If this might be your child’s last year believing in Santa, here are 10 heartfelt ways to keep Christmas magical—from meaningful traditions to special surprises that remind everyone what the season is really about.
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I can feel it—this might be the last year Blake believes. She’s nine now, teetering in that in-between space where childhood wonder starts blending with real-world curiosity. Her friends talk, her questions are getting more specific, and her little eyes—once so wide with Christmas wonder—now hold a glimmer of skepticism that breaks my heart just a bit.
As parents, we know this moment is coming, but nothing quite prepares you for it. There’s a lump in your throat when you realize that this could be the final year of waking up to the sound of tiny feet racing to see what Santa left, or catching her whispering to her Elf on the Shelf before bed.
So this year, my husband and I are doubling down on the magic. We’re pulling out all the stops to make sure this Christmas feels extra special, not just for Blake, but for us too—to soak in one last holiday where she still believes, even if it’s just by a thread.
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10 Ways We’re Keeping the Christmas Magic Alive This Year
It’s not about over-the-top gifts or picture-perfect moments. It’s about leaning into traditions, creating little surprises, and reminding her (and ourselves) that Christmas magic isn’t something that fades—it simply evolves. Here are 10 ways we’re keeping Christmas magical this year, even if it might be the last one where our sweet girl believes with all her heart.
1. A Special Delivery from Sparkle the Elf
Our Elf on the Shelf, Sparkle, is arriving this year with something extra special—the Sephora advent calendar Blake has been coveting as a skincare-loving tween girl! (You can read all about how we’re keeping our Elf simple and fun here). It’s a little glam, a little grown-up, and the perfect bridge between believing in Santa and feeling special in her own right.
2. Handwritten Notes from Santa
Instead of just gifts under the tree, we’re leaving Blake a few handwritten notes from Santa throughout December—tiny reminders that she’s kind, creative, and loved. These notes appear in random places: her lunchbox, her backpack, her coat pocket. The magic is in the surprise. Try these: From The Desk of Santa Claus Notes
3. A Family Trip to Santaland
This is the one over-the-top thing on our list, and it really happened by coincidence. We haven’t taken the kids back to NYC since we moved to Ohio, so we are taking them in December (a full kid-friendly itinerary is coming your way soon!). One thing at the top of our list is visiting Macy’s Santaland in Herald Square, just like we used to do each year whenever the kids were little. Please see the picture below for a flashback dose of cuteness!
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4. A Holiday Lights Drive with Cocoa in Hand
We’ve made it a yearly tradition to grab warm drinks and drive through nearby neighborhoods to admire the Christmas lights. This year, we’re adding a twist: Blake gets to be the “Chief Holiday Lights Judge” with her own scorecard to rate each house.
5. An Evening with No Technology
One December night, we’re doing a “no screens, just stories” night—Christmas books, board games, and baking cookies together. The focus is connection, not perfection. We plan on playing Christmas Bingo until we drink too much peppermint hot chocolate and fall asleep!
6. Keeping Santa’s Magic a Family Effort
Blake still writes her letter to Santa, but this year we’re slipping in a few extra prompts: “What do you hope for others this year?” and “What’s one gift you’d love to give?” It’s helping her see the giving side of the magic while she still believes in the getting.
7. Baking Christmas Cookies and Dog Treats
Passing down family recipes is one of the most magical ways to keep traditions alive, as well as creating new ones. For us, we have a few classic favorites we like to bake and always look up recipes for new ones. We like to bake too much and then box them up to hand out to our beloved neighbors. I also make homemade dog treats to hand out, too! These are the boxes and the bags that I use each year.
8. A Personalized Ornament Tradition
Each year, Santa brings the kids a special ornament in their stockings that represents something from the year. For instance, if we travel, I always sneak a special ornament from whenever we were on vacation to surprise them with. This year, I will grab one while we’re visiting NYC! This way, they will have a whole collection of memories to hang on their own tree.
9. A Countdown to Kindness Calendar
Instead of a traditional advent calendar, we also have one focused on kindness. Each day comes with a little challenge: make someone laugh, donate a toy, or write a thank-you note. It’s a sweet way to remind her that the real magic of Christmas lives in generosity. I have a full roundup here of ways to spread kindness during the holiday season that don’t cost anything at all.
10. Keeping the Mystery Alive
Even if she’s beginning to question Santa, we’re still going all in—half-eaten cookies, reindeer “hoofprints” on the porch, and Santa gifts under the tree. Because as long as she wants to believe, we’ll keep giving her a reason to.
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I know that next year might look different. The questions will be harder to answer, the magic will feel more nostalgic than mysterious, and my role as “holiday magic maker” will quietly shift into “memory keeper.”
But that’s the beauty of parenthood—we get to evolve right alongside them. This Christmas, I’m not trying to hold onto the past. I’m savoring the present—the sparkle in her eyes, the giggle when she finds Sparkle in a new spot, the warmth of her hand in mine during the tree lighting.
The truth is, the magic doesn’t really end when they stop believing. It just transforms—into laughter, love, and the memories we’ll both carry forever.
So if you’re in this same bittersweet season, take heart. Keep sprinkling the glitter, hanging the ornaments, and whispering the stories that make Christmas feel extraordinary. Because even when they stop believing in Santa, they’ll never stop believing in the magic of being loved. 🎅❤️
XOXO,
Allison
