Special things to use each year

[LemonAda376]

My son will be 3 this Christmas and starting to understand it more. I'm looking to get him a few things that we can use every year as Christmas traditions but can anyone add anything?

• letter from Santa
• wooden Santa plate for milk and cookies etc
• have an elf on the shelf but don't know if I want to start this
• personalised santa sack for toys
• he's had a stocking since he was born

Does anyone else do anything fun? Was thinking of a santa please stop here sign?

He went a pottery cafe when our's were 3 months and 4. I painted a Christmassy border in a plate, and we did their handprints, one red and one green, in the middle. The plates comes out every Christmas to put Santa's treats on, then with mince pies etc. it's one of my most treasured possessions and the kids love to see how much their hands have grown (now 8 &10).

We also use the same stockings every year.

We’ve got:

• Christmas bedding
• Christmas pudding blanket
• Christmas pyjamas
• Christmas melamine plates and bowls
• Christmas sparkly cups
• mini Christmas mugs
• a hamper of Christmas books
• mini Christmas trees for their bedrooms
• and a naughty elf (it does funny things, rather than spy on them)

Bedding was from Asda. I usually order pyjamas (also Asda) second week of September to get the sizes/availability. I bought the plates and cups from Home Bargains.

The elf is huge fun. I enjoy setting up a surprise arrival on 1st December with a special breakfast. If you think they’ve only got 11 years of “believing” in the magic, there’s only a short time to do this 😂 I’ll still be doing it when they’re adults!!

We’ve used the same Santa plate for the mince pie and carrot and their stockings for years.

Another vote here for the Elf just visiting! We have two and last year was the first year we did it. They just move round the house, climb the tree, swing from the light shade etc

We have matching pyjamas (just ordered our new ones from Very last week), Christmas hot chocolate mugs, our DD's have Christmas plastic Santa juice pots from home bargains, and I'll order a nice Santa plate from Etsy this year as our one got chipped last year

Oh and Christmas bedding! We've got a bigger bed this year so will order a new set from Asda

We read a Christmas Carol every year, we have a toddler version of the book for now
Theres the wooden Christmas figures that we got from a local attraction
A plate with our daughters footprints for Santa’s treats and a bauble with her handprint on
On Saturday we’re going to a pottery class to paint plates that will be used for our Christmas dinner each year

My DC are teens now but still love it when the reusable advent calendar comes out stuffed with chocs and sweets

We've acquired several advent calendars over the years, which all come out.

We take a staged photo in front of the tree each year, which is fun to look back on

Santa's landing strip set out in the garden (two rows of tea lights) plus reindeer food.

Tracking Santa on the NORAD website.

Making crackers with specially chosen gifts.

Decorating gingerbread house (IKEA do a cheap one - buy the edible glue!)

Going to a garden centre to choose a new bauble each.

As a child every Christmas Eve we recieved a basket, it had letters & envelopes to be filled out the next day (thank you) Christmas themed pyjamas, a hot chocolate packet & a mug.

Nativity scene

We each have a personalised Santa sack from the Handmade Christmas company. They are lovely. We have a wooden advent calendar which lights up too. Last year dd wanted to introduce a new tradition of stockings. I filled them with a few sweet treats and hung on bedroom doors once they were all asleep.

Elf on the shelf is a ball ache. I only do it for children at school ( I just hide him every day, I don't get the 'naughty' thing) and that's enough for me.
We made a key out of Fimo so that santa can get in, we still put it out 17 years on....
We have a making decorations day every year, late November, again there is no sign of the kids wanting to stop doing this.

Gdcs have this - took Granny ages to make it a few years ago. The mini polar bear insert is my favourite!

I just ordered this

https://hideandseektextiles.com/products/advent-calendar-fabric-advent-calendar-christmas-countdown-calendar-seconds?pos=1&&sid=89e948e3d&ss=r