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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Christmas films with hot chocolates and plenty of snacks.
Our elf will also deliver a few treats, including a game of elf snap cards.

One of the things I like about Christmas prep is watching Christmas films and old TV Christmas specials together as a family.

DC help out with wrapping some of the presents, but I definitely encourage film-watching when I need to sneak off to do something unseen.

I also like being able to rewind when I have inevitably missed a crucial science!

My daughter loves getting involved. We decorated the tree together and she’s great at helping me wrap presents . Today we are making chocolate gifts for her to give to family

Keep the kids active and then take advantage of the christmas TV! They are more likely to be happy to sit and watch if they are tired.
Also things like christmas baking they can get involved with.

I do some things while they are sleeping, but if I need to keep them busy, I'll either encourage them to do something time consuming, such as a puzzle, or put a film on.

Get them involved in the prep. Peeling carrots, laying the table etc.

Christmas movies, crafts and getting my daughter involved in the preparations

I encourage my son to do Christmas crafts!

Get them involved as much as possible, choosing and making decisions etc

We always manage to get ourselves invited out for christmas day dinner which saves us worrying about what the kids are getting uo to. Their mobiles and my two tablets keep them occupied on journeys.

christmas films :)

Apart from wrapping their own presents, the children seem to enjoy being involved in most Christmas preparation.
However, for those times when I need to be secretive, the children's channels prove invaluable! I've even been known to make popcorn and convince them it was a treat devised purely for their entertainment rather than some distraction from what I'm up to, LOL!

My 2 dc are still pretty wee but dd is old enough to watch a bit of a christmassy film or cbebbies. Ds and dogs outside with me or dh while the other tries to do stuff. Its times like this that Im pretty greatful for how much dmil helps.

Pretty neglectful here by these parenting standards. Just let them play. Diffuse any major arguments and occasionally let them go on their devices. Odd Christmas movie and trip out!

We love to make home made decorations and baking shortbread for the family as gifts.

Thank God for Sky as I know there is always something that they will want to watch. I do try and organise arts and crafts and other things to keep them entertained but it is such a busy time of year that sometimes it is just easier to sit them down with a good film so that I can have a couple of hours to myself to get things done.

The girls get involved with the decorations, food prep and wrapping presents for others, but they tend to wander off and entertain themselves anyway. They both love drawing, so they'll watch TV and draw pictures at the same time.

Christmas is family time and for me this means involving all of us in the preparations. Of course this has evolved over the years as the children have got older. I have two lists. One we draw up together of activities we like to share. The second is a list for hubby and I only to see which we complete when we are on our own or one of us does something with the young ones while the other gets on uninterrupted. Films are an important part of our family time together. When we need a breather its snacks, duvets and snuggles on the sofa for a couple of hours. Bliss!

When it comes to wrapping presents (other than theirs!!) I let them wrap up one or two of their own presents, wither something they've made or a gift for a friend and that usually keeps them quiet whilst I get on with my wrapping, Christmas films with popcorn and drinks is another good way to keep them occupied and Christmas sticker books or colouring books are also great, I usually have my sons best friend over for one morning during the holidays before Christmas so his mum can get a load of last minute jobs done and that keeps my son occupied too then he goes to his friends one day so I can get organised.

Involve them in the cooking , or watching films

Hubby likes to do the main Christmas decorating incl tree but DD1 has her own tree in her bedroom and can dress it up as she likes. Both like to create pictures which I turn into Christmas cards for all their class mates. It takes them a good 2-3 days to write all those! Other than that, they help with the shopping and present wrapping. They do indulge in more Christmas TV viewing and it's nice to revisit seasonal favourites on the iplayer.

Sit them in front of a film with a selection of snacks & a supply of water

Crafts seem to work pretty well. As long as they're able to make mess they're happy, although my husband isn't particularly thrilled about glitter (aka "holiday herpes")!

I get them involved, well as much as possible. My eldest will help wrap my youngest presents and visa versa. The more they are involved the more excited they get for Christmas.

get them to help