by Kelly Ismail

Created on: December 10, 2008

The best way to decorate Christmas cookies is to let the kids decorate them. Kids love to decorate cookies and they come up with some pretty creative ways to do it. It lets them be active in the holiday baking. They get the biggest smiles on their faces and pride in their voices when they want you to eat the cookies they decorated.

There are many different ways to let them to this.

* If you are making chocolate chip or m&m cookies, let them add some to the top of the cookies. They can do this in their own design. Holiday m&ms add tot heir creativity. They can separate the m&ms into colors and decorate with just one color or mix the colors.

* If you make sugar cookies, the possibilities are endless for them. One of the things they can do is use holiday cookie cutters to shape the cookies. After they have baked and cooled, you can set out for them a variety of supplies to help them in their decorating genius.

Give them variety by using holiday colors with the frosting. You can also expand by giving them different types of candies or sprinkles to accent with. M&ms, red hots, silver sprinkles, and gumdrops. Anything that goes with the holiday season.

You can also give kids direction in what you want the cookies to look like and have them try and copy that. If you have cookies that are shaped like Christmas trees, decorate one yourself showing them want you want. Let them try to imitate what you did.

There are also cookies in the grocery store that the dough is ready made, but the kids can decorate them with edible holiday toppers and frosting.

If you make gingerbread men and women, let the kids tackle those too. They will give the gingerbread cookies life and character.

The idea with decorating cookies is to have fun with it. Kids usually have the most fun in being a part of decorating. It doesn't matter what type of cookies you make, they will find a way to add their own personal touch. Give them the supplies and they will make your Christmas cookies more special. They will give them variety and life and their own personal touch. Christmas day, when everyone is ready to snack and munch the cookies, the kids will be filled with excitment, pride, and happiness. And you will be too. Decorating cookies can be a great way to make memories and spend time with the family. It might not be the neatest and cleanup could be a little messy but it is something that you all did together.

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