, so if you need it ASAP you can “get it ASAP” without having to sacrifice any of your time.

Oh, & don’t think that I forget about the part where I said you can spend less! You can click here for an Ibotta rebate that you can use online or in-store. And since there is no such thing as too many savings I’ve also included a whole list of Ibotta rebates at the bottom of this post so you can find just the right one for your shopping list!

And hopefully, with the helpful tips below, you will be a hostess expert this season! So whether you have family staying with you for a week or simply hosting your whole family of 25+ people for a dinner party you will be prepared!

1. Remove Breakables

Keep snowglobes, glass ornaments, & special mementos out of reach of little hands.

And don’t forget kids will start climbing without thinking what they are climbing on (true story), so be sure it isn’t in plain sight to taunt them just out of reach.

2. Fun Activities

Having a few fun activities planned is a great way to keep kids from getting into mischief.

Chances are they will have seen pretty much every holiday movie twice by the time they get to your house, so while you can have one on standby I recommended activities like holiday coloring books (crayons & pencils recommended), creating salt dough ornaments, or decorating gingerbread houses.

And if you start to run out of ideas, Pinterest has a neverending collection of activity ideas for children.

3. Going Flameless

When you are used to just adults in your home it can be easy to light a candle & not worry about it, but this can be dangerous with children around. If you don’t have any high shelves or counters to place your lit candles or simply wish for the candlelight effect I highly recommending going flameless this season.

And if you want to add some special lighting, try adding little twinkle lights in various places around your house, like in garland around your door.

4. Easy Snacks

I’m basically a kid, I’m always hungry. So having snacks around for the kids (& me!) is a must.

You can do quick snacks like clementines or granola bars. Or you can do interactive snacks like stringing popcorn or decorating sugar cookies.

5. Clean Up Essentials

Chances are, even the littlest activity & snack will bring on a mess, big or small. So make sure you are prepared for any mess that comes your way by having an easy to reach stash of household essentials including plenty of toilet paper, paper towels, & facial tissues on-hand while you entertain guests & little ones in your home.

I stocked up on Viva Roll (winter design), Scott Towels, & Cottonelle Double Roll Ultra the last time I was at Walmart.

And for those looking for awesome savings at Walmart here is the list of Ibotta rebates I promised! And while some of these look like duplicates, they are actually for different products within your favorite household essential brands. So now you can get savings for exactly the products your family uses & loves!

$1.50 Kleenex Ibotta | $1.50 Kleenex Ibotta | $.50 Kleenex Ibotta | $.50 Kleenex Ibotta

$1 Cottonelle Ibotta | $1 Cottonelle Ibotta

$1 Viva Ibotta | $1 Viva Ibotta

$.75 Scott Ibotta | $.75 Scott Ibotta

Also, a bonus little tip, I like to go to the dollar store & stock up on inexpensive little toys, activity items, & candy. Then I wrap them up, put them in a large gift bag, & throughout the night I let the kids reach in & pull out a special surprise.

It’s amazing how something as small as a slinky or colorful top can excite the imagination of a child.

And while I hope these tips help make your home kid-friendly for the holidays, it’s also super important to remember to be in the moment & to take time to make memories that will last forever!

Happy holidays!

What is your favorite way to make memories with your family during the holidays?
I’d love to hear from you!
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With love, Giustina