Christmassy things to do in December?

[curiousgeorgie]

I really am looking forward to Christmas this year and have plans to make it the best Christmas ever with my 3 year old and 6 month old

I keep reading that people do Christmassy things with their DC everyday in December?

Because of how booked up things get so far we've booked to see a big panto with all our family, and a small panto in a local theatre with all our friends and their DC.

I'll take them to see Santa somewhere obviously...

What else do people do? Any ideas?

We're in Surrey if people have any specifics

Um.... make Christmassy things with them? Some ideas:

Christmas gift wrap - roll of brown paper, silver/gold/red/green paint and festive stamps (or even do potato printing if you're keen)

Cards/ gift tags

Making gifts - either baking things/ making sweets or making other presents such as photo frames, vases, also those layered cookie mixes in a jar are simple. You could make a calendar for relatives as a present with seasonal photos of your DC on each month.

Make salt dough tree decorations (either for your own tree or as gifts)

Make little snow globe type things - jar, little things to stick to the bottom eg lego people, glitter etc...

Your children are too young, but a lovely Christmassy thing to do if you're in Surrey is the outdoor ice rink they have at Hampton Court over the Christmas period. I went with my friends last year and had a blast!

You could take your 3 year old sledging if we get any snow (or alternatively snow-dome type places do junior tobogganing/ tubing sessions and 'snow play')

Awwww I remember when my DS was 3 and my DD was 6months (her first Christmas she was 6 months exactly)

I took DS to Lakeside one afternoon a week before Christmas (when it was quieter) to buy a decoration, a small teddy bear and gift box for DD and to see Father Christmas (short queues midweek. Noightmare Sat/Sun)

We took them on one of those Santa Steam Rides for DS birthday (in December). He was obsessed with Thomas the Tank Engine at the time too.

Panto is great for all ages - can you round it up with a high tea at your house? Make all the sandwiches before you go, have some cakes, squash, hot chocolate (with one of those aerosol whipped cream, marshmallows and a Flake) , tea/coffee for adults.

Our town centre does the Switch On of the lights in November (lots of hanging around though).

Walk in the woods and collect some holly, twigs to make decorations?

Mine used to put on dress-up outfits on Christmas Eve after tea.

We used to have a walk round the local streets at night to see everyones trees and lights.

Make some Fairy Cakes and icing then let your DC decorate them.

Of course your 6 month old will get swept along with everything this year. Probably won't even open their presents . But you still need to buy them. Or explain in years to come when they look at photos. (Yes DD. You ignored the carefully bought presents)

I have on my list so far with my DC (7, 6 and 4)
Make cards
Walk around neighbourhood to see lights etc
Light switch on
Bake gingerbread
Xmas DVD night (film and nibbles)
Collecting pine cones
See Santa
Garden centre for look, new decorations and cake in café
Make reindeer food
Ice skating
Pantomine

Obviously I can spell pantomime

The snow dome in Hemel hempstead has a Father Christmas and sledging its brilliant.

Pine cones are out in April/May round my neck of the woods so you might need to buy some onehell

(You can tell I've done the 'let's collect pinecones' before and come home empty handed. Then at Eater, walking along and the road was littered with....pine cones )

70isalimit - our DD's must have the same birthday! My DD (5 weeks today!) will be exactly 6 months on Christmas Day

25th June (like George Micheal)

Mine is now 11yo and estatic about starting Secondary.

5 weeks (aaawwwwww)

I'm going to try to do this this Christmas, on my list so far are:

Make cards
Make gift tags
Make decorations
Visit Santa/panto/local parties
Bake cakes/cookies
Christmas walk
Visit local lights

Basically stuff we would do anyway so doesn't cost much. This year I am definitely attempting a chocolate log

Can I add:

Go to a carol concert/school nativity
Buy Xmas present for a sibling
Make paperchains
Write a letter to Father Christmas
Make reindeer food

I do an advent calendar where they have a chocolate and a Christmassy task to do or book to read or DVD to watch or tip on every day. We go ice skating, to a panto and to see F.C. Somewhere local every year, and we also make Xmas fudge, mince pies, cards and tree decorations. Doesn't have to be big or expensive and we usually include one thing a week that is about helping or doing something for others just to keep the spirit going. Last year we helped a local group put together and deliver Xmas boxes to old people who were alone over Xmas.
Planning in advance is a good idea because you'll get better tickets and be able to sign up for plenty of things!

Oooooh you can do a little elf sleeping in the shed.
I made one from an old bath toy covered with a muslin cloth, a painted face (eyes, cheeks, smile) sleeping.
A little felt had with a bell (you could use a baby sock and a bell pinned in with a safety pin)

A tiny cardboard box bed.
Then go to see it with your 3yo, carry a torch or a candle in a jar.
If it's dark and they just have a 'peep' it's magical.
He goes back with Father Christmas so you need to make sure Elf is gone by Christmas Morning.

i'm inspired! i'm going to make an advent calendar with an activity on each day..i suspect "watch a christmas film" may be used more than once though

We celebrate advent, every Sunday in December leading yo to the 24th. We spend the day doing something crafty as a family. This year I'm really looking forward to making a gingerbread house with DS, making chocolate truffles and loads of yummy things.

As a child we would dip our own candles and make homemade sausages.

It is too soon for this nonsense why is MN full of xmas in July?

This is the Christmas thread??

And your name is noddy holder!!

Yes but xmas in december Too much wishing your life away anything can happen between now and then Way too much planning Get out and live a bit!

I'm stuck in, not allowed to drive after a c section and have a very bored moody toddler and baby that won't sleep anywhere but on me... I need Christmas to look forward to

I thought this was a zombie thread - but no!

agree - too much wishing away of life for the crappiness of retailmas. It is actually five months away although it does seem to start in about September.

baby won't care and toddler probably won't either. Why bother?

enjoy the summer. It is just outside your front door.

Um.. It's raining?

Boo to all the christmas naysayers! Hide the christmas board and leave us to our fun.

It's like going on aibu and complaining people are asking another aibu question.

Why would you come on the Christmas board, if you didn't want to talk about Christmas ?

Boo, if you don't want to talk about Christmas then don't! We're quite happy here in our own wee MN Christmas land wishes there was a Christmas icon

99% of the pleasure of Christmas is the build up to it and the anticipation.

I said to my DD that one of my favourite things is driving away from Sainsburys with a bootfull of shopping into the dark of a evening a few days before Christmas.
And I have all the shopping on my list plus a few added extras.
All paid for with my Nectar points saved through the year.

DH is . DS is DD understands