Table Crackers?

[Battenburg1978]

For the last 4 years we’ve had whatever crackers I bought reduced the previous January, but with lockdown and not having anything stashed, does anyone have any recommendations for fun table crackers for a 4 and 13 year old? Thank you!

I bought dunelm ones yesterday. £5 for 10 and completely recyclable. Have funny cardboard glasses in which my 6 year old will find hysterical.

They also do a cheaper family pack with kids print on which has a paper reindeer racing game.

We had some brilliant crackers one year that all had handbells inside. It was really good fun though they are expensive

Any with wind up toys - reindeer, Brussel sprouts - clear the table after dinner and Race them.

Group activity crackers like the handbells, indoor fireworks and wind up toys are always fun. John Lewis have a xylophone set. Normal crackers are just filled with plastic tat destined for landfill and, even if you get the luxury ones, there is a limit to how many egg cups, mini nail clippers and picture frames any family needs.

I make my own and fill them with small gifts that the person might actually want - small toys, puzzles, mini perfumes (advent calendars reduced after 1 December are good for getting supplies), soap, face masks, make up, bath pearls, kitchen gadgets (strawberry huller, nutmeg grater), incense, fragrance oil, key rings, plectrums, USB sticks, seeds, earrings, hair accessories, miniature bottles of alcohol, luggage labels, bookmarks... Then I add wrapped penny sweets to fill the space. The year I bought American sweets from the world food aisle at Tesco went down really well.

You can get kits online (they often sell the gifts too) from cracker suppliers or Amazon. John Lewis sells pre-assembled fill-your-own crackers too (they already have the hat and joke inside).