Worried about child growing up, so trying to fit in Xmas activities

[Greenbutterlfy566]

My son is 7 and I’m acutely aware of how fast time is going.

I’m panicking about the Christmas activities and places to go to and things to see before he grows up. I want to get it ‘right’ I worry that I haven’t taken him to many places before he stops believing in Santa. I don’t want to make a mistake of missing amazing things that can only have the ‘magic’ through children’s eyes before it’s too late.

I mean things like big days out to theme parks and Christmas holidays etc.

Is anyone else like this?

Spinder- aww

When you look back at your childhood what do you remember as 'Christmas magic?'

Bear in mind that you will remember very little from under the age of 6. I can remember being cross about being the donkey in the Nativity play and that's about it.

When I remember mine, it is then probably no surprise that what I remember is stuff that we did exactly the same year after year after year - Christmas radio times, getting the tree, getting decorations down from the loft, putting them up in exactly the same places, making food together,my parents having a row on Christmas day, singing carols and so on.

My DM even managed to pull of annual trips to 'look at the toys' in London without us buying any, how she did this I don't know, she must have been a genius!

So simple things that are the same each year are a winner.

We are in Scotland so travel to Edinburgh for a few nights before Christmas to visit the Christmas market. This year we are trying 'Elfingrove' in Glasgow instead. DD schools tends to take them to panto but we used to do that when she was younger.

We always create our own winter bucket list type thing each year (inspiration from Pinterest) we try to do the activities in the run up to Christmas and throughout the holidays, DD asks for its each year, it's a great way try new things and spend some time together.

Now she's a little older I also think it's important for her be involved in the shoebox appeal each year, and we always donate her pre-loved toys and jackets to charity to remind her its about giving and not always getting.

Really no need to do "Christmas themed" parks etc.

We have always headed into our nearest city on Christmas Eve, to have a wander around and see the lights, have something to eat, then head home for a board game and to look out for Father Christmas.

My DCs are now 24 and 19 and still want to do this, as it's always been part of Christmas and something they remember.

You don't want a 10 year old who has done it all already. Space it out and make it last, do things they are likely to be too old for soon, but save some experiences for another year. They may act like they don't care when they get older, but teenagers and adults can enjoy the Christmas magic and create great memories too.

I only really spend on the panto, £70 for a family of 4, because our local one is very well produced, and very funny, no big stars though. My kids didn't like seeing the fake Santa's (apart from the lollypop man who dressed up at their school), they wouldn't talk to him and seemed a bit creeped out, so glad we don't have to do that now (they're 8 and 11). We did a Xmas experience at one of local petting farms, very expensive, it was all a bit fake jollity and went on for so long, me and my husband were bored and cold by the end of it, even the elves were joking about it!

Op, I have 4 dc (13, 11, 10 and 3) and the older ones say what they love about xmas is the family xmas traditions we have. We all go to the cinema on the afternoon of xmas Eve. On xmas day after lunch we watch old family movies (I use an ancient camcorder and record random events throughout the year). So we watch the year back and a select few from baby/toddler years. They LOVE this and laugh their heads off! We then do a family dance off/board game. We have a family xmas book (think 'Jones Family xmas book' that we all write in every year. Its a special book now and full of memories. Its just about that particular xmas day, the weather, gifts, how old they are. Brief note about the year sometimes. Boxing day walk in the woods followed by turkey curry and hot chocolate. I say op, find a family xmas tradition that you can both enjoy and look forward too every year. That makes xmas!!

I just think surely theme parks and holiday centres such as centre parcs, bluestone, Disney have their place? The kids always look super happy in photos.

Do you mean in their marketing photos?

Honestly the things we remember from childhood are rarely the big ticket items.. I remember that on Christmas morning we always had croissants for breakfast (I’m guessing they were considered expensive and / or exotic back then). I don’t remember if I went to a grotto, but I do remember the year my grandad dropped the beetroot, and it made a mess on the table cloth and the carpet and the curtains! I remember having the same stocking every year (I think I still have it in a box somewhere) way more than the presents that were in it.
I think we all just need to take the pressure off ourselves a bit.

Thanks everyone, you have all helped. So in general it’s the small things

We are doing one big thing which includes a night away. Booked months ago and got a good deal. Apart from that it's movies at home with hot chocolate, wrapping up for country walks, reading festive books we've built up over the years. All cheap and cheerful. Time together is the main thing.

Blue waves- do you mind if I ask where your going ?

Chessington Santa sleepover 🎅

@bluewavescrashing us too. 7th-8th Dec. Have you been before?

Enjoy the Chessington sleep over , looks like they’ve gone all out this year

Nice , hope you enjoy

Making special little traditions here are some ideas:

1. Go buy some cheap baubles and decorate a tree in the woods.
2. Go to a lille country church and sing some Carol's then have hot choc.
3. Go to Chrisdingle service.
4. Let your son choose a special bauble for the tree every year.

My children never believed fully in father Christmas and it didnt affect their enjoyment.

Go buy some cheap baubles and decorate a tree in the woods.

only if you don't leave them there, woods don't need to be more polluted by plastic tat!

I think I would have loved to take DD to lapland but I just couldn't justify the price tag.

What DD (now 12) loves is spending time with us and friends. Going on markets and buying a silly ornament is an annual tradition. Having a hot chocolate while ice skating, tree buying.

You know that brochures/web site photos are made by models getting paid for their tine? These are not actual guests so I would be vary about smiling and happy looking children.

I would never go away over Christmas until DD is old enough to properly understand that it would mean not taking presents with us, no tree, no lovely food but sharing everything with other guests. We sometimes do a very short trip to Germany to see family just before Christmas, that's nice but in my opinion also quite stressful.

I agree it’s not necessary but we went on a 4 day trip to Lapland when my 2 were 7 and 8.
Walking in deep snow in minus 20 degrees past reindeer, frozen creeks etc to find Santa’s cabin was the most magical thing I have ever done. Their excitement and wonder was amazing.
They don’t believe anymore and I’m so glad we did it why they still did
It’s not necessary to do but imo worth every penny if you can do it
Disney at Christmas was also great but that is great at any age. Lapland was magical

If it makes you feel any better, we have taken DS 7 to Center Parcs and booked the meeting Santa. The lights are lovely but it was over in 4 minutes and straight away he asked if we could go back to the pool now.

I felt it was more for us than him!

Christmas is just a magical time for children anyway your son will love it no matter what you do with him.

I have never got mine too wound up about it either because they can end up getting over excited and actually be overwhelmed if you don't watch it.

I just think surely theme parks and holiday centres such as centre parcs, bluestone, Disney have their place?

They have their place as places to go, but they don't seem very Christmassy to me. Centreparcs is better in decent weather so you can actually do some of the outdoor activities. Disney is anti-Christmas as far as I'm concerned - we went to Orlando though so that has possibly shaped my view. I think Disney and think "water park, boiling hot weather, bright sunshine" (all of which I like, but it isn't Christmassy).

Lapland/skiing holidays are Christmassy. It would be nice to do that at least once while DC are young. But for me Christmas is roses chocolates, mulled wine/hot apple, walking to Brownies in the dark, Christingle services, nativity plays, school Christmas fairs, decorating the house, seeing Santa in the local shopping centre, and Christmas shopping in John Lewis with all the lights and decorations up.

@LittleMousewithcloggson can I ask what part of Lapland you went too/who you booked with? We'd love to take DS when he's old enough to appreciate it, but a lot of the igloo resorts etc have really awful reviews.