Low key Christmas activities

[Justpoppingon]

Last year I went bonkers - booked so many things and spent a fortune. Predictably we ended up getting every bug going and my toddler ended up completely overwhelmed at the odd thing that we did make it to. So basically we wasted a lot of money and it ended up just being very stressful! This year I want to keep things more relaxed - does anybody have any favourite activities that don't require spending a lot of money and that can be flexible date wise!? So far my ideas are Christmas crafts, buying some new Christmas books and going for a wander around our village in the evening to see the lights.

All the above suggestions are great. I feel the same about overbooking things , I booked too many things last year and it was too overwhelming for them.
This year we have booked a Santa visit and nothing else will be booked except maybe a meal out.

I'm thinking this year we will do a

• Christmas pj and movie day with a takeaway as a treat.

-A Christmas baking and craft day ie, cookies and decorating gingerbread houses, making Christmas cards and decorations. -Reading Christmas books. -visit a market if possible. Will read through all the above ideas and possible borrow some. Fab thread.

Christmas baking or decorating ready bought things if baking isn't your thing.

Christmas film with snacks, maybe PJs.

Make Christmas cards to send.

If you have a real tree, a special trip to choose the right one (this is one of my fondest Christmas memories from childhood)

Making decorations for tree (salt dough, paperchains)

They can get very busy, but trip local garden centre, lots of lights, displays etc and I let my kids choose one decoration each for the tree.

Walk around local area spotting things, how many Santas can we find etc.

On Christmas eve 2 years ago we started a new tradition with our friends and all of their kids.
We all bake/cook something deliciously christmassy, and bring flasks of hot chocolate to the forest at around 2pmish/3pmish and go for a lovely nature filled walk, eat some fresh baked goodies, always leave carrots around for the local deer that didn't pass their flying test this year, drink hot chocolate and just exhaust ourselves climbing trees and walking and having a nice time just being with eachother.
Three birds one stone here- 1) none of our friends feel obliged to get eachother gifts/kids gifts as instead we give eachother our time. 2)after the run up to Christmas it just let's everyone reset and blow of some steam with some much needed fresh air (even if its rainy!) With our closest friends and 3)it exhausts them on Christmas eve- which means they might actually fall asleep at a reasonable hour!

We also like to be a little bit santa in the run up- get some presents for some neighbours and do some doorstop deliveries without letting them know it's from us. It always makes the kids SO excited, they love choosing the gift, wrapping it beautifully and they really love seeing the neighbour pick up the parcel (sneakily of course!)

After a coldy/flu-ey year last year OP, I hope you have a wonderful time this year with your baby!

Mine are teens now, but every 1st December a big box of Christmas snacks and activities magically arrives when they come downstairs. This also contains some Christmas socks, Christmas jumper and advent calendars (picture ones, I fill a chocolate one separately) When they were little I would also put in a Christmas book or colouring book, Christmas craft set, that kind of thing. They still love me doing this every year.

We also used to have an indoor fancy dress party picnic next to the Christmas tree, just loads of beige food and some Christmas songs on in the background. Might see if I can persuade them to resurrect that one this year!

Also just lots of festive films, particularly the Muppets Christmas Carol!

Around here the local rotary club does a Santa run stopping in different areas in different nights? Not sure if you also have one but it's more chilled, means you can just drop into one of them on a date that suits and is free!!! Also, check out your local garden centre, ours is very impressive - think Longleat!- but at a tiny fraction of the price.

We used to do a walk or a hunt round the garden and find some greenery to make a table decoration or just shove in a vase on the table and as they got older making a wreath for the door and tying some to bannister.

We used to lay the table for Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve. They liked making place cards.

Making snowflakes (lots of simple templates online). Its like magic when they unfold them and they can stick on window.

Icing Gingerbread reindeer/santas (you can buy a kit) if you don't fancy making

Check out local churches, many will have a Christmas crafts session, children's christingle and/or nativity play - usually free/donations welcome.

Just taking them round a big garden centre - they’re usually awash with Christmas - has gone down well with young Gdcs. I let them choose one small decoration or anything else that isn’t £££.

Did the same in the John Lewis Christmas shop last year, only was daft enough to let them choose something breakable! Went from JL to the nice peaceful cafe in the church - both managed to drop their decorations on a hard stone floor! We did go back and get something strictly unbreakable - Granny is a soft touch.

Visit to your local garden centre Christmas department

We usually do our Christmas activities (skating, theatre visit etc) after the 25th which makes things more low key before that.

I take mine (now 5 & 3) to Poundland to do their own Christmas shopping for family (me and DH, each other, and grandparents). They get incredibly excited by it, buy hilarious things for hilarious reasons, and then we get to wrap all the presents together at home. Grandparents in particular are always excited to know what their personally chosen gifts are going to be

Thank you so much everyone! Some brilliant ideas on here. I apologise for not having replied sooner but I really appreciate the responses 😀

@Fistralstorm This is exactly how I feel - I was doing activities almost to tick a box rather than thinking about what we would actually all enjoy!

@Timetoeat I'm glad it wasn't just me! So easy to get caught up in all of the events but I definitely enjoyed the simple things the most last year ❤️

@Bumblebeesince19 I love this idea!! I think the kids in our friendship group are possibly on the young side for it at the moment but I'd love to introduce this at some point - thank you 😁

Local cinemas often do Christmas film screenings, still a cost but a cheaper alternative to expensive live performance.

Christmas treats during from local supermarket.

Soemtimes they put them on offer for like Saturday morning kids prices.

It was a first-lockdown thing, but in DD’s immediate area, each of 24 houses decorated a front window for Advent, so children could walk around after dark to admire them. There were some amazing displays. I thought it was a lovely idea.