Help with Christmas Day Fun

[ilovebagpuss]

I’m sure there are loads of people in a similar position but my problem is having one side of the older generation to stay and for lunch and just my DH and our 2 DD’s 12/10.
All the Christmas family fun seems to come from lovely big mixed families of plenty of ages but I struggle to make it fun when the older guests want to snooze or sit and the DD’s might want something fun.
Unfortunately we can’t do the big family day due to space/other family having their relatives. Any tips for this quite boring set up? Thank you

you could have a cookie baking competition with your dd's (make a big lump of cookie dough, split into 3, put out different extras eg: chocolate and each make your own batches) and then offer them to the older generation? You could also get your dd's a board game each for xmas so that they can play with that later on

That’s a good idea thank you board games too can be good for all ages. Sometimes it just feels a bit flat so will maybe break the day up into chunks

I bought a bingo set, so that we can all ply together. Will also buy a few prizes.

We play a game where a present is wrapped up in several layers of paper and you have to roll a six to get a chance to unwrap it but you have to put oven gloves and a Santa hat on first. The others can roll as soon as you've rolled your six. Often it's their go before you've even put the gloves on!
I first saw it on YouTube.

It's good and has become a regular in this house.

I got a family Christmas quiz box from M&S for £4 and will put that on the table.

Or a Christmas quiz for later? You could all write a round?

stick the nose on the reindeer?

Hope this is right!

Have you still got Father Christmas? If not, we split up our present opening by having stockings in the morning and presents from under the tree after dinner. That helps spread the fun out for a bit longer and keeps the oldies awake.

I'd take the DDs out for a good long walk- beach if you're near enough- after lunch while the fogies snooze and then put a film on late afternoon.

We usually have a family secret Santa with presents on the table marking your place. This year we might try mean Santa instead.

I look out for activity crackers like origami, balloon modelling, musical bells. Or I might get a little game like Name that Tune (with kazoos). This year we have Scrawl.

As the kids have got older we have had cocktails/mocktails or Buck’s Fizz of varying strengths.

The crackers or little games mean we all have fun together after dinner before people have a snooze.

Ds had the taskmaster book for Christmas last year and we did some of the tasks from that with all generations...throwing a slice of bread into the toaster from 5m away and dressing up your knee as a famous person were a couple that made us laugh!

Oh thank you! So many lovely ideas I like the quiz as the oldies love a quiz maybe spice it up with Silly little prizes. Walk is a good idea too to get everyone lively again as is saving a few pressies back. Lots to think about

We did the bingo thing too one year. I did a lucky dip box with prizes including some scratch cards and an envelope with a fiver in. It went down well

Board games, charades, karaoke

Are you underestimating the old? Ours are in their 80s and love cocktail making, jager bombs, cards against humanity etc

Not sure I'd recommend cards against humanity for your 9 and 11 year olds though!

I know the older peeps like a bit of fun but health issues mean not much energy. It’s that daft energy you get with a bunch of children it lacks but then perhaps that’s the media Christmas and I’m over thinking.
Sometimes we all want a snooze! I remember fondly one pregnant Christmas we all went to sleep after lunch .It was fab

We have board games. I usually get a couple of new ones each year that we try. Last year dp bought one too. Everyone loves them.

We also usually have the crackers with whistles in. Hours of fun trying to get a tune out of the family!

Secret santa too.

A walk on boxing day.

Aww my grandparents always fell asleep on the sofa on Christmas Day afternoon - miss them! 😊 it didn’t make the day more boring for us kids, it was just part of it.

Building and decorating a gingerbread house usually engages all ages. A competition even more so

This may not sound super exciting but Mary Berry puts out a new puzzle Christmas Eve and people make it together over the coming days.

If you have a space it is nice to watch different puzzle teams come and go over the break, different ages interacting and chatting. It’s gentle fun but fun nevertheless