My 12yo will be home alone Christmas Eve. Any ideas?

[HappyHollyween]

For the first time ever (I know - I've been very lucky so far!) i have to work Christmas Eve. I'm also working the 23rd but DD's friend's mum has offered to take DD and friend shopping that day.

DD has always said she loves Christmas Eve more than Christmas Day as it's just us two, it's really relaxed and there is the excitement of 'just one more sleep!' We usually do some wrapping, karaoke, film and snack fest, walk with a scavenger hunt (still loves these at her age!) or a drive into town to look at the lights. She's quite disappointed this year that she'll be on her own.

She'll likely not get out of bed until 10am at the earliest and I will be home around 4.30pm. I was hoping to leave her a list of ideas she can crack on with to still enjoy the day without me.

E.g. I can leave her a Christmas Eve box - she can have a nice bath with smellies.

I can leave her some Christmas films to watch.

She can wrap the presents she bought the day before with her friend.

She can build a gingerbread house.

Any other ideas that your tweens like doing around Christmas? These all sound like things she'll probably get bored of doing on her own and will likely just sit on her phone all day! I want her to enjoy Christmas Eve just as much as she normally does and hopefully the day will go by quickly for her until I'm home.

[mumwon]

by the way - I was left at home from age 11 & I have survived - many, many, years later & what is op suppose to do -oh helpful judgemental one?

[Ninkaninus]

I was left alone at home at age 12 and did just fine and so were my
daughters from time to time and they did just fine too. Obviously wouldn’t be appropriate for every single 12 year old but at parents’ discretion and barring extenuating circumstances there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I like the suggestion of the wreath. Or maybe she could make the table centerpiece for Christmas dinner.

[StealthPolarBear]

I can't believe someone has suggested the op calls in sick. The fact she's working Christmas eve suggests she has the sort of job where her presence really matters to individuals.
Would you say that if she were a paramedic? A heart surgeon? A police officer? Assuming she isn't!

[Trewser]

There are weeks until Christmas. At 12, it’s time she became au fait with the oven. Now is the time to start practicing. Frozen chips on a tray for a start followed by a basic cake. Then she can have a simple recipe for Christmas Eve

This. My dd would love making a little cake or a pudding for when you got home.

[ifeellikeanidiot]

Not helpful but, If it’s was me, if I couldn’t take A/L, I would probably phone in sick to work. Ultimately work will get over it (assuming you’re on good terms and have a good reputation) and you’re daughter will be thrilled!

well that would be an awful example to set to a child. Tbh, at 12 the ops daughter is old enough to recognise the importance of her mums job. I know my dad would feel guilty and very unsettled if I skived work in similar circumstances.

[ifeellikeanidiot]

dd not dad

[MrsPnut]

How about popping some corn and letting her spend some time using a needle and thread to make popcorn garlands or cutting out paper snowflakes to decorate the windows.

[Fuckenstein]

I am shocked someone would actually phone in sick. That is awful. Someone else will have to cover.

Also with regards leaving a 12 year old alone in the day time for a few hours that is perfectly normal. What age would you deem appropriate?

OP I would leave a Christmas eve box of some fancy bath stuff, new Pj's, a book and a movie. They would take up plenty of time.

[Ninkaninus]

Also @HappyHollyween just to clarify, all the bits for our Christmas Eve dinner are store bought from M&S/Aldi/Lidl, so there’s no cooking or huge effort involved, it’s really just an assembly job. But there’s something really lovely about all the dainty little bites, it’s a very enjoyable meal for us.

[AutumnStory]

i dont know if you do thank you cards for people at christmas but you could buy her a cross stitching set (or just the holey material and some threads) and print off some nice patterns for her to make thank you cards. that and a dvd / box set should keep her busy and give her "a job" for when you get home and she can show you.

[MrGsFancyNewVagina]

Where I live this wouldn't be legal but in the UK it is much more normal.

If you don’t mind me asking, where on earth do you live?

Maybe it’s a country and town/city difference, but you would have been considered positively over protective if you were to insist that you can’t leave a sensible 10yr old, let alone 12yr old, unsupervised at home. I’m country born and bread.

[Disfordarkchocolate]

Make homemade crackers, always fun. If she puts chocolates in make sure they aren't too heavy though (they fly a surprisingly long way).

I love Christmas Eve too, it's the best day of the year.

[MrGsFancyNewVagina]

Bred, even. I’m not a loaf! 😁

[dreichsky]

I live in the USA and our state laws are that dc under the age of 14 cannot be left home alone.
It is a state by state thing, I know people who have moved from other states who have been wtf and had to organize babysitters for disgruntled tweens.
@MrGsFancyNewVagina

[Purpleartichoke]

If you will be home by 4:30 there is still plenty of time for activities. I’d leave her a gingerbread house or other project and then not worry if she is on her phone a bunch.


How is she in the kitchen? If she can cook, maybe ask her to make a fun meal or some treats for the two of you to enjoy when you get home.

[AuchAyeTheNo]

I would leave a nice breakfast for her, like croissants or something and just let her chill until your home. She may sleep longer than half 10 if she knows your not home.

Maybe leave an early present for her to open?

[Baguetteaboutit]

Can you just go all 80s and give her a copy of the radio times and a highlighter?

[Mrsjayy]

Oh you must have been posh it was the TV times we had then the free pull out from the Saturday newspaper

[Baguetteaboutit]

[Wellmet]

Who are all these people who wouldn't leave a 12 year old alone? SN aside, I would consider my parenting to be inadequate if my children had got to 12 without some level of independence. I'm more surprised that the OPs daughter cannot use the oven.

[MrGsFancyNewVagina]

Wow, dreichsky, that must cause a lot of difficulties for families. I take it women might as well kiss their careers goodbye, since they have to be with their child so much.

[SoapyChoc]

Deco patch might be a nice easy craft for her to chill out and do if she likes things like that. Hobby craft usually have various Christmas themed items to Decopage.

[Dislocatedeyeballs]

Ahh what lovely ideas yes don't tell her but leave a treasure/scavenger woteva hunt for her with little clues/poems/tasks to find little tiny gifts or something. Surprise special breakfast and one of the prizes can be something she has to do or make for when u get home maybe she will love it

[MrsGrindah]

Any chance she might actually enjoy it? You are hardly getting home late. I would have loved the time to myself at that age but would have looked forward to parents getting home of course. Have you asked her if there’s anything special she fancies doing?