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How do you keep your children entertained during the festive holidays? Share with NOW TV - chance to win £300 NOW CLOSED

341 replies

AnnMumsnet · 29/11/2017 17:14

The couple of weeks (or so) holiday from school at Christmas time can be a long slog once the ‘big day’ is out of the way, especially if the weather is not very kind.

NOW TV would love to know your top tips on keeping the children entertained during the winter school break - do you brave the sales, snuggle up for a movie afternoon, encourage long wintery walks or dig deep and go to soft play? How about some baking or crafts? What about older children? Do you limit device time or allow them some extra time with their tablets? When do you get any holiday homework done? What do your children like doing in the Christmas holidays?

NOW TV say “'With NOW TV, we have a host of family movies lined up for the festive period - from Frozen to The Polar Express and even the classic Sound of Music! Families can also enjoy newer movies like Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them and The Lego Batman Movie - all from the comfort of their own front room'

Whatever your tip or best advice for other parents, add it below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one person will win a £300 voucher for the store of choice - from a list.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

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How do you keep your children entertained during the festive holidays? Share with NOW TV - chance to win £300 NOW CLOSED
OP posts:
cathryn1 · 11/12/2017 09:53

we love baking, and creating things and painting

sarahw2 · 11/12/2017 10:16

I try to have a few activities planned (baking, crafts etc.), and have anything we need to do them bought in before Christmas, so that we don't have to make necessary trips. You also can't beat a pyjamas and films day!

Tonkatol · 11/12/2017 10:23

I love the Christmas holidays as there is so much going on. This year my DD breaks up on Friday 15th December, so has 10 days before Christmas.

I have 4 DC but only one is at school now; another is at university and the other two are working. I try to get all shopping out of the way before my DD breaks up as the town becomes so busy and unpleasant. We may pop to the shops but only for my DD to choose gifts for her siblings, so I don't find that stressful.

Before Christmas, we spend quite a bit of time doing craft. This includes making Christmas cards and presents and also cooking treats such as sweets, biscuits and cakes for Christmas. These then get wrapped in boxes and jars, all of which I let my DD decorate.

I do try to get my DD out in the fresh air as much as possible - it may be taking the dogs for a short walk in the woods opposite our house, a meet-up with friends at a park or even a trip tho the seaside. As long as it isn't too wet, we can wrap up well to protect from the cold. I love it when we go out for a while and then come home, make a cup of tea or hot chocolate and then snuggle up on the sofa to watch a film or favourite TV programme. I am also a member of the National Trust and many places offer craft activities for children, so it is nice to go out for a walk or look round a property and then do some crafting before coming home.

We try to get any homework out of the way as early as possible in the holidays as, once Christmas is here, everyone is at home and then the rest of the holidays seem to fly by and, before we realise, it is the day before DD goes back to school!

There always seems to be family and friend to catch up with over the Christmas period and that normally takes up quite a bit of time.

All in all, I find the time flies by and once Christmas Day is here, my DD will have new presents & toys to entertain her. We do watch TV, but usually it is only on for a short time in the morning and then it goes back on once we are home mid - late afternoon, when my DD is chilling after a busy day and I am preparing dinner,

noynoyavery · 11/12/2017 11:01

Hi we Home ed so no need to try and find something to keep them sudden getting board, people really don't need to keep kiddies entertained 24/7. We still go out if not horrid, walking, Geocaching, Studying nature. Painting, Cooking, Playdates or sometimes just let them play whatever they want, seems the least stressful and they enjoy down time , from learning not doing anything sometimes is the best.

myboycraig · 11/12/2017 11:25

My 14 year old is too cool to hang with his embarrassing mum. He's either on his xbox or swimming or at cinema with his friends.

But me and my DH love to go long walks by the water with our 9 month old. Just wrap up well and off we go.... I love it!

FrenchieMum2Be · 11/12/2017 11:47

We take long walks to town or around the neighbourhood to look at Christmas illuminations. I've got pre-schoolers so they're easily impressed :)

Squina1 · 11/12/2017 12:20

Now that they are a little older (and wiser) getting them out of the house has become more of a struggle, especially in the winter. So, quite often now the only way I can manage it is to incorporate some kind of reward on their return. This normally involves watching a movie (on NOW TV) whilst munching on a meal deal.

Jocelynne123 · 11/12/2017 12:53

We like a mixture of different activities but they are mostly free. We love wrapping up and going for long walks with the dogs. We also love snuggling up under blankets with treats to watch a movie. Baking and crafts are a big thing we do. We have just made a garland for our fireplace and a wreath out of he garden xx

lucyrobinson · 11/12/2017 13:19

I love to have a good clear out over the winter break. The kiddies love getting out all their old toys they haven't played with for ages. If that fails I have a roll of paper that I tape to the floor. Then the kiddies can doodle and colour on.

maria08k · 11/12/2017 13:32

We LOVE board games and puzzles. We are lucky that our 7 year old son is really into them this year which will make for lots of fun this festive break!

glmcall123 · 11/12/2017 15:57

We'll be visiting family, walking the dog, baking and relaxing.

DiWoo · 11/12/2017 16:07

I advise my daughter to get her homework done ASAP so she has time to enjoy her presents and doesn't have homework hanging over her head. We also have a Christmas movie day with snacks but I usually find the Christmas holiday goes so fast and they're back at school so soon after New Year

svalentine60 · 11/12/2017 16:25

There are probably two main things we do. One of which is long walks on Dartmoor which include treasure hunts. We hid bags of chocolate gold coins for the children to find. We also do a lot of crafting and i have a spare room that is used for that. Hand painting, making things to put on the tree etc. We spend hours in there :)

Sammie87 · 11/12/2017 16:38

Family film days watching all the classic Christmas films in pjs with popcorn.

We also like to make nice treats for Christmas Day like mince pies and rocky road.

12LuDo · 11/12/2017 16:55

We really enjoy playing board games, so I'm enjoying that while it lasts! If he gets to an age where he feels he's too old, I might teach him to play cards!

rocketriffs · 11/12/2017 18:28

A lot of play. Getting inventive with Lego, or playing board games, or get the scalextric out and have a championship event with the whole family racing each other.

26jibby · 11/12/2017 19:28

A walk in the woods is always a good call

hann24 · 11/12/2017 21:12

Organise a few big days out and on rainy days baking is always good fun

mishknight · 11/12/2017 21:56

I get my DD to write a list of things she wants us to do for the day. Normally watch a film, play a computer game, play a board game, baking. Then in-between us doing those things together I do something I want to do (or need to do) like the hoovering or I have time on my laptop. We did this today as she was off school as it was closed due to snow

jhgillies · 11/12/2017 22:24

My kids are older, so they like to get involved with volunteering where they can, even if it is baking cookies and taking them to elderly neighbors.

tigercub50 · 11/12/2017 22:25

Not sure what’s happening work wise but hopefully there’ll be plenty time for days out. We’re lucky enough to live near the beach & I love a good walk followed by hot chocolate. My daughter loves crafts so we’ll do a few projects. And my brother will be staying locally so she can catch up with her beloved cousins.

clarabella12 · 11/12/2017 23:25

lots of board games, colouring in (crafting) and movie days!

wintertime94 · 12/12/2017 04:08

Go for a family walk, watch a christmas movie, play board games, make paper chains, bake...all good fun.

ConorMcGregorsChin · 12/12/2017 06:07

I play with mine. Or snuggle up with a blanket and watch Polar Express or something. She would also spend lots of time drawing. And watching educational (and sometimes crap) on her tablet.
Have to be prepared to do plenty indoors during this time of year. But also nice to get out to the beach or park too!

VickyRsuperstar · 12/12/2017 07:57

I buy a huge lot of crafts materials for the little ones so that they can have a lot of fun cutting up things, sticking things and doing creative projects. They love it and can spend hours entertained.
We also have cake making - fun things like rice crispie cakes.
We also have board games and computer games and we mix it up. If the weather isn't too awful we go for a walk in the fresh air and visit the local park.