A Child-driven New Year

Even the youngest family members can share in the excitement of a new yearby

by Hadeel Hegazy   A new year means a new beginning, but often in Egypt children are too focused on their upcoming exams to get excited about it. But you can still help your kids enjoy the positive vibes of the New Year celebrations with these not very time-consuming tips. Decorate the house. Have your children draw pictures of their New Year’s resolutions and goals, then hang the pictures up. You don’t have to celebrate Christmas to enjoy a tree: Older kids can write their resolutions on a paper chain and decorate their own “New Year’s Tree.” You can also let them unleash their imagination to redesign their bedrooms or playrooms with festive garlands, recycled materials and other decorations. Choose the menu. This is the season of huge family gatherings around a feast table. Plan a special family dinner and let your kids help plan and cook the menu. Take a day trip. As a break from the school books, use the time off for a family outing. Depending on where you live, you can easily spend a day at one of the nation’s many heritage sites, the seaside, the desert. It will be a welcome break to refresh their souls and recharge them with enthusiasm. Help those in need. Now is a great time to reinforce the idea that charity is welcome all year round, not just during Ramadan. Set aside a day for your kids to volunteer at an orphanage, food bank, a children’s hospital or another charitable organization. As they share their time and blessings with their peers, they’ll learn that everyone deserves to have hope for a happy new year.