What do you do Christmas Eve daytime?

[Mamaof1DD]

DD was born in May so she’s a little bit too young to understand the festive spirit, but my brother and his wife have two children and we all live relatively close by one another. We’re looking for something to do on Christmas Eve that we can make into a tradition hopefully!

We live in the North East near the beach so theoretically could just do a nice walk, but we do that every day with the dogs!

When DBs children were very little we went to the farm but it now costs £35pp (including babies!) and is a whole experience rather than just a day at the farm. That’s the sort of thing we’d like though.

Does anyone have any idea of nice things we can do as a family with the kids?

All the food prep and last minute cleaning before guests arrive. It’s always a very busy day.
Dh takes the dc to see his dps, and I use that time to take the gifts out of the attic and hide them in my car where they’ll be more accessible.
In the evening, the dc decorate a gingerbread house which was a stupid tradition to start because they eat far too much sugar too close to bedtime.

We always used to do the panto which often has two shows on Christmas Eve, quite liked the morning one.

Also in the NE op. A few things we've done on Christmas Eve that my dd has loved, and which aren't all-day things, as she also likes to bake cookies ready for Santa.

Forest of Light at Beamish Hall (might struggle for CE tickets this late though, and it's an evening thing)
Richardsons Garden Centre to see the reindeer
Preston Park Museum to see the reindeer (can also wander around the museum for an hour too)
The Snowman in symphony at The Sage (again, may struggle for tickets)

We're thinking about a trip up to Lilidorei at Alnwick Gardens this year, weather dependent.

Another one for the tire-the-kids-out strategy 😁

We vary what we do, but usually involves a Christmas trail/event at a country park/Castle/EH place.. Then home for a picky festive lunch, followed by a Christmas film and something easy for dinner, and the evening mince pie and carrot routine.

@butterfliesandbee We are usually just the four of us for Christmas Day, occasionally DH's parents also who only live 40 mins away, so no guests staying. We try and get all the tidy up done earlier in the week and we have Christmas dinner at around 4.30 so plenty of time on the day to get it ready - plus we cheat with things like buying ready-made cauliflower cheese so not a vast amount to 'prep' anyway.

As a child, I remember hating Christmas Eve as my parents would pretty much just spend the whole day getting things ready and I was a mixture of boredom/anxiety just hanging around waiting (had insomnia from a young age and never used to be able to sleep Christmas Eve which I used to worry about for days before).

So decided that we would make Christmas Eve a special day for both us and the DC (plus get some fresh air and exercise so they hopefully never have trouble getting to sleep! waking up early is a different matter) These days I think I almost prefer Christmas Eve to Christmas Day.

When mine were little we lived near Woburn, the estate has a long drive through road and you can see the reindeer roaming about. We would drive through very slowly looking to see if we can spot Rudolph, we did sometimes!. Then out the estate into the village which is very old world looking with little tea rooms we would have a hot chocolate and doughnut and walk down the high street with the lights on.

it was a lovely tradition.

I love this idea - can you share which recipe you use?

When ds was old enough to enjoy going to the theatre that became our christmas eve tradition.

Before that it varied. We went swimming a couple of years and also to the cinema.

When the children were younger we sometimes did breakfast with santa or a beach walk. Often I'll be at work though, so no traditions until much later in the day.

Long walk...and thenChristmas crib/Christingle evening service with friends. We are not churchgoers but we bump into neighbours and friends chat say merry Christmas and chat afterwards

We walk round a nearby village that does a Living Advent Calendar each year. We wait until about 3.30-4pm because it is better when it’s dark. Good to get the kids out in the fresh air before bed time. This year, we have tickets to a local panto.

I do most of the cooking prep including baking and gravy.

I also wrap most of my presents of Christmas Eve.

last thing before bed we watch the snowman and the snow man and the snow dog with hot choc and luxury snacks

We bake and decorate cookies

@WinterNamechange - I just use bbc
https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/gingerbread_men_99096

Its says it makes 20. That must be full size gingerbread men, as we make about 50 from that using various small Christmas cutters ( everything from stars to dinosaurs). It’s a pretty forgiving recipe that doesn’t fall apart if re rolled way to make times by toddlers. Just take back out fridge about 15-20 mins before you want to use.

I buy those little chocolate icing tubes for decorating. Like these https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/311946119

Big house clean.
Final grocery shop bits and pieces.
Relax.

I make pancakes for breakfast, then try and get a Christmas movie in before work. Then its off to work Prepping the Next Sale. Then when i finally get home i can enjoy my Christmas eve, we open our family secret santa gifts, have hot chocolates get a takeaway, then get things ready for Santa. Just the little things that make Christmas eve exciting for the kids.

Thanks very much :)