What do you do between Christmas and New Year?

[drspouse]

Easter and summer holidays are a lot easier as more things are open and the weather is nicer but last year we all went stir crazy basically.

We will probably try to go to the beach in waterproof trousers, and the cinema, and we have a theatre trip booked, but my DCs (older one awaiting diagnosis for ADHD, younger one very, very 4 at the moment) need routine and regular outings. All the fun stuff happens before Christmas (which as a firm believer in 12 days of Christmas drives me mad).

Go on holiday- somewhere warm with a kids club ;)

We usually have family stay on Boxing day. Rest of the time we go out for days with friends and their kids. In previous years we've gone to indoor trampoline parks, cinema, indoor bmx tracks etc. We also usually host a big party at ours one of the days or evenings.

If you are close to the sea, see if they do a boxing day swim or something. Do a fancy dress Parkrun, go to the pantomime, have a (low key) drinks party/buffet. I love Christmas!

I have a birthday! I realise it isn't for everyone.....

Generally have to go to work!

Go to work
Drove around the SW visiting family

I work now but when I didn't, we went on walks, a day trip to the coast.
Have friends round.
Watch a box set

Go to work.
Nothing else to do.

Do you have a swimming pool near? It’s fantastic for rainy days and nothing gets dc to sleep like a good swim. Our local pool only closes on Christmas Day.

If it’s dry, a walk in the park, a gentle hike or as you suggest a trip to the beach. Getting the right gloves was always tricky, but the key to enjoying the outdoors when it’s cold. Eventually I started carrying a selection (snow gloves, fingerless, grippy ones and thin woolly ones) so they could switch and change while we were out and about. A peaked cap that keeps the rain off their faces doubles the time they’ll spend outside. Also get wellies a half size/size up so they can wear extra socks and still have air round their toes. Tight shoes mean cold feet.

If you have a garden, and you’re not too precious, a couple of child sized spades (Lidl’s are the best) and a metal detector will expend tons of energy on those days when you can’t get out.

Check your local area for megalithic sites. They can be absolutely brilliant to explore with kids and more often than not are uphill so there’s a bit of walking involved. Bring a picnic even if it has to be a car picnic!

Potter about the 3 of us. Cinema trip, sales shopping. We either have friends to stay for New Year or go to friends so busy from 29th usually.

Have lovely family time and enjoy the break.

Love my D.C. being on school holidays and they play with their Christmas presents and we all generally chill out.

Cinema/theatre.
Family jigsaw puzzle.
Play card games.
Sometimes do an overnight stay in London or just go for a wonder to see the Christmas lights.

I love it once the big day is over. We have a family birthday between Xmas and Hogmanay so always go to the pantomine that day. But otherwise eat lots of leftovers, play lots of boardgames, read books, play with new toys (trip to the park if new wheeled toys received). Trip to swimming pool an excellent idea as well, and the cinema.

We already have it planned .

Boxing Day - annual pyjama day with films and sweets.
Th 27th - Visit BIL and SIL for the afternoon/early evening. Stay in hotel in Chester.
Fri 28th - sales shopping then home.
Sat 29th - lunch with friends and children in Glasgow (take the train as wine is often involved).
Sun 30th - Housework and food shop in the morning then out for a walk along the shore.
NYE- Cinema to see Mary Poppins then late brunch. Hair appointment and home to rest before friends arrive from 7pm onwards.
NYD - Go to parents for lunch
Wed 2nd - annual trip to Loch Lomond for three days rest and relaxation in a cabin with board games, books and DVD's.

I can't wait!!!!

With 2 teens, they are happy to stay in bed or they’ll go to a football match. DS is 10 and he would go to a match too, or we’ll go for a walk. Play games. Cinema, watch Home Alone numerous times. Ill go for a walk in all weathers and at night with my headtorch. Possibly thus year we’ll have family pop over but thats not confirmed.

Eat up leftovers, enjoy relaxed days out, nice walks - and no ### shopping!

Plus catching up with any Christmas TV we recorded but couldn't watch at the time, usually not much.

When there have been children staying, we've usually done something like ice skating at Hampton Court - places like that are usually very nicely decorated and very Christmassy. Will probably try that this year with Gdcs - from long-ago experience with a dd even a 2 year old will enjoy it. They now have big pushalong penguins for them to hold on to.

The only thing we definitely won't do is sales. Right after Christmas the mere thought of yet more shopping fills me with horror.

@SimplyPut 😱😱 that's organised!!

Book a hotel about an hour or two away with a pool and hide away there just me and the kids with walks and trips to cinema etc thrown in.

Play with all the toys, visit family, watch movies, go bowling, take the kids to gaming arcade, try and find a gap in the rain to go for a walk, tidy-up for NYE party - that last one takes far too long.

Probably work. I have the weeks after Christmas, I usually book a holiday so we have something to look forward too but won’t be doing it this year. Usually take the decorations down the day after Boxing Day. I love the run up to Christmas but after the big day I always feel a bit deflated.

Work NHS . People keep getting ill

It's my birthday between Christmas and New Year. I want to go to the cinema to see Mary Poppins and out for lunch.

No work thankfully, though DH may work from home a day or two.
DCs are too young/random/difficult for park run/sea swim/watch box sets all day/sales shopping (my idea of hell too!).
But I have never thought of stone circles so will get looking! And there is a pop up ice rink!
We aren't having family visit this year but that's probably a blessing!

Boxing Day we normally go for a long dog walk then home for a buffet of leftovers, boardgames, tv and a few drinks.
27th - 29th we visit family down South for a second Christmas. We normally see a pantomime and catch up with people we don't often see.
30th - 4th January we're going to New York.
I go back to work on 7th.

We tend to do as little as possible. DD1’s birthday is the 28th and so we change into birthday mode for a day. MIL is coming the Friday before Christmas and is leaving Boxing Day. We will visit my mum on Christmas morning. Apart from that we don’t have any plans.