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...

Get up, do stocking. Wrap stocking presents so that they take longer to open - if she's anything like mine were at that age it'll take a year.
Play with stocking presents, have breakfast. Give her a fun bath with some Christmassy soap - mine often got the lush bath putty in their stockings, it's like play dog.

Go outside or for a walk and take the bubbles with you.

Tbh, by the time you've done the stocking, had breakfast and got yourselves ready for the day you'd probably find that you were halfway through the 4 hours!

If I was you I'd do a walk then come back for Christmas craft or baking.

I would add a bouncy ball to her stocking and then go to the park and play with the new ball, bubbles and eat chocolate. Maybe Christmas bobble hats you can both wear and take selfies to send to DH

Park could be a nice idea we did that last year when our youngest was 2. Or how about a little walk around your local houses spotting Christmas trees my toddler loves that

Although to be fair if you have to be somewhere at 11 I'd just have a quiet morning getting ready

I didn't realise lots of people went to the park :D We'll play it by ear then. Lots of great suggestions, thanks. I like the idea of hiding a surprise for her!!

Add things in the stocking for a fun bath, bath lights or glow sticks or colour changing bath bomb (the zimpli kids ones are good for colouring the bath) and a new bath toy. The Ambi ducks are great. I find baths are a great time killer with toddlers. By the time you've opened stocking, had breakfast, a bath, got dressed, done the new puzzle, I'm sure it will be 11.

@BusySittingDown

Get up, do stocking. Wrap stocking presents so that they take longer to open - if she's anything like mine were at that age it'll take a year. Play with stocking presents, have breakfast. Give her a fun bath with some Christmassy soap - mine often got the lush bath putty in their stockings, it's like play dog.

Go outside or for a walk and take the bubbles with you.

Tbh, by the time you've done the stocking, had breakfast and got yourselves ready for the day you'd probably find that you were halfway through the 4 hours!

Grr, I meant that the bath putty is like play doh!

@SleepingStandingUp

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?

Unlocked! Do they actually lock the parks where you live?! I thought that was just a myth we told children. They certainly don't lock them where I live.

She's 2 so won't really understand Christmas, mine didn't really last year. So just do what you'd normally do in the morning, enjoy the quiet time with just the 2 of you. Depending on how many people are at your in laws later, it will be quite overwhelming for her so a chilled morning will be beneficial.

Unlocked! Do they actually lock the parks where you live?! I thought that was just a myth we told children. They certainly don't lock them where I live. playgrounds no but the big parks like the arboretum, yes. Next time there's a class discussion on MN I'll add that one😂😂

I would suggest visiting the ducks at the local park (if you are lucky enough to have some) to feed them their Christmas breakfast!

@SleepingStandingUp

Unlocked! Do they actually lock the parks where you live?! I thought that was just a myth we told children. They certainly don't lock them where I live. playgrounds no but the big parks like the arboretum, yes. Next time there's a class discussion on MN I'll add that one😂😂

🤣🤣🤣 Now there is a first world issue.

Is there an Xmas day parkrun near you? You could go and cheer everyone on.

we always went to the park/for a walk as do lots of others - trying out new scooters/bikes/skates etc for a 2yr old are you getting anything like that ?? balance bike, pull along toy / new ball ??? if so open that 1st thing and save rest for DH later ... then back and bath- warm up then she'll be all rady for presents when DH gets back...

I would just open stocking in bed, a nice breakfast together ( Ds is a bit younger but loves waffles, yogurt and berries as weekend treat), maybe take a bath together and get ready for the day.

Pop out for a little wander or park an hour, and back to play before family stuff.

If family over to eat at 2pm your probably want to spend a little bit of time prepping surely as well if you out at 11am

You could do a picnic in the park. Or in your car with the heating turned up etc. Open gifts and stockings in bed as well. Arts and craft session is good too. A Christmas baking class is another good activity to do if it rains however in addition in the afternoon as is a game night and the like.

We always do a Christmas day walk that's been to the park since having kids. New dolls need to try out the swings, cars need to ride down the slides. Most houses have their Christmas lights on, there's a lovely hush with very few cars just the occasional dog walker with a Christmas hat on or excited kid on a new bike, it's lovely. I agree OP there's only so long you can feel comfortable in the house with a toddler before everyone's climbing the walls (literally if you're 2)

Move chair outside bathroom and position tea/coffee, biscuits and a good book. Stick her in the bath with some jellybaff to play with. Relax. The rest of the day will be hectic enough.

Drag out the stocking fun and get some christmas music on and have a giggle. Go for a quick walk/ trip to park and come home and give her a bath with lots of bubbles

@NovemberNovemberDarkNights

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.

This. She's so little still and having time outside will make the rest of the day much calmer for her

I'd plan the stocking around helping you fill the morning.
e.g.
something to eat & drink in bed so you can lie a bit longer with her
A book
a little character ball to kick around the park
Character bubble bath, toothpaste, toothbrush, to make the usual morning routine more fun and you can drag it out a bit.

If the weather is too miserable to go out, put on some Christmas music and have a mini disco.

I was never one for sitting toddlers in front of the TV but there are occasions, and this is one, where a bit of telly can help.

Take her outside....park ...feed ducks....play areas ....you won't be alone I'm sure !!!!
We always go to the beach for some air ..unless it's raining hard !!!

You've got quite a busy day OP.
Is it for your own MH that you need to be out of the house? ( I live with anxiety and if I'm stuck in the house all day I start to feel really panicky).
If it's purely to do something for your dd then I don't think it's needed. She's going to be opening presents and seeing family so it's not like she won't be stimulated.
7-11 really isn't a long time and she'll be happy with her stocking and playing with the new things.
A bath with new bath toys is a great idea.
Baking some cookies with some Christmas themed cutters that she could hand out to the family would also be great.
Have a lovely day OP.