Ideas for an isolation Christmas

[McSleepy]

My children have both tested positive for Covid, so all of our plans have been cancelled and we’ll be isolating at home over Christmas. Fortunately they only have colds, DH and I are negative (so far), I have a supermarket delivery booked and we have all presents ready so I am conscious that we are very lucky and it could be much worse.

Does anyone have any ideas on how we can make Christmas Eve/day/boxing day more exciting at home?! And any film suggestions as I suspect we’ll be watching at least one a day?! We are used to going for walks and seeing small groups of family and friends over the 3 days and that’s the main thing the kids are disappointed about. Children are aged 7 and 9. So far, I have a treasure hunt, decorating Christmas cake and making gingerbread houses planned. Thanks!

Haven't got any suggestions but I'm in the same boat as you as we've all tested positive here... me and DH have lost our taste and smell too so Christmas dinner may be interesting 🤢 hopefully we'll both find suggestions on how to stay sane 😁

So sorry to hear this @Bubble54 - I do feel like it’s inevitable we’ll get it - it’s like when the sick bug is going through the house and you know you’re next! Hope you’re all feeling better by Christmas.

Not sure how old your DC are but how about some lengthy board games; Ticket to Ride, Risk, Monopoly. We also usually have a large 500 piece jigsaw laid out somewhere where we can all have a dip into, movies wise Arthur Christmas or how about a big trilogy like Lord of the Rings. Last year we set organised a zoom family quiz - DC researched and wrote all the questions.

Just seen ages of your children! My two are similar ages so my suggestions stand!

Same here. I am struggling to stay positive. If not for DC I would just aim to sleep the whole time away. :(we have been having a nightly film night so far, and will have a Christmas disco at some point.

Sing-along family carol service.

Family variety show, everyone tells a story, sings a song etc.

An adult reads aloud a Christmas book, A Christmas Carol for instance. Hot chocolate could be involved here!

Make a long paper chain to decorate their room

Do you have a garden? If so you could wrap up warm and sit out in the dark with candles (if it doesn't rain)

If you have the energy levels, you could play party games like musical statues, charades etc and playground games like french skipping. And silly drawing games like the one where you draw a head and shoulders then fold it back and someone else draws the body, arms, legs etc. Lego building competition, draw or build your fantasy house. Google for science experiments for kids. Make a marble run down the stairs using cardboard tubes and cut up cereal boxes. Make dens. Learn finger spelling or deaf blind signing and communicate with each other - no talking (I did this with my family one Christmaswhen I was a kid and loved it. Used to spell out Christmas carols to myself in the dark in bed to get myself to sleep)

Do you have a BBQ or fire pit outside? Roast some chestnuts and marshmallows on it.

Get 4 envelopes. Place a silly game idea in each envelope. Like singing Christmas songs in different accents or as a character. Everyone takes it in turn to pick one and do the silly thing.

Films can be made special by watching them all together, getting popcorn, putting the lights off, sharing blankets.

Kids can design obstacle course in the garden.

Make ‘reindeer oats’ by mixing oats and cake sprinkles etc, then put on lawn for reindeer to land (and birds have a Christmas feast in the morning).

Here is a list of Christmas movies that we are currently following editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-christmas-movies/

There are online board games that you can play- www.stylist.co.uk/entertainment/best-family-board-games/330944 or run activities like making christmas slideshows or picture collages (there is an app for that), this could help to spend some time. You can have a family video/collage contest, too, and the winner gets to choose a movie or gets a small token gift.

@McSleepy thank you so much! Fingers crossed for you too 🤞xx

There’s a children’s theatre company near us called Sleeping Trees who have two online pantos:

www.thesleepingtrees.co.uk/

We did the Moby Dick Whittington one last year and kids really enjoyed it (it was interactive, they had to pretend to be pirates, sing along and throw bits of paper at the tv etc )

Oh wow, thank you all so much for these suggestions. I think trying to think up entertainment since the first lockdown has just given me a block on ideas so these are much appreciated. I’m making a big grid with them on so that the kids can choose some activities each day.

@Solasum fingers crossed for you!