If restrictions persist we'll still make December lovely, ideas thread

[Walkley18]

I'm trying to think of ideas for Dec / run up to Christmas in case restrictions persist/ get worse. So thinking if no Christmas markets / shopping / usual days out / or larger family events, what else is there? I have older teen kids but still want it to be special. Anyone in? Younger kids ideas also welcome. So far I have:

Find out great streets/ houses with Christmas lights, make a night of it with hot choc etc

Make Christmas tree decorations, chocolate and non edible

Find a lovely pub after country walk, with outdoor heaters to enjoy the countryside / sprinkling of snow (reaching I know!)

December boxes including list of 12 favourite movies we watch in order, so number 1 family favourite on Christmas Eve

If possible discover houses with unusual decorations further afield and do a travel scavenger hunt altogether.

Please join and give your lovely ideas!

Definitely in although struggling to think of much at the moment! I have 3 DDs aged 11, 9 and 7.

We'll be doing baking, craft, Christmas movies, Christmas themed spa night (although not sure how yet ) and hopefully ice skating if restrictions allow!

Following for other ideas!

Great idea for a thread! I would suggest all the things you've said.....nice wintery walks with pubs stops in front of log fires (watching too many films?!), Walks to find pretty lights, lots of board games with finger food and wine ( for the grown ups!) Following FC on his travels- assuming he isn't self isolating! Baking, baking for neighbours and friends. We are a family of 5 with one 19, one 12 and a 10 year old so span lots of age groups. Last year of beileving for our youngest so it needs to be special!

Great thread. Watching this for ideas for my 5 year old!

Not normally a spa person @liveeverysecond but intrigued by Christmas spa, please post back when you have an idea of how it would work!

@Walkley18 I am sure there will be festive themed goodies in the Body Shop or Lush nearer the Christmas! Praying I can get something. My girls love spa evenings so I'm sure I'll be able to do something, plus with Christmas lights twinkling it'll be lovely!

Thinking of getting kids to help make these as well.

last year my DD had some christmas theme fase sheets. I think she had reindeers and elves.

I am also looking for ideas to keep the magic alive in the strange covid world.

My children are 12 and under so I was thinking about making paper chains and snowflakes ect.

I think I'm going to get a Christmas tree in a pot for the patio and put lights on it, plus extra lights round the patio to make the garden more magical. DH generally tries to put a brake on my Christmas ideas, but this year I'm doing what I want!

Oh yes op so much will still be wondeful.
I didn't grow up with Xmas markets... Or trims.

My dm made the house magical and yet was not ££enough for elaborate gifts... Df gave boardgames or books which I loved.
I adored Xmas. The point being its the feeling... The decorations.. Candles.. Music. And different food.

That's what makes it memorable..

My kids are all under five. Going to do Christmas Eve boxes, Christmas pjs, check out some of the houses with lots of decorations, get them to choose and donate a gift for a kid their own age and take a decent family pic on Christmas Day.

My kids have always spent Christmas travelling so I’m determined to make this one magical at home and start some traditions

I want to do more in the front garden this year too, so others can enjoy as they pass. Think we've got to make the most of the little things this year. Thanks everyone for ideas so far, keep them coming. Just read on Pinterest about a Christmas 'name that tune' game, might be a fun twist on a quiz. Make a nativity scene perhaps as well. Difficult as my kids are polar opposite on interests so have to weigh up each idea with that in mind!

Loads of movie nights.

There was another thread on this recently which is worth a read! I’ve decided to do a lucky dip sort of thing where we each get a few quid to choose bits in the pound shop for each person, then they all go in a named box and half the fun is trying to guess who chose what.

Also the toddler got really used to walking round the local duck pond in lockdown so I’m hoping we can do that on the day

Place marking to read tomorrow as this sounds great 🎄

I’ve always been a discreet tree in the window type of decorator but I might do something in the garden this year just to spread a bit more cheer.

I’ve picked up thermals and rain gear in the sales in anticipation of some nice wintry walks.

I’m putting an escape room game away for New Year’s Eve.

I’ve stocked up on marshmallows, skewers and chocolate biscuits for making s’mores.

I always try and get well stocked up to avoid the shops as much as possible in December and I’m doubling down this year.

@Twinklemacfinkle when my dc were smaller we used to decorate the playroom and kitchen with paper decorations.
Paper doll chains cut out of brown paper make gorgeous gingerbread men.
We used to make an elf’s clothes line and Santa’s clothes line with string, cut out and coloured clothes and tiny pegs.

It’s harder once they are in school and getting homework to fit these kind of activities in. They’re tweens now so probably getting too cool for this now.

Christmas pyjamas for December Christmas masks, red net bag for my fruit shopping.

Our town is creating a winter wonderland where they have a FB page and everyone send their location in if they are decorating so that there is a list and kids can go on a hunt. Usually includes numbers for each house so kids can tick off as they go.
We did it as Easter and also they intend to do for Halloween. With Halloween it can be elaborate or as simple as a pumpkin in the window that kids need to find.

We’ve booked onto a Christmas light walk here. It’s a big stately home type property who really go all out and decorate all the gardens with hundreds of lovely lights, and then for a small ticket price you can walk round, the whole walk is about an hour. They’ve said because it’s outside it’ll still go ahead. I’m so excited

I reckon loads more houses will go all out with decorations / lights this year.

Now we have this 6 people rule, it's going to rule out loads of things which people already have planned (we have 7 of us booked to go to Dunham Massey at Christmas; this trip will be illegal as it stands, for instance).

@nmg85 that’s such a lovely idea.

If we get a dry weekend we enjoy a walk along the beach with flasks (on for kids one boozy) of hot chocolate, paper cups and marshmallows. We snuggle against the castle ruins to avoid the wind!

Some lovely ideas and @nmg85 the Facebook group sounds great. I was going to post on our town group asking for well decorated streets nearer the time (not sure I can ask this early without getting laughed at! I'm alright on this board though!)

Can make all the Christmas food and drink. Mincemeat, mince pies, sloe gin, Christmas cake, ginger bread decorations, shortbread, chutney, Yule log, Sherry trifle.

Get tv and radio schedule and plan a programme of viewing.

And have a visiting schedule. For your visits and receiving guests to ensure the rule of 6 is kept. Might have to arrange for some of the family to go out when receiving guests or splits your visits if a large family.