The festivities are drawing closer by the day, and now is the time to think about what you’re going to be doing with your children to keep them occupied in the lead up to Christmas. It can be difficult to know what to do that will please everyone in the family, especially if the weather has gotten colder. Luckily, there are plenty of fun winter and Christmas activities you could be doing that the whole family will enjoy, so let’s check them out.
Watch Christmas Movies
There’s nothing quite like snuggling in front of the TV with yummy snacks, warm drinks and laughing at the classic Christmas films being shown on TV to get you feeling really festive. If you’re looking for an inexpensive day, try choosing a movie each, get into your warmest pyjamas, and enjoy each other's company watching your favourite Christmas movies. Stuck for ideas? Some solid favourites are Elf, The Grinch, Home Alone and the Polar Express. Of course, there are loads more to choose from!
Go Ice Skating
Bundle up warm with your hats, mittens, scarves and coats and head to your nearest ice skating rink. It’s a great way to burn off some pent up energy near Christmas time, and it can be a really fun experience for all ages. Not all venues provide ice skates, so make sure you check ahead to see if they do!
Do a Treasure Hunt
Perhaps everyone is feeling a little unchallenged recently, especially if the schools have broken up and you have some time off work. A great way to tackle that would be to have a treasure hunt. If you’ve got a garden, you can easily and cheaply hide treasure with clues around your garden for the kids to really put their minds to. Or, if you want to go bigger, consider getting a big group of people together and playing it in the park! It’s hours of fun for next to no money and everyone will have a great time.
Go For a Walk
Christmas is exciting, especially for small children. The anticipation of what Santa is going to bring may cause some overexcitement that means you need to use up some of their energy. Why not grab your coats and go for a walk? If you live somewhere with nature trails or hiking treks, take your camera with you and capture some beautiful moments out in nature. Just be careful if it’s icy on the ground - the last thing you need at Christmas is an injury!
Bake Some Delicious Snacks
Baking delicious snacks is another great way of getting into the Christmas spirit and spending some quality family time together. Buy some eggs, flour, butter and sugar, and whip up some delicious cakes and biscuits with the kids. Give everyone their own special job that will not only keep them occupied, but help teach valuable skills they can use later in life. Another bonus? You can all enjoy your efforts after dinner! Why not pair baking delicious snacks with your movie day?
If you’re trying to keep costs down this year, baking goodies for your family and friends is a great way to give a thoughtful gift without spending lots of money. Plus, it’s the perfect excuse to go and visit your loved ones!
Make Christmas Decorations
A fantastic way of making Christmas extra special is by making your own Christmas decorations. You can buy clear, plain baubles that you and your children could decorate with paint, glitter, or even small ornaments to go inside. There are tons of ideas online when it comes to Christmas decorations, so don’t be afraid to get creative!
Why not make this a yearly tradition for you and your family? Before long, you’ll have a whole tree full of lovingly handmade Christmas decorations for you to enjoy for many years to come.
Get Crafty
While on the subject of crafts, now is the perfect time to dig out your paper and envelopes and make some handmade Christmas cards to hand out to your family and friends. Coloured cards and envelopes are fairly inexpensive, and it’s another really good reason to take your kids to see family members and friends!
Visit a Christmas Market
Finally, there’s something really magical about walking around a Christmas market; the twinkling lights, the festive smells of turkey, cranberries and stuffing, and generally happy people doing their Christmas shopping. Even if you don’t spend anything, it’s a great way to spend the evening without having to spend any money if you don’t want to!
0 comments