Get children involved in festivities

DEAR READERS: Holidays are for everyone in the family. And getting your children active in the festivities will truly make them a family affair. So include the children in the planning and let them be an essential part of the big events that will make them memorable. Here’s how to engage them:

1. Have your children create invitations for holiday gatherings on their computers, then email the evites to the family and guest list.

2. Let children be creative and make place cards for the table, or even make holiday-themed paper placemats.

3. Put children in charge of the decorations for the tree, around the house and the table centerpieces. They can gather branches, pinecones or winter berries for the centerpiece. They also can make their own ornaments.

4. Assign children to be in charge of opening the door, greeting the guests and taking their coats and scarves. Make sure they bring the company into the living room.

5. Allow the children to use their smartphones to take pictures of the gathering, guests, the table, the dinner party — all the laughter and happy events of the evening. They can email or text the pictures to all family members.

DEAR READERS: We use our best crystal and good china for all the holiday parties and events. Here’s how to clean and take care of them:

1. If your good china is rimmed with silver or gold, always hand-wash it. Never place it in the dishwasher. First, lay a soft terrycloth towel in the sink before adding the china or crystal. It’s best to put only one plate or glass in the sink at a time. That way, they will not get chipped or cracked by hitting each other. Hold crystal glasses by the stem when washing.

2. If the crystal still seems to be cloudy after washing, dip it into a warm vinegar rinse. If the cloudiness remains, the glasses could be etched with tiny scratches, which cannot be removed. Dry crystal glasses right away after washing with a lint-free cloth. This will make sure there won’t be any spots.

3. When you store plates, place a coffee filter or paper plate between each one to prevent scratches or chipping. Cover the stack of plates with plastic wrap so they don’t collect dust.

Write to P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000.