Things to do with teenagers at Christmas

[cardy1969]

I was wondering what fun things you do as a family in the lead up to Christmas.

My dds are 14 & 16, so gone are the days of Santa’s grotto and pantomimes but I would still like to arrange a couple of family days doing nice stuff together. We usually go ice skating and to a carol service on Christmas Eve and we’ll have a trip to the Christmas markets but does anybody have other ideas?

Theatre or cinema trip, to replace the panto!

Don't know where you are in the country OP but a London friend took her lot to psychedelic glow-in-the-darkcrazy golf.

We are going for a walk through the Christmas lights in York and then food!

Theatre in Leeds - Lion witch and wardrobe and then food!
Food is always a big deal on our days out.

Also doing Blue Man Group in Birmingham on New Year's Eve - but that's about it.

Will get the fire pit out Christmas eve and toast marshmallows, and make hot chocolate.

Drag the family to church - either Christmas eve or Christmas morning as ds 2 is in the choir.

Build a gingerbread house/village either collaboratively or as a Bake Off.
Go Christmas shopping and choose a new board game to play and a family jigsaw.
Attend a wreath making workshop (there are hundreds of these around where I live) to make a wreath front door.
Gingerbread s'mores

Games night with treats. Could even be games like multiplayer video games like Mariokarts if you don't think they'll be up for board games

Cinema trip with dinner before hand.

Replace the panto with a theatre trip although this depends where you are.

Also a post Christmas idea is a good walk ending in a pub for a drink or a meal. You could taxi it back if necessary.

We're going to see Christmas Carol at the old vic as it's also a GCSE set text.

Festive afternoon tea at One Aldwych which is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory themed.

We went to a showcase de lux cinema recently and that was a bit special. It's on a grim retail park but we used the opportunity to buy Krispy Kreme donuts and festive Starbucks to take in. Would be good to go to new Star Wars at it

We are hopefully going to see Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets with a live orchestra. We'll also be doing walks with friends and hot choc.

Cinema! Always some cheese on and you can double it up with a festive meal out or a hot chocolate if funds don’t allow a meal.

Thanks for the ideas. I’ll look into some of them. We’re in a big city and usually do a theatre trip, both dds love musicals, but there isn’t anything we fancy before Christmas so we’re waiting until Jan to do that. Cinema is a good idea so I’ll wait to see what’s on nearer Christmas. Love a good walk and will be doing that with family between Christmas and NY, pub lunch sounds good to follow it