The countdown to Christmas is on! Wondering what to do with your little ones over the Christmas break? Though the December calendar may already be filling up on its own with parties, school productions, and family gatherings, this is also the time of year when you may start seeking out Christmas activities to occupy your children and keep them calm and entertained!
We’ve put together a helpful list of some of our favourite creative and crafty budget-friendly ideas to keep festive spirits up at home…
Whether it’s choosing a Christmas tree from a farm as a family or simply popping on your favourite Christmas movie, there are plenty of ways to feel festive. Here are some of our top ideas for activities:
A popular one of recent times! It can feel demanding for tired parents, but – if your will permits – wildly entertaining for the children who get to wake up and see what new scenarios their family’s naughty elf has got themselves into!
An ideal way to burn off some energy. Simply wrap up some Christmassy clues and hide some gold chocolate coins at the end! You could even get your Elf on the Shelf involved in the hunt or to provide a clue.
A great hack for parents is to freeze your child’s favourite toys or treats in ice, and the children then have to think of creative ways to retrieve their hidden gems. Little ones love the process and getting to the toy or the treat at the end of their hard work.
At Kids Planet, we recognise the importance of getting children outside as much as possible, and this is no less true over the Christmas period. We recommend getting your children outside in all weathers. It helps them sleep better, burns energy, and is good for their mental health (as well as yours!).
You could rug up to walk or drive around and spot the festive decorations around your neighbourhood, or if we get lucky and your area has some snow, grab your sledge (or large tea tray) and head out to your nearest hill. Make snowmen/animals or anything else you can think of!
Make and write Christmas cards with your children. Don’t fear the tidy up of glitter (it’s worth it – and also you can buy biodegradable glitter to make sure you’re looking out for the environment!) this festive season. Getting creative is fun for both children and parents alike.
A simple but fun one is to decorate your own wrapping paper – pin it down and let the fun commence. Grab some paint and create hand prints, prints with potato shapes or pine cones, or even freestyle, and once it’s dry, use it as charming wrapping paper for presents.
If you want to decorate the living room as a family but your tree decorating is an artform you can’t let go of, an easy win is to buy a mini tree for the children to decorate alongside you.
While you’re at it with the children’s tree, you could help your little ones create decorations that they will be proud of. Whether they’re made from card, felt, dough, or whatever else you can find, it is a great way to keep them occupied and in the Christmas spirit and spend time together.
From donating toys and clothes to a local charity, collecting food for a local food bank, or creating a special Christmas box for a child in need, Christmas can be a great time for teaching children about the true meaning of Christmas. You could even make cards for a children’s hospital or nursing home and even go and visit the children or residents.
Take some time to bake some delicious Christmas cookies and biscuits for the family – or as gifts for friends or grandparents! You could get some different Christmas cookie cutters like gingerbread men, stars, Christmas trees.
Or you could try making a gingerbread house (you can buy pre-made houses too that the whole family can decorate) and let the little ones go for it. They’ll love getting stuck in, particularly when it comes to scoffing down the results!
Let the party come to your kitchen this year with a fun-filled Christmas disco in the comfort of your own home. Make a Christmas playlist on Spotify or YouTube, hit play and enjoy. If you’ve got a disco light, even better!
You could even put on your own family nativity – get the little ones in character to re-enact the nativity at home (or just let them have fun dressing up as the characters).
Check out the numerous apps and channels available to find your child’s favourite TV shows but Christmas specials and episodes – think Dougie or Fireman Sam – to keep them occupied and give parents a few minutes to focus on wrapping presents!
‘Tis the season to be making special memories with your family, and also sometimes you just need your little humans to take a breath, sit and chill amongst the Christmas chaos.
Merry Christmas from your Kids Planet family!
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