What special things are you doing / did you do with your toddler in run up to CHristmas?

[TheWorstWitch]

DD's only 2.6, so we've booked a 30 minute puppet theatre show instead of panto or ballet.
Any ideas of other things DD might enjoy?

We're in London, so we're thinking of going to have a look round St Paul's (but that would be more for DH and I).

Go somewere with some pretty christmas lights...( london peeps can suggest where)

My girls are 3 and 1, here's some of what we're up to:

wooden nativity set is being played with a lot

lots of beautiful nativity stories have appeared from the loft

painting reindeer with footprint for head and hand print for antlers

Santa at toddler group and the PTA fete

Christingle service at church (if I figure out the logistics of juggling 3 under 7 on my own, hmmm)

nativity service at church

making and icing star biscuits

painting star tealight holders

sticking holly berries and sprinkles onto holly leaves cut out of green card (have done this a lot!)

wow tassisssss that's truly amazing!

Aw thanks CB! Life is just a bit of a whirl of Christmas activities with church things, toddler groups etc. And I love it I have to say!

we're going to take DD (3.5) on the london eye for xmas. She's been asking to go on the 'windmill' for about 2 months.

Was thinking about the London Eye ... just wondering whether my DD (2.6) is a bit young for it.
DH and I have been on it before and were a bit underwhelmed ...

Maxpower - sorry, if that sounded negative about the Eye, didn't mean to.
I'm sure you'll have a fab time. There's a carousel on the South Bank at the moment too, and a Christmas Market that might be worth checking out.

Christmas Markets (but not at the busiest time of day)

A ride on a Carousel ( in nearest city) , looking at Christmas lights in same city.

Carol service at lunchtime in Cathedral ( same city).

Santa coming to toddlers in village hall.

If it ever stops raining I'll take him on a bike ride in forest again, with warm milk and and cake at Cafe after. Did that last year the day we bought a Christmas tree ( same forest) and it was lovely afternoon. boy was 2.8 then riding a balance bike.

This year he will be coming to Carols by Candle light at local church, 6pm service.

Last year he went to the crib service at 4pm Christmas eve at my parents village, real animals and baby in a nativity play.

We took DD's (2.5 and 4 on Boxing day) skating at our local temporary rink.They give them skates that are more like shoes and a big old plastic penguin thingy to push round so they keep their balance.They both LOVED it They might do the same for Toddlers at Somerset house or Marble Arch, not sure..(did you say London based, OP?)

Also every year I get each one a special new bauble for the tree (the aim being that when they are 18 I will give them all of their 18 ones for their own tree's -which come to think of it will leave mine a bit bereft but still...)So I have taken them each on their own to the shops to pick their bauble and then afterwards for a cake.Nice to have a bit of one on one time with them especially when its so hectic this time of year.

That is a lovely idea about the baubles scootini, why did I not think of that when mine were babies!

I second the ice-skating, toddlers have great balance and not far too fall if they do topple.

Real animals and baby crib service sounds right up my DD's street. But DH and I are atheist, so would feel a bit hypocritical even looking to see if there was a service like that round our way

Somerset House looks gorgeous.
Think DD might be a bit young for it, so will put it on my list for next year.

Don't do the eye with her. We took dd one when she was 3 and she couldn't preceive that it was moving so was very bored for nearly an hour and the queue is horrendous.