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!

Some more...

I'll stop after this!

Wow peachy love this defo steeling this idea 🎄

Love the ideas on this thread 😍 really need something to look forward to after this horrific 2020.

We usually see family on the day itself but looks like that won't be possible now 😭

Does anyone have suggestions for what to do on the day with our 4 year old? Other than open presents and watch TV all day 🙈🤷🏻‍♀️

@peachypips78 Thank you so much for posting all those images! They are fantastic, and v inspiring!

We really enjoyed watching the tiger who came to tea. It was perfect timing just before kids bedtime. Will there be a similar adaptation at a similar time this year does anyone know?

@Peachypips78

I'll stop after this!

Thanks for posting these, they are lovely to see. Number 19 is my favourite.

Place marking to read through properly when I've got more time. Some lovely ideas! I only have DD who is three months, but will enjoy much of this myself!

@MagpieSong we do Dinovember too! I've got 29 ideas for this year, so almost there. Don't suppose you'd care to swap a few ideas for inspiration???

This week I asked the town's Facebook group admin about the idea upthread of people sharing their addresses if they're doing outdoor decorations, so there could be a Christmas trail. He said it was a 'superb' idea and will be championing it nearer the time! So that's a great result from this thread, thank you!

I feel so bad, last year i was saying to dh that it would be nice to have a christmas just the 3 of us without have to go here and there...... i think be careful what you wish for comes in here!

I am looking forward to it but im also sad i wont see my dad and bro, and it was dh's side on year this year so i will miss seeing all my nephews and niece and for ds to play with them!

But i have been collecting christmas craft staff to do on the days ds and i are here together. Every year i get the christmas books out dec 1st and read one every night to him, i may have got a few new ones this year 🤭
And now hes a bit older im going to take him on a tour of our village looking for lights, he will love doing that.

Thats as about as far as i have got but this thread is giving me ideas!

And of course im already planning all the lovely food we will eat 😁

We've bought fancy advent calendar for the first time ever (we usually just have picture ones and DD might have small chocs). 4YO has playmobil, baby has happyland, Monty bojangles for me and lindor for DH.

Definitely walking round the town to see the Christmas lights on different houses. They arent doing a "light switch on" event this year but I assume they'll still have lights up in the highstreet.

I went to the works today and got some make your own christmas cards, (i thought it would be nice to send to the grandparents and great aunts/uncles) christmas stamps and make your own felt christmas tree.

I think ds will love doing them and get him more excited for christmas (we are currently reading 12 engines of christmas book every night 😂) its is first year really understanding and i want to make it exciting for him.

Also managed to get a christmas cupcake making kit in b&m. I know he will love that! Im thinking that for christmas eve.

I figured i get them now as i saw them as i imagine the shops will be mental when they open again and i cant be dealing with it 😂

Good idea @holdingforgeneralhugs I have also bought gingerbread house kits, chocolate bomb making moulds, inc marshmallows and cooking chocolate, craft items for diy presents from kids, and more. Wondering now if there'll be time to do half of it really!

Ooo the chocolate bomb making kit sounds good!

Haha that is true but at least there is plenty to do 🎄🎅🏻 rather than thinking"oh i wish i had more" or "i wish i had thought of that"

I got the bakedin cinnamon bun kit from the bargain thread, and a gingerbread man kit from Waitrose to do with 3yo DS.

Last night was the first time we have done fireworks and sparklers at home but they were a hit with DD who is 4 so I'm thinking to get some for the Christmas period instead of the outing type things we would normally have done.

Haven't read the full thread but one little idea to do at home is a hot chocolate station, make a delicious hot chocolate in the a slow cooker, have a ladle ready for people to help themselves, with little bowls of marshmallows, chocolate bits, cream etc to top their own

Something else I'm going to do during Advent .. at dinner each night get one of us to write something we're thankful for this year, even though its been awful, and put note in a jar. On New Years Eve we'll read them together and remember the good things.

Thats a lovely idea Walkley 😊

We have bought solar powered lights this year to put in the front garden. No access to electrical socket. They have a USB and can be recharged via the laptop if the weather isn’t sunny enough. Have also bought some solar spiral lanterns to go into the tree. Everything is out on the windowsills to charge up.....really hope it works! Want to play our part as our village has asked everyone to put lights in their gardens or windows this year. Xx

That's great @123fushia We got battery operated ones for outdoor use which, we didn't realise, have a timer (so don't have to keep turning on and off, they just stay on for six hours). Lasted a week so far and still going strong with same batteries. V chuffed. How's everyone else getting on? I just heard of an amazing idea, a clue based hunt for lights. So a friend is finding great decorated houses in her area, noting addresses and making up clues for my kids to solve so we hunt down the lights, and we'll do the same for hers.