How to make Christmas day special for only teenager!

[hels71]

DD is 15. She is busy with panto up to and including Christmas eve. When She was younger, even with panto, Christmas was special due to Father Christmas. Obviously she no longer believes ( even to humour me!) And I am trying to find ways to make the day a bit special. Going out is not an option. There is me, DH and DD. What do people do with their only teens?

I got mine involved with the food. I let them pick food they like and help plan the meals.

Alcohol? Within reason
Cocktail making

I would imagine that she’d really appreciate a very relaxing day with lovely food, presents & media of her choice accessed whilst supine under a duvet.

Breakfast in bed, a lie in, letting her social media with her mates all day and her choice of food - maybe get her favourite takeaway on Christmas Eve and give it to her on the day!

I’m sure she’d enjoy a chilled day. How about playing a game together ?

When I was a teen my favourite bit was helping with all of the prep. I'd decorate the house, clean crockery, prep veg. There was the general spirit of Christmas in the air and it filled me with excitement. We always got fish and chips for lunch and sometimes a visitor would pop in. I'd put tree chocolates on the tree and we'd make mince pies and get the stuffing ready. In the evening we'd sit and watch a film. We also had a disaster of some kind every Christmas eve which was like a funny tradition.

It wasn't anything grand but it was the best and I still look back on it so fondly and miss it. I'm a very homely person though so perhaps that makes a difference.

Where on earth are ice rinks open on Xmas day?!?
I agree with @HeddaGarbled if she’s had school and panto (I assume performing?) until Xmas eve she’ll be knackered!

Thanks for thoughts! Definitely not going out anywhere!! Was so much simpler when she was younger!!!!!! Got present sorted though, so that's a bonus!

Little gift throughout day, new game to play?
Candles, good music, something funny to make people go out of themselves a little like accentuate?

Watch Matilda? New one coming out...

Late start, nice brunch. Bath with some new products then get dressed. Out for a walk then back for presents. Prep dinner, then all get properly dressed up before you eat.

Can a friend/cousin come around in the evening for a sleepover on actual Christmas or boxing day after all the gift-giving and other stuff is over?

There must have already been a few years of not believing, so what has worked or not worked during those years? Do you all feel Christmas Day has not been special, or are you overthinking it? What do you currently do?

Christmas Eve buffet and a festive film. How about a z Christmas Eve box with new PJs, bath bomb etc?

Cocktail making
baking
pjs and Xmas film
scrabble
I’ve got ds (an only) exit escape room board game thing
nails and face masks

otherwise WhT I end up doing and letting him sit flat out on his phone whilst I do the same 😂

The past couple of years me and DS have started a new tradition of watching all the Harry Potter movies from the start. He's 18 now and at uni I I gave him the option of going overseas to spend Xmas with his cousins as I was worrried it'd be so boring for him here but he said "actually a Hp marathon sounds better" so we will eat our fave foods, chill and watch HP. Lovely

Could she choose the music to listen to whilst you both prep the food/table?

Buy 3 ready made gingerbread houses and have a friendly competition to see who can decorate theirs the best

DD and I plan and cook Xmas meal together, she loves cooking. Dad is on washing duty 🙂. After meal we go for a short walk, then watch something and then play a game. Last year we played Secret Santa as recommended by MN and she absolutely loved it. At some point we phone relatives, it doesn’t take long as we don’t have many.
I think the main thing is that she is choosing what to cook, what to watch and what to play. And she likes that we dress up for Xmas dinner.