Kate Gosselin of “Jon and Kate Plus 8” Shares Her Tips for Holiday Success

Between three loads of laundry and making 30 meals, there just never seem to be enough hours in the day! So Jon and I have developed shortcuts and tips to help our household run smoothly, and make the holidays special for each of our kids. One thing that we never forget is to remember what the holidays are really about—the quality time spent with family and the ones you love.

Kate’s Top Eight:

1. Super Shopper – I make lists to stay organized, and start gift shopping months ahead of time so I’m not running around the week before. I also buy groceries well in advance, so that I can begin preparing make-ahead meals that keep in the fridge and still taste great. For instance, I love making side dishes like stuffing and mashed potatoes ahead of time, and just heating them up for the big holiday meal.


2. Make it Memorable – Since my kids don’t have money to buy gifts, I help them get creative by making holiday cards for their siblings. It’s a great tradition and keepsake for them to look back on for years to come, and inexpensive for hands-on fun.


3. Buy Smart Toys– I try to find toys that encourage learning and are also fun – so the kids and I can feel good! I love VTech’s new V-Motion gaming system, because it’s educational, gets the kids up and moving, and they have fun with their favorite characters. Plus, multiple kids can play at once…a huge benefit in our household!


4. Give Yourself a Gift of “Me” Time – It’s important to try and try to get away for some “mommy” time to sit back and collect my thoughts – even if it’s only five minutes to put my feet up. Especially during the holidays, when it seems that everyone is even more harried.


5. Cooking Class – I love getting my children involved in helping to prepare the holiday meal. I give each a simple task like measuring out milk, cleaning the counter or making name cards for everyone at the table. It helps them learn and spend time together, and they feel great about helping out mom.


6. Time for Traditions – In our family, we make yearly traditions that the whole family can look forward to, like singing Christmas carols or opening one present on Christmas Eve.


7. Bring Out the Classics – Mini-movie night is a family favorite—we make some cinnamon popcorn and all of us watch movie classics like “Miracle on 34th Street” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”


8. Light Show – Our family gets in the holiday spirit by making hot cocoa, getting in our warmest winter clothes and walking through the neighborhood on a tour of the holiday lights.