Mumsnet users share with Sky Kids how they entertain their children whilst they prepare for Christmas

[EllieMumsnet]

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Many of us have a million-and-one things to do in the run up to Christmas, many of which aren’t particularly huge tasks but just time consuming such as wrapping the presents, writing cards, ordering the food and getting the decorations out from wherever they are stored for the majority of the year. Therefore in order to get get these things done and done quickly you often need to have a multitude of entertainment options up your sleeve and ready to whip out at any moment in order to keep your children preoccupied. Sky Kids would like to know how you keep your children entertained whilst you prepare for Christmas and if there are any Christmas events and/or times that would really help if your children were kept occupied.

Here’s what Sky Kids have to say: “The Sky Kids App is the perfect solution to keep your kids occupied in the run up to Christmas…..with thousands of shows on demand including Paw Patrol, The Gruffalo’s Child, Lego Ninjago and Rusty Rivets, and fun and educational games for all ages like Art Studio, you can buy yourself some ‘free’ time (to wrap all those presents!) safe in the knowledge that the available shows and games they're watching are age-appropriate and of course, entertaining.”

Do you pop on a Christmas film to not only get them in the Christmassy mood but also keep them entertained whilst you label and wrap all of the presents? Maybe the tasks such as putting up the tree and decorations you get them involved and assign them little jobs to do so you can kill two birds with one stone? What about the time you need to plan out all of the food and drinks that need to be ordered? Do you watch their favourite show with them whilst also planning on your computer? Do you wish you had more entertainment options for when your travelling all over the place doing the Christmas rounds?

However you keep the children entertained whilst you prepare for Christmas, share them on the thread below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw
MNHQ

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My daughters always been good at occupying herself for short periods, I’m lucky!

My friends and I share a childcare morning so we are childfree one morning a week during the lead up to Christmas. This is a great help.

Keep them away from the TV and their games consoles and give them a good book to read.

Lots and lots of making new decorations and walks

Christmas films - and dad!!!

i get them to do lots of arts and crafts and make our own decorations

I always find some home baking is always a good distraction, also some artwork to give to family.

Prime video and netflix for films and the various consoles for games.

They really like baking so they like to make different cakes and biscuits to give to the family for Christmas, this usually keeps them entertained for a while.

Gran & grandad takes them to the cinema, santas grotto and take them to the christmas fete were they can buy little items to wrap themselves to pop under the tree, they love decorating the tree with us and have christmas songs playing & singing too while we put the decorations up and bake cookies.

Christmas crafts, board games and Christmas films always keep mine entertained

We try and get them involved as much as possible but if its something they really don't want to do then we usually put a Christmas film on for them to watch.

christmas movies

Try and involve them in the preparations, especially the decorations. But give them puzzles and drawing to do.

I used to try and involve my son in decorating and writing cards. Wrapping was done after bedtime. Everything else pretty much the same as normal but those Christmas cartoon DVDs came in handy from time to time!

we do the decorations together! as for the present wrapping that has always been done during night time. I tend to buy bits leading up to christmas for food shop, but on the day everyone has a few little jobs to do to help it all run smoothly as many hands make light work and with the radio on playing christmas music it seems to go by quickly!

Christmas films are usually a huge help!

films, and once they've watched so many I start to worry about square eyes then I get them decorating and ginger biscuits for the tree. They're so cheap and easy to make, they can decorate and destroy as many as they like

cinema trip with Dad whilst I get everything sorted!

I do most of the prep whilst the kids are at school and have everything sorted for when they break up from school. They do help me wrap other peoples presents though which is fun.

I let them do some Christmas crafts like making orange pomander balls, popcorn tinsel, paper snowflakes, watch Christmas movies and help wrap presents

A tv remote, with access to Netflix and You Tube. I know bad mum, I should be making salt dough figures to hang on the tree and home made cards, whilst running after the baby, cleaning up, wrapping prents and preparing food! Sometimes it just has to be done. 🙈

I do a lot when they are both in bed, but my eldest does like christmas films and christmas crafts. He likes to draw christmas cards. I also rope in my mum to take him out for a few hours before christmas so i can get some last minute things done.

Lucky to have my Mum to help out

We have elf on the shelf and he brings activities (as well as getting up to mischeif) for my mini people to do to keep them entertained whilst i prepare bits. I leave wrapping etc til they are in bed of course then i can get the presents sent to santa before they wake up!

Elfie has brought lots of colouring activities, make your own snowglobes, films, cinema tickets (the long walk home tired them out so gave me more time haha) and board games