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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Shamelessly and honestly.....lots of screen time
I find by the time they break up from school, they're totally shattered & are happy to veg out a bit while I finish up anything urgent.....
Although I can't resist joining them for a really decent Christmas film!!!!
Then it's the Crib service on Christmas eve & no tv for at least 2 days :)

I prep the night before but to be honest they are so occupied with all the festivities they are happy playing and watching xmas movies.

Christmas films and tv shows are a big help here. And getting them involved in Christmas crafts etc.

Any games that we can play and I still have two free hands is all good in our house x

I get them involved - wrapping presents, writing cards, decorating the tree. They both love a good dance to some Christmas music, and this year want to help with the baking.

Let them play with their new toys and watch tv and oldest one can help me out in the kitchen doing the dishes

Lots of play-doh and Christmas music in a different room (a warmed-up conservatory) worked well for me this year

I try and get them to help out in the kitchen by letting them make cheese straws, but they soon get bored with that usually opt for watching TV instead. There are so many great films for kids on telly to keep them occupied for a few hours.

I try to make Christmas a fun time so that the children have lovely memories and traditions to take into adulthood. We love going to the Pantomime, Christingle and light shows. I also get them to help make traditonal food and decorations.

My son loves to help out [sic] which most of the time 51% works out well. The other 49% I wished I had just put a movie on for him to watch. But at least I will have plenty of memories....

I try to enlist the help of other people to keep them entertained while I'm cooking

Put the TV on obviously!

I really wish I could claim to keep them educationally entertained with doing crafts or learning somethign wonderful....when in fact I tend to let them stick the childrens programmes on tv and I check in on them occasionally

Arts and crafts is a good starting point, books to read and a selection of their favourite films. Taking them to the park also helps as this tends to tire the little loves out.

Board games, computer games, DVDs and crafting. There are plenty of ways to keep them entertained, unfortunately they have very short attention spans so its a constant effort.

I do as much as I can while they are at school or asleep, I would rather keep them in a normal routine at home as school is crazy for them at this time of year with plays to rehearse and Christmas things going on. I think the build up to Christmas is too much for young children so don't disrupt them if I can help it.

DS1 is old enough to entertain himself. Ds2 uses iplayer and netflix.

Are people only getting ready now? Cards were written ages ago, gifts are wrapped in the evenings (still a few to go). House has been deep cleaned, but now maintenance cleaning will just be done round them like normal holidays.

It's harder now as the weather is shit, and everything is expensive to do, but no, Christmas films go on in the evenings and we all snuggle up to watch them, not to keep them out of my hair.

Christmas films, Elf and Polar Express are the favs!
Also DH takes DS off to visit family and play games while I do the xmas stuff!

I carry on like normal and just let the chaos happen all around me

We do as much as possible once DS is in bed... otherwise something festive on netflix has been really helpful this year!
DS does like to be involved so any small task he can feel that he's 'helping' with keeps him happy.

Get them involved in the decorating and wrapping, also some Disney films help and if all else fails ask Mum to have them for a while

My children are older now, so they can help me prepare.

I get mine involve in decorating the house and the tree and christmas baking and present making

Christmas movies, craft activities, baking, helping put decorations on the tree, Christmas books from the library, etc. For older children a set of cards with chores they are capable of doing is useful - anyone saying "I'm bored" picks a random card and then does the task.