What to do Christmas morning with 2YO DD

[AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps]

DH is having to work on Christmas morning, and will be gone from 6-11am.

So, what should DD and I do in the morning? She will have just turned 2.

We're at in-laws at 11ish for a mince pie etc and then family are over around 2 to have dinner with us.

She wakes around 7, so we'll have 4 hours. Can stretch out stocking and breakfast I suppose, but what else could we do?

Was considering going to the park tbh...

She’ll be playing with her new toys, and the boxes they came in !

Playing.
Going to church?
Watching tv

And yes, go to the park if that’s what she’d like to do-we always end up the park on Christmas Day…

Park or a fun walk sounds lovely. I'd probably deliberately choose some bits for her stocking that can be played with and keep her busy depending what she is into- magic paint book, fun cake mix kit, fancy bubble bath and toy so she can have a long play bath etc. It's a busy day for them when they're so tiny so I'd keep it fairly relaxed if you can.

I'd say don't over think trying to make the whole of Xmas day a jingle bells episode. Get up do stockings, go for a walk (plant sweets and mini toys max 3 on the walk by literally chucking them ahead as you go in the park), then just let her play with new things. Take 100 photos so she can't sue you when she gets to 17 saying you never did anything for her 😂

I would go fo church if you like that just for the nostalgia and music if you're not religious

Park would be a good bet. You probably have a lot to prepare dinner wise so maybe a nice bath and let her play.

What do you usually do in the mornings at weekends etc?
Breakfast, play with stocking stuff, Christmas film, walk?

She will be playing with new toys I imagine?

Make a nice breakfast and watch a Christmas film?
Christmas craft?
Make Christmas buns / cookies / gingerbread house?

I wouldn't plan anything, just put a nice film on and have something nice for breakfast. She is only two, she doesn't care and tbh the best thing you can do is play with her new toys with her.

Do you have to 'do' something? Christmas morning for us is presents and chocolates time / your toddler will be fine to play with her new toys, don't take her away from them to the park.

I wouldn't plan either - it's not actually that long a time by the time you've done breakfast / got her dressed / opened stockings. Just do what you'd normally do on a weekend with added presents!

Well, I wasn't going to do the presents without DH. I thought we could do stocking, so she can play with what's in their. She'll get bubbles, a little puzzle, a book and a pull back car.

We usually go swimming on a weekend morning. So that's a no go lol.

Or we go to the park, or sometimesfor a walk by a river that leads to a field where she can spot the trains going by.

Maybe we'll go train spotting by the river and eat our stocking chocolate :)

I wouldn’t do anything, I’m a lone parent so it’s just me and the kids anyway but we don’t go out on Xmas day so I wouldn’t plan to go anywhere I would just stay in open stocking watch a film...

Why do you have to do anything, just have a nice chilled morning.

Park - is always really empty and the people who are there are in a great mood. OUr local park has a tea hut open every day even Christmas day!

Her birthday is 8 days before Christmas, so she doesn't really watch films, as she's only little, she doesn't really watch TV except at nursery tbh (or have any real idea about what Christmas is). I guess I just don't want to be stuck inside for 4+ hours really. Especially as we'll be inside the rest of the day with ILs and parents over.
Although I appreciate it will be a busy day and chill out might be best??

You won't find any trains on Christmas Day.

I guess I just don't want to be stuck inside for 4+ hours really.

This is a really normal amount of time to be at home though, is there any reason you don't want to be inside?

If you don't want to be in, go for a walk! But it really doesn't have to be anything special and being in is pretty normal on Christmas Day.

Do as much of your normal routine as possible. Toddlers like their routine.

Christmas crafts, baking, sticker book, playing with stocking toys. Watch a Christmas episode of a TV show she likes.

I'd put some Christmas music on and hang around the house eating nice food and letting her play with her toys. Maybe a Christmas episode of something, or a film.

For me Christmas day is very much about being at home with the kids, relaxing and enjoying each other's company. I might do a short walk of the weather permits, but it usually isn't good walking weather where I live, so we're inside for the whole day. It's great.

When DD was 2 we went for a long walk on Christmas morning. She wasn't a chilling out in the house type of child and we had a nicer afternoon when she'd been properly exercised. If there's a friendly church with a 9 or 10am service near you, that's a nice option too. Your DD would probably enjoy the singing and the nativity scene.

@claymodels

I guess I just don't want to be stuck inside for 4+ hours really.

This is a really normal amount of time to be at home though, is there any reason you don't want to be inside?

Because we'll be inside all day otherwise. We'll have to drive to ILs, and then my parents are round. I like DD to have the fresh air and run around a bit etc

Up, stocking, breakfast then a walk to the park. Take a festive snack.
Home by 10ish to get freshened up and changed into whatever you plan to wear that day.

If you're going to ILs at 11 is that with DH? Otherwise can you go earlier? When is she opening her presents?

I think I'd do you both a nice breakfast, open the stocking toys and play with the still new birthday toys, wrap up warm and go out for a walk to something local (will parks be unlocked?) then home to get ready. Does she like the bath? Nice early bath so she's clean ready for Nanny's then head out?