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

[AnnMumsnet]

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

Standard Insight T and Cs Apply

Christmas craft ideas and baking. Elf! Getting outside for walks. We made an indoor ice rink once!

Going to a panto is fun, there are lots of cheap ones around. I make sure to get a 'doing' type present for each of my daughters such as Lego so they can spend time doing that. Baking, going for walks, a film afternoon, seeing family/friends etc are all good winter activities. If it snows (!) then sledging is a winner!

Booked a few shows already. Bowling. Wintery walks. Family get togethers. Playing with new Christmas toys. And snuggling up to watch tv with treats.

Try and get a balance really- so bike rides/ swims/ walks; Christmassy activities (ice skating, trip to the panto, garden centre etc); Christmas crafts; board games; Christmas stories; christingle service and yes, definitely some Christmas movies as well. Ours aren’t massive tv watchers but I do find they need time to really rest over the Christmas holidays particularly. Sometimes, just sometimes, all four sit and enjoy a movie together ...

Hanging out with cousins this year for the first time! Normally playdates to make the most of new toys, along with getting outside for walks (we specially love the beach) whenever it's not raining!

We do a couple of paid for events and lots of free events.
This year we’re doing panto, ice skating and a music event. We ll be going on lots of walks with hot choc in a flask. Some of these will be with friends.
We ll be visiting family.
At home, we start a jigsaw puzzle that we add bits to every day (I usually start it off and then the kids seem drawn to it)
We’ll also do some baking and watch lots of films.
Love cosying up on the sofa to watch a film after being out during the day.

If it's not raining we start each day with a long walk with the dog, this has many benefits: They are dressed and showered at a reasonable hour, the dog is not a PITA all day and I don't feel guilty if they go on devices or watch TV. We play a family board game every day, this has really transformed the way we talk to each other after a little too little family time beyond meals, poker night every Friday, a christmas movie when it rains.... and I have a sewing/craft room and so make stuff.

The rest of the time is filled with arguing and complaining, mostly them and sometime me!

We plan ahead to have the best possible time on a limited budget. This year we are:
Having a Christmas craft day where we will make crackers for our wider family for Christmas Day and fill them with things from the pound shop etc.

Making small felt stockings for our two cats and put cat treats inside!

Going to the forest for a bike ride and collect holly for the house and kindling for the wood burner.

Going to see Paddington.

Doing a kid swap with friends so both they and we can have lunch out with our other halves.

Making biscuits for the neighbours

That’s it so far- will be mining here for other ideas!

Lots of crafts and baking - he loves it and he can give them as presents to family.

We do games nights, carnival, pantomime, baking, playing with new toys and visit local attractions. Lots of meals out and special time.

We have lots planned - want to go see Paddington 2, going to the pantomime, visit to Father Christmas in his grotto, wrapping pressies, making cards, eating mince pies......

Me and my daughters bake Christmas treats for friends and family which they love doing and it keeps them entertained for days.

There’s just so much going on it’s difficult to know where to start!

We mix it up - outside activities and lots of cosy afternoons in, playing, craft as films

Lots of playdates - DD is entertained by her friend, while I get a chance to chill out and drink coffee with the parent/s.

Have something booked or arranged every few days (find lots of free things or go to the park) and give them rest days in between (hello Netflix). I like to put a piece of paper with December’s trips in the advent calendar instead of chocolate.

A couple of treat trips out to have things to look forward to but also quality family time at home. We love not having to rush around, watching movies all cuddled up on the sofa under duvets and playing board games - usually a few new ones in the present pile!

lots and lots of christmas themed craft activities. Doesn't have to be complicated but just spending the time with them doing glueing, making paperchains, loo roll snowmen - that kind of thing that there isn't always time for at other times of year.

Isn't the while point of,Xmas that they break up from school week before. Much excitement about decorating house and tree. Then its Christmas, loads of new toys which then keep them busy until they go back to school. The odd Christmas movie and morning in front of kids tv and its all sorted.

Christmas themed days out to things like Panto, longleat, visit to santa.

Christmas crafts like card making.

Watch Christmas films with a few sweets/popcorn and definitely some hot chocolate.

Visits to family.

My youngest is 11 now so a little easier, we keep busy by making Christmas cards for the neighbours, baking cakes and biscuits, going for wintery walks when dry and snuggling on the sofa watching films.

Christmas baking is fun.
Decorating the house & tree.
Going for walks. Watching Christmas films.

Plan a activity for each day before lunch. Walk to town, park, family game, cooking. Then film or games in the afternoon. I involve the children in the plan too

Pantomime, cinema, make crafty things, do some baking together, watch Christmas movies, visit family, wrap up warm and go for walks, sledging (only if we're lucky enough for snow of course), snuggle up at home with hot chocolate and watch Christmas movies. The rest of the time they entertain themselves with the Christmas presents they've received.

Movie nights
Going to visit relatives
Playing with Christmas presents
Panto!

Craft activities. Making snowmen from marshmallows and rich tea biscuits! Yum and fun all in one!! Whop hoo!!!