Pre-school festive ideas

[Herecomesmyhero]

I’m in need of some inspiration to keep 2 pre-schoolers busy in the run up to the festive season - we’ve made Xmas decorations, ginger bread men, Xmas cards, “helped” to wrap gifts but I’m running out of ideas! Any suggestions? Preferably free!

Go for a night time walk/drive in their onesies to see any nice lights on houses, in town etc.

Make reindeer food (bird food) using oats, seeds, small bits of diced apple.

Make playdough snowmen - make white dough and use scraps to decorate but chances are they'll be happy just playing around with it.

Festive movie - Xmas episode of favourite TV show or short movie so it's not on too long. Snuggled up on the sofa with blankets and popcorn.

Print some christmassy colouring pictures.

Out on some Christmas party songs and play them loud - have a dance competition or just dance for fun!

Go to the library to find some Christmas story books.

Make Santa beards - cotton wool (even toilet roll would do), 1 side of a cereal box, glue, string, pencil. - Cut cereal card into a large triangle shape, glue cotton wool on, poke a hole at either side, put string around to fit over DC ears.

Also are you on Facebook?

If you are it's worth checking out a few places in your area for Christmas activities.

Decorate a paper plate on which to leave Santa’s mince pie/cookie etc...
Play ‘pin the nose on Rudolph’

My Ds and I had a daytime disco the other day. Turn all the lights off, disco ball, Christmas tunes on. We had a great afternoon!

Visit the garden centre and see all of the twinkly lights, sparkly decs etc. One near us actually has real reindeer to visit for free.

NT Christmas trail
Make bird food with cranberries in
Garden centre trip
Make reindeer biscuits
Christmas movie w/ popcorn and/or hot chocolate
Drive to see lights
Paper plate Christmas decorations
Make reindeers with candy canes
See if any local churches have a pre-school nativity event

get into Pinterest loads of baking, craft and activity ideas on there. I get inspiration for the preschool I work in from there. I type in Christmas EYFS or preschool.

also look out for free Christmas activities or events, messy church, christingle or church events.

Saturday morning cinema- normally around £2 a ticket and child friendly. or go along to CEX trail charity shops for some cheap Christmas dvds, big bag of popcorn and snuggle up. (charity shop near me does 10 for £1, we watch then donate back if they aren't great)

disco ball - I got a plug in one from Amazon very cheaply and dds love it and spend ages dancing around with it!

meant to add you don't need to normally attend church for the events, I go along and we aren't regular church goers. messy church is great as you get a cooked meal/pudding too - it's free but we normally stick a couple pound in the collection bucket.

Visit local street with Christmas lights on houses.
Visit garden centre/Christmas shop, especially the dark bit with the Christmas lights.
Church carol service/crib service /christingle or children's service.
Anyone doing carol singing near you?
Near us there are 3 or 4 plaes doing children's Christmas craft sessions (art gallery, crafty cafe, local council places like nature reserve and library) though some charge.
Babycino and festive biscuit in a cafe (or hot choc and marshmellows and cream)

Decorate trees in the garden with bird food (pine cones smeared with peanut butter and rolled in bird seed, fat balls or berries frozen in ice with a loop of string left into the water before it freezes.

Build igloos from sofa cushions and give them torches and picture books

Bubble baths and use the bubbles to make santa beards. Obviously use Johnson’s or similar no-tears product

Fold and cut paper snow flakes/ paper chains/ paper dolls (gingerbread men) or an elf’s washing line.

Snuggle up for Christmas movie

Normal activities but a Christmas version: add peppermint, almond, orange essence to play dough and use Christmas cookie cutters; print off Christmas pictures to colour

Nature walks are brilliant. Our local park has information on what to look out for seasonally