How to Involve the Whole Family in Decorating the Christmas Tree

The festive season is one of the most magical times of the year, and decorating the Christmas tree is a beloved tradition for many families. It’s a special opportunity to create lasting memories together, transforming your home into a winter wonderland. However, getting the entire family involved in decorating the tree can be both fun and challenging, especially when you’re trying to keep everyone engaged. Luckily, with some planning and creativity, you can make this a family activity everyone will enjoy.

And, with the convenience of Christmas tree delivery in London, you won’t need to worry about finding the perfect tree. The festive fun can start right at your doorstep! Let’s look at how to make the tree decorating process a meaningful and enjoyable experience for the whole family, from choosing the tree to adding the final touches.

1. Start by Choosing the Perfect Tree Together

The first step in decorating your Christmas tree is, of course, selecting the tree itself. If you’re in London, Christmas tree delivery London services can make this part of the process a breeze. But that doesn’t mean the family can’t still be involved in choosing the perfect tree. Many Christmas tree delivery services now offer online selections, so you can gather the family around and decide on the size, shape, and type of tree you’d all like from the comfort of your home.

If you have small children, you could turn the selection process into a mini family meeting. Discuss whether you want a tall tree that brushes the ceiling, or a smaller, more manageable one that fits perfectly into your living room. Ask everyone to share their opinions – even the little ones! This step helps set the tone for family involvement right from the start, making everyone feel like part of the experience.

2. Assign Roles Based on Everyone’s Strengths

Once your tree has been delivered and is standing proudly in your home, it’s time to get decorating. To make the process run smoothly (and avoid chaos), assign tasks to each family member based on their age, strengths, or interests. Here are a few suggestions:

• The Lights: Stringing the lights around the tree can sometimes be a bit tricky, so this task might be better suited to adults or older children. You can pair up siblings or have an adult supervise the process to ensure the lights are evenly distributed.
• Ornament Placement: This is the fun part for everyone! Younger children might prefer placing non-fragile ornaments on the lower branches, while older kids or adults can handle more delicate decorations near the top.
• Tree Topper: Placing the star or angel on top of the tree is a highlight for many families. To make this moment special, allow the children to take turns each year or let everyone work together to hoist it up. It can be a shared family triumph!
• Garlands and Tinsel: Adding garlands and tinsel can bring the tree to life, and this is a great task for everyone to join in. Let each family member take a section of the tree and drape the garlands or tinsel in a style they like.

By dividing up the responsibilities, you ensure that everyone feels included and no one is left out of the fun. Plus, each family member gets to play a role in making the tree unique!

3. Make Ornament Selection Personal

One of the best ways to get the whole family involved in decorating the Christmas tree is by making ornament selection a personal experience. Instead of using generic store-bought ornaments, try incorporating decorations that reflect each family member’s personality or memories.

• DIY Ornaments: Organise a pre-decorating craft session where everyone makes their own ornament. From simple paper snowflakes to more intricate painted baubles, having ornaments that each family member has created adds a personal touch to the tree. It’s also a fantastic activity to keep children engaged and excited about the decorating process.
• Memory Ornaments: Use ornaments that represent special moments from the past year. For instance, if the family took a memorable holiday or celebrated a big milestone, find or create ornaments that reflect those experiences. Each time you hang these on the tree, you’ll relive those memories together.
• Family Tradition Ornaments: If you have family heirlooms or traditional ornaments passed down through generations, involve the family in learning about their history. These types of ornaments can make tree decorating even more meaningful and can become part of your family’s holiday storytelling.

By making the decorations personal, the Christmas tree becomes more than just a festive centrepiece – it becomes a reflection of your family’s journey and traditions.

4. Add Festive Music and Snacks

Decorating the Christmas tree doesn’t need to be a silent affair. In fact, adding some festive music and tasty snacks can elevate the whole experience, turning it into a party-like event that everyone will look forward to.

• Christmas Playlist: Create a Christmas playlist featuring everyone’s favourite holiday songs. You could even let each family member choose a song to add to the list, ensuring that the music suits all tastes. From traditional carols to pop Christmas hits, the music will set the festive mood and keep spirits high as you decorate.
• Festive Snacks: Prepare a few holiday treats to enjoy during or after the decorating session. Whether it’s gingerbread cookies, mince pies, or hot chocolate with marshmallows, snacks give everyone something to look forward to as you work together to transform the tree.

These little details can make decorating feel more like a celebration and less like a chore. You might even consider turning it into an annual tradition to bake together before decorating, further reinforcing the family bonding aspect.

5. Create a Timeline with Breaks

While it’s tempting to want to decorate the tree all in one go, sometimes it’s better to break the process into smaller, more manageable steps. For families with young children, this can help keep the excitement levels high without overwhelming them.

Start by unpacking the tree and getting the lights up on the first day. The next day, you can dedicate to hanging ornaments, followed by the final touch of adding garlands and the tree topper. By spreading out the activities, you keep the fun going for longer and ensure everyone stays involved.

For very young children, taking breaks in between tasks can prevent them from losing interest or becoming overtired. After all, tree decorating should be an enjoyable and relaxed activity, not something rushed.

6. Capture the Moment with Photos and Videos

Since decorating the Christmas tree is such a special occasion, why not capture it for future memories? Encourage everyone to take part in snapping photos or recording videos as the tree comes together. Not only does this create a visual record of your family’s traditions, but it’s also a way to preserve those moments for years to come.

Create a photo album or a short family video montage that you can share with relatives or look back on during future holidays. Letting children take a few photos themselves also gives them a fun role in the decorating process. Plus, having photos of everyone together as they decorate can be a lovely way to reflect on the warmth and joy of the season.

7. Organise a Post-Decorating Tree Lighting Ceremony

Once the tree is fully decorated, make the first lighting of the tree a special event for the whole family. Gather everyone together, turn off all the other lights in the room, and have a countdown before switching on the tree lights. This simple tradition creates a magical moment that feels like the official start of Christmas.

For families in London, you could even take inspiration from the city’s iconic tree lighting ceremonies. Whether it’s the lighting of Trafalgar Square’s towering tree or the beautiful lights of Covent Garden, London is full of inspiration. Bringing a similar sense of occasion to your home tree lighting is a wonderful way to build excitement and holiday spirit.

Conclusion: Make Christmas Tree Decorating a Family Tradition

Decorating the Christmas tree is about more than just placing ornaments and lights. It’s about coming together as a family to create something beautiful and meaningful. By involving the whole family, you turn a simple holiday task into a cherished tradition that everyone looks forward to year after year.

With the convenience of Christmas tree delivery in London, you can focus on making the decorating process as fun and stress-free as possible. From selecting the tree together to adding personal ornaments and enjoying festive treats, these moments are what make the holiday season truly magical.

So, gather your family, put on some Christmas music, and enjoy the process of transforming your tree into a symbol of love, creativity, and togetherness this holiday season.