Help - festive activities for the little people.

[PushHop]

I've somehow volunteered to host some festivities next week for a day - there will be a 9yo (who is very mature for his age but equally lovely playing the much younger other attendees and also has a bedroom to escape to if he needs some quiet!), 4yo, three 2yos and a 9mo. The 9mo and one of the 2yo will each have a parent with them for the duration, the other 4 I will be responsible for. The other adults are only likely to be around for a couple of hours until early afternoon.

I'm thinking of putting on the Polar Express from about 3pm with some popcorn, to see them through til dinner time and then 4yo and 2yo will go home leaving me with just my own two

Any ideas what festive activities I can do for the morning/early afternoon? I'm not very good at crafts but am willing to give it a go if anyone has any specific ideas!

I should add that the two children I am looking after are the children of my best friend, who has done an awful lot for me this year and been a fantastic support - she has childcare sorted but I have specifically asked to have the children on this day because I miss the oldest one very much since they started school (friend and I see another every week on our day off but since LO is now at school I rarely see them). So I want it to be extra special!

Polar express is a lovely film but possibly too scary for that age range. (plus the whole not believing aspect of the film)

You could make slat dough decorations, play games or if all else fails have a dance party with the baby shark song on a loop (they have a Christmas version)

Make christmas cards with black card, cotton wool for snow/snowmen, sticky stars and gold and silver pens.

Another option would be to make wrapping paper with pieces of brown paper and potato print stamps (star and christmas tree and both easy to carve).

I think polar express will be too frightening too. You'd be better off with Frozen, Santa Buddies or Mickey's Once Upon A Christmas, something like that. I wouldn't expect the dc to sit through it all either!

Oh god I am so terrible at salt dough but my 9yo is brilliant at it so that's a great idea. I tried it last year with my friends children but my paint was rubbish so it didn't really work. Will get some decent paint this year!

They all love Polar Express so I think they'll be alright, the 2yos won't really sit still and watch it anyway but I know it's the 4yos favourite and my 9yo loves it too.

Buy some gingerbread men, some tubes of icing and some sweets and let them decorate them.

Pin the nose on the reindeer
Treasure hunt
Christmas-themed bowling www.johnlewis.com/orange-tree-the-snowman-skittles-set/p3837038
A pack of six Christmas crackers with wind up racing Santa game www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/300043339
Playdough with Christmas-shaped cookie cutters

I always find indoor sparklers magical at Christmas, maybe pop them into a mince pie (or a pot of sand if health and safety conscious) with lights dimmed. And sing Happy Birthday dear Jesus as an early celebration.
Making a Christingle to take home?

Find some pine cones and spray with gold/silver or even just paint with white paint or use nail varnish then hang on the tree or any other hook.

Paint stars or any other Christmas shapes cut out or drawn
Play Christmas audio tapes