How to make Christmas special for an 11yo

[WineByTheFire]

Hi all
I wonder if I can pick your Christmassy brains.

We have DPs 11yo niece coming for Christmas and we want to make it super special for her because she's had a horrible year with numerous health complaints and obviously Covid and big changes at school etc. I don't have any young relatives, have never experienced this before. DP not hugely close to his niece but so desperately wants to be closer and make this Christmas special.

I personally LOVE Christmas and I have the rose tinted glasses view of we should hide a secret half-chewed carrot in the garden for her to "find" and feign ignorance "oh a reindeer must have dropped it last night as they were flying over...." but DP thinks this is daft and because shes 11, it's a bit hit and miss whether she believes or not.

What else can I do, age appropriate, that would still capture the magic?

Thanks so much.

I would try and consult with her about what she'd like to do. What films she'd like to watch, any particular meal on Christmas Eve, that sort of thing. You could get her some Babycham or Bucks Fizz to make her feel a bit grown up. I think at 11 she isn't that likely to believe to be honest but she would probably still want to do a stocking!

Sorry she's not coming to us Christmas Eve, she's doing Christmas morning at home then coming to us late morning. She will have a stocking on her bed at our house and of course the tv will be her choice all day. She's "suspicious" about Santa according to her parents, doesn't not believe but not 100% convinced either. I think this is probably her last year.

Sparkler on Christmas Eve, hot chocolate bombs.

Make some Christmas cookies and decorate them. Girls that age usually love all the sparkly, glittery sprinkles you can get. But a load of icing and four colouring and hundreds and thousands and let her go nuts.

Wrap the doorway into the living room with Christmas wrapping paper on christmas morning and let her burst through.

Garden fireworks on Christmas night? Lovely Christmas movie and special pjs.

If she gets toys or gadgets remember to spend time with her setting them up and watch her play.

Decorate her room as a surprise - fairy lights, lots of confetti balloons, a mini Christmas tree etc...
My oldest Dc is particularly excited about our annual Christmas fondue with two or three pots of melted chocolate and a selection of Christmassy things to dip such as brioche, Turkish delight, glacé cherries, crystallised ginger, marshmallows and marzipan balls. You could something similar in the evening.
On Christmas Eve, we have Christmas s’mores made on our fire pit with gingerbread, marshmallows and segments of chocolate orange. That’s another option.

I would go for a "grown up" Christmas.
Favourite snacks, good film on. A treat to drink (my 11 yr old has had coke in his stocking the last few years, as it's something I never buy - fizzy orange or lemonade if out, but not cola. If she has been ill, and super snuggly blanket (or oodie) could be nice.
I agree with the fairy lights and mini tree in her room.
Bath bombs or similar?

Fantastic suggestions guys, thank you so much 🙂

Op this is so lovely.

I would definitely go down the route of still believing with her.

Definitely decorate her room! That would be so fabulous!

I guess you can get pointers from the parents as to what presents she may like.

LOVE the sound of an annual Christmas fondue! What a great idea! I may steal that. @Fivemoreminutes1 can you recommend a fondue set?
I wouldn't necessarily let her dictate TV all day.. It maybe nice to introduce her to new stuff eg, comedy stuff? Can't think right now but I'd see if she likes any comedy she may not know...

See what clothes she's into.. Hoodies and leggings or more glam stuff?

Zara have an incredible sale on right now with some beautiful, beautiful clothes! As goes mango!

Have some music on at dinner.. I remembering as a child feeling really awkward in totally quiet houses!! With people I didn't know well.

Get a good card game and teach her? Gin rummy, exploding kittens?

What I appreciated from going to other relatives was being exposed to new and different things.

Do you have a laptop/computer in an accessible place? Noraid Santa tracker is great fun. They track him across the globe - it's addictive.

A gingerbread house (on an attempt) is always good fun. Get her to Pinterest/tik tok some ideas before she arrives. At that age doing something creative is a great ice breaker.

Old school Christmas films are great. Gremlins, Home Alone, Elf and her favourite snacks of course.

Christmas music. My kids have always loved that. Christmas lights. Stocking. Special Xmas cocktail. Our kids love the special foods. Pigs in blankets. They love those. A Christmas gadget. A tech thing they get that they can mess with. A brill Christmas film.

You’re off to a good start - ceelrly thinking and ceding a great deal and wanting to make it special

I’m intrigued though why an11 year old is spending Christmas with her aunt and uncle with whom she is not especially close to, and only seeing her parents in the morning?!

I would t be too intense. My 11 year old likes space so don’t be surprised if she doesn’t want a bit of time in her room alone.

Depend on her character but mine would enjoy a film, walk, presents, inhale America’s sweets that usually never has and a family game and a later night than normal.

Think simple

Is she does want a bit of time alone

@TheRubyRedShoes We have an Artesa fondue set.

Do you have a laptop/computer in an accessible place? Noraid Santa tracker is great fun. They track him across the globe - it's addictive.

I do this myself every Christmas Eve, even with no kids. I'm obsessed with it

I’m intrigued though why an11 year old is spending Christmas with her aunt and uncle with whom she is not especially close to, and only seeing her parents in the morning?!
Sorry, her mum and dad are coming too!! She won't be alone.

Op we thought she was alone with you!

@Fivemoreminutes1

Thank you! Just had a quick Google the copper one is gorgeous.

I’m going against the grain here but I wouldnt do anything at all to do with Santa; leave that to her dps. Just give her a normal gift from you rather than a stocking on her bed. Especially if she’s questioning, it’s bound to be different to the way it’s done at home, or bigger, or smaller, or duplicating a gift, etc.

I think that what dc generally appreciate most from unfamiliar adults is space, rather than being jollied along and forced to interact.

Provide a few different possibilities to keep her occupied - the tv is good, maybe a suitable video game, some books left out, a boardgames if you’re inclined to play. Put out a buffet of treats and encourage her to help herself. Ime once dc relax they are usually good fun and good company if you don’t overwhelm them at the start.

I'm stealing so many of these suggestions.
This is a daft one for decoration really, I have a child of similar age and they still love silly Elf on the Shelf antics.
Also, haven't read the thread but has anyone suggested lush bath bombs? Maybe a couple in her room and make sure she knows she can use them for a bath soak at yours if she wants.