Christmas activity box ideas?

[bingsulaflop]

Hi all,

I wanted to do a Xmas eve box for my DS (3 yo) but there's a few things we just won't have time to do on Xmas eve due to already having an event planned (I thought of Xmas eve colouring, cookie Santa set, paint your own snowman set)

Instead of doing an official 1st December box (it's on a Wednesday and both me and DP at work and DS at nursery - during the week is so hectic) I thought of a "Christmas activity" box.. in it I would put some Xmas pjs, a Santa cake set or gingerbread man making kit, Santa Claus letter kit (he's not exactly clued up on this but we try to talk to him about it ask what he wants etc or go through the smyths brochure and point out mostly diggers , some crafts bits and other things to do during the month of December (our weekends get very full with things planned and outings with family) so this would be a nice activity to fill any time up.

If I waited till Christmas Eve we just wouldn't have the time with getting the lunch sorted, finishing off any last minute things, going to a family event and then getting back home to do bedtime routines etc(putting the pressies out)

My question is, do others do this? And what do you put in a 1st December box?

I would be giving him it the first weekend of December so only a couple days late but as the years go on he will understand a lot more.

Thank you in advance!

We just have boxes of Christmas toys and books which I dump in the playroom when we get the Christmas decorations out.

In our December box:
PJs
Hot chocolate
Book
Nativity set
Christmas bedding (not new, just get it out of the airing cupboard)
Ticket to the year’s blockbuster Christmas film
Christmassy bubble bath
Christmas cookie cutter or cupcake cases/sprinkles
Advent candle

Thank you! @Ricekrispie22

Home bargains did paper chain making sets last year that went down really well here.

Pebbles to paint also good for young kids and then take them on a walk to hide the pebbles.

Homemade "ticket" to church carol service or Christingle event.

Baking kit for cinnamon buns

Sorry mine didn’t sounds so good. We have a Christmas fairy who magically puts on Christmas bedding and bring the advent calendars. She also brings activity like letter writing at regular interval.

I still dump all the toys in the playroom!

I do similar- different bits 'arrive' at various times during December, kindly delivered by our family elf.

Pyjamas on the 1st.

A new Xmas book at some point.

Last year I got some Christmas cards they could colour in, and some fun Christmas masks to colour in which were left at our front door to be found after school.

and one weekend we always bake gingerbread Xmas biscuits, so the ingredients get left overnight in the kitchen.

and then an Xmas colouring book I try and get that for earlier in the month so plenty of time to get lots coloured in!

They enjoy getting little things randomly rather than if it were to all arrive at one time, makes the month more exciting!

I don’t do a December 1st box as such but get a plastic storage crate out for the 1st that has a heap of Christmas books in. ( I add to them each year as they grow). I also bought a Playmobil Christmas house last year which was a hit so that will come out. They get their festive/winter pj’s. I also have a selection of dvds but most are on Netflix/prime etc. They also have a Christmas glass that comes out.

I print off some colouring sheets to do through out the month, and get a few craft bits, baking bits in but they don’t go in the box and in with our advent calendar that I fill. DC’s are 6,5,4 & 2.

We have bought a "Christmas Eve" game from Orchard Toys this year. It has a jigsaw puzzle and a Santa's list game. Our boys have always loved the orchard toys games so it should go down well.

Despite it being called Christmas Eve we are giving it on the first so they can get full use of it through December

https://www.next.co.uk/style/st720425/689197?dp=a&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwY-LBhD6ARIsACvT72P9KMsxWACKCMuW0ilEnXiH2Q3QJA2Z-EmSC5HaaZGZTVNI8-nBBoaAnxuEALwwcB&gclsrc=aw.ds#689197

When mine were v small a decade ago I read about 'busy boxes' . I'd not heard of Christmas eve boxes then, sure they weren't yet a thing.

Anyway, our busy box had all similar things in apart from the pyjamas which,of course, have to be new on Christmas eve which we wrapped up to open the weekend before Christmas to keep them busy (clue's in the name).

It included a new Christmas jigsaw, puzzle books, pens, Christmas books, dvd of new film, mug/glasses etc. They loved it so much over the years I still have to do the flaming thing, get sad faces if I suggest we don't need it anymore . Just now it has posh popcorn, hotel choc dipping boxes, luxury slipper socks, nice drinks etc in it

Maybe get some things which can be brought out and reused each year

For example:
Christmas duvet or blanket
Christmas books
Cutters to make a gingerbread house - we got this one last year, would recommend www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07H5HCTVV/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_D4XGGTJ81FM3EQ4GEEZ4?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

And for single use items:

• craft kits, baker Ross or the works have loads of suitable ones
• colouring book

- sticker book, we loved this one Santa First Sticker Books Usborne www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1409534928/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_01ZKMT43VPEK3TG9A6E9?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Toys
Games
Clothes
Books
Music and movies
Arts and craft supplies
Puzzle vase

I got a little Craft kit from The Works the other day which was make your own reindeer decoration - was only £1.50!
In our December first box we have pjs, Xmas bed linen, Xmas jigsaw, Xmas books (always save the night before Christmas for Christmas eve), hot chocolate, marshmallows and hot chocolate mugs, Christmas tree shaped cookie cutters to do baking. You could also do colouring books? There's other ideas on Pinterest too

Oh, and advent calendars of course!