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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Ideas for Christmas - just me and DS (14)

30 replies

eish · 10/09/2025 11:34

It is just DS (age 14) and I this year, older siblings are abroad and so is his dad. Any ideas of how to make the day special? His dad and I broke up this year so first Christmas alone so I want to make it special. We will have a bigger family Christmas but not on Christmas Day.

he has requested no walk which was our usual family tradition! 🤣

so far I have:

build a Lego kit together
smorgasbord of all our fav things
a present on the hour for 12 hours, possibly hide and seek presents?
probably chicken roast
toast marshmallows on fire

OP posts:
Rainbowqueeen · 15/09/2025 02:02

So he knows he does not want to walk but does he have any ideas about what he does want to do.

I would :
let him sleep in
have his favourite foods for breakfast
cook together as suggested by a PP
buy a new board game for xmas that you can play together
call or facetime the siblings at an agreed time and work the day around that
make hot chocolate from scratch using real chocolate and add some flavours. Orange zest is yum for a jaffa hot chocolate.
Do some buzzfeed or similar christmas quizzes.
Are there any lights nearby you could go and see.
Watch Die Hard if he hasn't seen it or some other christmas movie that is new to him

Instead of a walk, could you go outside and toss a frisbee or similar. I honestly think that some time outside in the fresh air to break up the day would really help.

dizzydizzydizzy · 15/09/2025 02:19

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 10/09/2025 12:22

Go and see one of the siblings overseas? Tricky if he's expected elsewhere on Boxing Day admittedly.

14 feels a bit old for hide and seek presents I'll be honest.

There are lots of "films to watch before you are X yrs old" lists. You could splurge and download something brand new off a streaming channel. Christmas telly is usually crap.

I think the suggestion of having a v busy Christmas Eve and a chilled day is a good one. Arrange to meet friends, or host drinks for a couple of hours. Could you facilitate a CEve get together for his friends at your home or offer to supervise [pay for] an activity somewhere. Not too late, they'll be expected back but perhaps afternoon/early evening.

My young adult DCs still love an Easter egg hunt. We write a series of clues and hide the clues. Each clue feels you (cryptically) where the next clue is.

dizzydizzydizzy · 15/09/2025 02:21

Meadowfinch · 10/09/2025 12:27

Does he sleep for England like mine did at 14. I decorated his room while he was asleep so he woke up "in Christmas".

We went cycling on Christmas day. Deserted rural lanes where we live, Can you cycle to a family friend's house, have a hot toddy before lunch & cycle home. It's much more fun than walking.

Awww love the idea of waking up in Christmas!

I bought DC2 some Christmas bedding on eBay. It was very cheap and they loved it.

PearlsPearl · 15/09/2025 09:26

I would:

-make breakfast together. We do a Nutella christmas tree, so easy! (https://www.janespatisserie.com/2022/11/18/nutella-christmas-tree/)

-do the hide and seek! My too cool for school teen would groan and moan but secretly enjoy it. And the presents on the hour

-make the presents things you can do! 2 player games (we like Jaipur, and tao cat goat cheese pizza, and exploding kittens), and maybe an escape room at home gift

-if you're not going out, declare it pj day and make the first present really daft pjs/onsie

Nutella Christmas Tree! - Jane's Patisserie

A delicious four-ingredient Nutella Christmas tree with puff pastry, a Nutella centre, and a snowy dusting of sugar. 

https://www.janespatisserie.com/2022/11/18/nutella-christmas-tree/

stayathomer · 15/09/2025 09:28

Films and board games and a box with some favourite sweets and comfy socks! Enjoy op x

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