Tradition with niece

[Bojantrophy]

I would like to start an annual Christmas tradition with my niece who has just turned 3 however I'm conscious that it shouldn't be any of the typical ones as I'm sure they'll be covered by her parents. Can anyone suggest anything they've enjoyed doing that would fit into the day with auntie and uncle category. I'm thinking more at home activities. Thanks very much.

Get her to make her parents a card and present. Or buy a present and get her to make the wrapping paper. Something like a tree ornament.

Write the date on the card and stick in a photo, in the future it means something.

Seeing her writing over the years will be lovely. Plus it is great for kids to be able to give presents.

Make mince pies? Thats something always better in someone else kitchen. Can buy all the ingredients to make it easier, or Christmas cupcakes

Oh this is perfect!!! I would never have thought of that but it's perfect. Thank you so much.

My two always make a gingerbread house with my Dsis. I’m perfectly happy for her to take on that challenge rather than me!

Take her to the panto

This was going to be my suggestion. It's the perfect Christmas activity for a child and family member and isn't too expensive when done as a solo activity whereas when taking mum, dad, child, any potential siblings and auntie it would add up to an astronomical amount.

I know a bit pricey but I have started a tradition of buying them theatre tickets at Christmas that we attend together in the new year….they get so much at Christmas they really don’t miss an actual physical present, and I hope they will remember our annual theatre visits when they are older…..we did Frozen this year, and this Christmas I’m getting Lion King tickets

Take her for a Christmas brunch every year. On the weekend before Christmas. You have to wear Christmas jumpers!

I think this very much depends on what the parents are like. Some view any Christmas activities as ‘theirs’ and might be unhappy for a family member to be doing it. Make your relationship with the child’s parents the guide. Eg my siblings took it all personally with their kids - they rarely did anything with them but when I did anything with them (even make biscuits) I was accused of stealing a moment from them. So eventually I just stopped and organised small stuff like Christmas crafts / stockings etc for our shared family Christmas dinners.

Then DSD and DS came into the picture and I could indulge the Christmas activities to my hearts content lol.

Oh that's sad! We are both very close with my sister and brother in law and there's no danger they'd accuse us of stealing thunder! Though I do understand it could be that way in some families. My comment was more than they put in the hard work 365 days a year so should get the choice of all traditions first. That's why the idea of making something/doing something for them is such a good idea.

We already go to panto as a group. Always did it as a child and remember it very fondly so the lucky littluns on this thread will too I'm sure.

This is really sweet! I was going to suggest a special shopping trip to buy little presents for her parents and helping her wrap them and do the tags.

One of the dads I know from school does something like this with his (3!) children. Will set aside a Saturday afternoon for each to go into town, have lunch and choose presents for their mum and siblings. Once the eldest was at secondary he suggested he could give them the money instead but it seemed they actually loved the 1-1 special afternoon so they've kept it up as December tradition.

My niece and I make iced biscuits for Santa every Christmas eve.

she is eleven now and for the last couple of years we have also gone to the cinema to see a Christmas nice then somewhere posh for dinner😊. While I know we will drop the biscuits in a few years, I hope we will keep doing the film and meal!

I always do Christmas crafts to make a gift and card for their parents with the DGC. At 3, decorating a porcelain bowl or box with handprints is a good one to do. You could take her to a craft centre to do it or you can buy blanks from somewhere like Hobbycraft. A wooden box from somewhere like The Works would be an alternative. Cutting out peppermint creams with Christmas cookie cutters is another easy one at that age or decorating gingerbread cookies that you have prepared.

Don’t forget that she might not have the concentration to spend more than a 5 minutes on making something at 3! Something quick and easy is best. If she is enjoying herself, you can always let her loose on making something more freestyle afterwards 😂

I would have a back up plan of a Christmassy film or games and Christmas snacks or a trip out to do something else as well as the crafts in case she gets fed up with them very quickly 😂

I would avoid the obvious things like the panto or going to see Santa but there will be lots of Christmas events at museums and tourist sites going on. Her parents won’t be able to do everything with her.

Absolutely craft/gift making so the parents have a lovely surprise gift and collect them over the years. Pop a Christmas film on & decorate a gingerbread house or make fudge, rocky road. Make tree decorations & each year you’ll have a nice collection growing.

if you can walk around your area, we write a list of things to find.. snowflake dec, green Christmas lights, reindeer on a roof etc etc and go out hunting for them. Also just walking around/going for a drive to see Christmas lights is something myself and my friends all remember doing as kids. We’d drive round and see all the good lights and then park up at the seafront with a happy meal.