Celebrate the magic of the season

Those who rush around decorating, buying presents and attending holiday gatherings might have a tendency to not only go a little crazy but might also forget the true meaning of Christmas.

4 Simple ways to make Christmas extra special

Don’t forget to celebrate in ways that reflect the true meaning of the holiday and cultivate family memories that will last a lifetime.

For some, the holidays are all about baking, for others it's about finding that perfect gift, but no matter what the holidays mean to you, it's easy to get stressed out and that is why it is so important to remember to slow down and savor the magic, especially for the sake of your kids!

Here are four simple ways to make your family's holidays brighter and calmer:

At the end of a busy day, bundle up and take a walk (or drive) around your neighborhood to ooh and ahh over holiday decorations. Seeing a child's face light up over twinkle lights is truly a sight to behold. If you're lucky, you live in a city like Tucson, Arizona where Winterhaven is located and can delight in an entire neighborhood of nearly 300 homes that for 63 years have participated in the Festival of Lights! Check with your local community center or Travel & Tourism organization to see if a place like this exists near you.

Take some time out to snuggle up on the couch in your jammies with some hot chocolate amidst the glow of your Christmas tree and watch a holiday movie together. Some of our favorites include: The Polar Express, Elf, A Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th Street and It's a Wonderful Life.

We are inundated with holiday madness from basically the day after Halloween through Christmas so it's nice to escape it all and do something completely non-holiday related like visit a zoo, museum or library, play a favorite board game, build a fort in your living room or plan your family Spring Break getaway.

We know the holidays should never be about receiving — giving is fun too! And, now that you've baked nine dozen cookies, four fruit cakes and two pans of salted caramel mocha cupcakes, put together fun festive tins full of your sweet treats and personally deliver them to family and friends. They are sure to appreciate your kind gesture.

More about capturing holiday magic

Holiday stress: Help your kids through the holiday season
How to survive the holidays with your family
4 Ways to truly enjoy the holidays