Ideas for fun Christmas at home activities

[Ciderplease]

Hi,

This has probably already been asked, but I couldn't find anything on the first few pages. We have my elderly mum living with us for the winter as she really struggles, so we were always going to try to keep to ourselves as much as possible over this time, but as cases have increased in our area, we've abandoned our few out of the home activities we had planned.

What fun Christmassy things do you have planned at home with small children? Mine are five and seven. So far, we've booked a Zoom santa, I'm planning some Christmas baking, some online theatre and Christmas films, a Christmas disco with glow sticks. Any other ideas? I'm feeling a bit Grinchy this Christmas, my mental health has taken a bit of a bruising, but I'm trying to still make it feel good for the kids.

This website are offering some live events (such as arts and crafts and a storytelling session)
dreambigathome.uk/live/
But probably lots of craft activities (loo roll santas etc)

One of my favourite memories from my childhood is making a ginger bread house. If you do the whole thing from scratch it would take hours.

Camp out and sleep in the sitting room by the Christmas tree
For the last couple years, a few days before Christmas we’ve gone driving to look at Christmas lights late at night. It’s awesome! Take popcorn and hot chocolate in travel mugs, and have Christmas music playing in the car. It’s basically free entertainment for the kids, and it’s nice quiet family time where everyone is strapped down. We call it a Christmas light safari.
Track Father Christmas on Christmas Eve using the official NORAD Santa tracker
Make reindeer food
Surprise the DC with reindeer crumpets for breakfast on Christmas Eve (from Asda)

Make paper chains, and snowflakes for the windows.
Go and have a look at the decorations at your local garden centre (assuming it is open, of course!). Ours usually does a treasure hunt for children too, with everyone winning a Christmas lolly!
Listening, as a family, to Christmas audio books.
Have a carol concert at home!
Go to the supermarket, and choose something to put in the food bank.

We do a fair bit of craft - have done some Christmas origami and the dc enjoyed decoration ceramic decorations from Baker Ross with paint pens. Also paperchains, paper snowflakes, making a lego christmas village and so one.

We will have several board game nights as we all enjoy games. I always do a treasure hunt on new years day.

Card making takes up time and my dc enjoy wrapping presents for teachers and family.

We have learnt some Christmas carols on the piano (could do the recorder though).

Festive paper chains.
Modelling doah stocking with glitter topping.
Egg box bells covered in tin foil and pipe cleaner top for hook.
Xmas biscuits use a Xmas tree or star cookie cutter.
Ice the biscuits.
Make festive cup cakes with green butter icing swirled like a Xmas tree 🎄 and silver ball baubles.
Shortbread baubles, punch hole in top and thread through silver twine to hang on tree.

I’ve recently brought a great downloadable Christmas Games Bundle from this shop: www.etsy.com/uk/listing/905647932/christmas-games-bundle-christmas-party?ref=shop_home_feat_1&bes=1

Highly recommend
Have played them on tv with my kids and last night played on Zoom with friends. Great fun & loads of laughs.

I think I'm going to do a treasure hunt for the last advent calendar thing.
We've got so few things planned that I'm really happy with myself for having this idea 😊

Mine still love rock painting and hiding them x

Glad I found this thread! Some nice ideas here. My son is just 7 and we will be at home for the holidays.

Planning some local walks and scootering for DS.

Visit the garden centre to look at the Christmas display.

Building minecraft worlds with Lego (he has some already and is getting more for Christmas).

Home cinema -popcorn/drinks/curtains closed to watch films like Home Alone, the grinch,polar express etc.

Playing games - we have bought him monopoly for Christmas so looking forward to playing that.

Generally chilling -I'm a teacher and this term has been exhausting plus DS is exhausted so we will be looking forward to having some time out to relax.