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...

@AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps

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 :)

Don’t think they’ll be many, if any, trains. If there’s a hotel with a pool near you, you could maybe pay for a swim there.

Why not take her for a Christmas lights/decorations scavenger hunt/bingo walk? There a loads of free printables you could take one along to mark your finds or make your own.

I like DD to have the fresh air and run around a bit etc

Then take her to the park! Not really sure why you don’t think that’s an option.

At her age & with a full day ahead of you I'd just have a normal breakfast. Not do the stocking, just go to the park & let her run around j til she's had enough, then go home & give her a bath, get dressed fir the next part of the day & then play with birthday toys or her favourite toys until it's time to go to the inlaws. She'll be in a much better mood if you don't start the excitement & sugar until you get to the inlaws.

Another vote for church.

With my DD if we’d taken her the park before going the ILs she’d be too tired come mid-afternoon to enjoy it. I didn’t appreciate how much all the excitement would tire her out. Could you take her for a walk to look as the lights in her buggy? Fresh air but not as tiring as the park

That happened to me a lot when the DC were small, since DH was in the Army. I just used to treat it like a normal day, playtime, go for a walk, watch something on the TV. The day doesn't have to be full-on Christmas every minute. Just have a nice morning with her .

Open stockings and play with the small toys from it, then cook a nice breakfast together (she could help you beat creamy scrambled eggs for example). Dance to Christmas music, walk to the park with a hot chocolate and golden coin picnic stop.

I’d go for a walk where you try to spot Christmas-y things (a bit like a scavenger hunt).
You could look for things like:

• A house with Christmas lights
• People wearing hats and scarves
• Snow or ice
• Holly
• Something red/green/gold
• A star
• People going to Church
• A robin
• A Christmas tree
• Father Christmas!

You could try to end up in the park where she can run around for a bit.

I'd go to the park. Feed the ducks.

So far we've gone to the parks 4 out of 6 Christmases with kids! Gets us some fresh air and breaks up the day. It can be a little overwhelming even for littlies.

there wont be trains, but a walk would be lovely

My DD is 2, she does know Santa is coming…. And is involved in a lot of Christmas things at nursery.
Personally I’d not even think about venturing out on Xmas day AM. I’d do the stocking, snuggle on the sofa, Christmas films in the background.
FaceTime family, say happy Christmas. Maybe make some Christmas biscuits and then your DH would be home!

@Amberflames

I like DD to have the fresh air and run around a bit etc

Then take her to the park! Not really sure why you don’t think that’s an option.

I do. It's in my OP

Oh yeah, no trains on Christmas Day... Whoops!

I'd go to the park with the bubbles, and the chocolate. Is she old enough for hot chocolate? You could take a flask of that with you, might be a nice treat if it's cold.

She’s two so you will more aware it’s Christmas than she is. So I’d suggest do what you’d normally do on a slow morning, with the exception that she’d have a stocking to open! Don’t over think it.

I think the park is a lovely idea, just remember not to do much running about- the excitement of presents, people and Christmas in general generally wears them out quickly!!!!

@Snowywintersundays123

My DD is 2, she does know Santa is coming…. And is involved in a lot of Christmas things at nursery. Personally I’d not even think about venturing out on Xmas day AM. I’d do the stocking, snuggle on the sofa, Christmas films in the background. FaceTime family, say happy Christmas. Maybe make some Christmas biscuits and then your DH would be home!

But how '2' is she. The OPs kid is not yet 2, she's 2 right before Christmas.

My 2yo knows it's Christmas, she knows father Christmas is coming and she'll get presents. But she's 3 in January. Last year sg

Accidentally pressed post. Last year at very very nearly 2 she hadn't a clue.

I think you are over thinking it all. Get up, open stocking, breakfast, play, if there’s time go for a walk, go to ILs. As someone else said, you don’t need to turn the whole day in to a jingle bells episode, a chilled out day is fine. Don’t stress yourself out trying to bake or anything fancy like that, you are cooking a dinner in the afternoon so don’t add to your stress levels.

If you don’t manage a walk in the morning, can you delegate a relative to take dd out after lunch to see the lights? We tend to go on a Christmas Day walk mid afternoon and there’s always quite a few people about at that time of day.

Definitely the park. Rest of the day is always rather intense with people and presents and not the usual routine. I reckon the more park time the fewer meltdowns!

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

Surely you have answered your own question then

She is only 2 not everything has to be specifically festively themed. I lovely atmospheric Christmas day walk from around 9 - 10am sounds like it would fit in perfectly with your other plans. Get wrapped up warm, take a new toy from the stocking, hide candy canes in the park or something.

I like DD to have the fresh air and run around a bit etc

Then take her for fresh air and a run around! I know you mentioned the park in the OP but you said it as though it was something weird or unusual… there are usually loads of children at the park near us on Christmas morning, going for walks, trying out new bikes and scooters etc.

Play with her existing toys, watch CBeebies, walk round the block- go feed ducks.

My kids need fresh air too, just go out for a walk or to the park if that's what suits you both. Take a flask of hot chocolate and some good snacks with you.