Over the festive season, we all feel bombarded by invitations to parties, family events and school performances. This can make the run-up to the holidays feel stressful rather than exciting, and leave everyone exhausted by the time the break begins! Take time to unwind and connect with the children this year with these easy experiences that are quick to fit in but will have a big impact.
Festive baking
Make some delicious homemade sweet treats to fuel the run-up to Christmas! Baking is a great way to bond with your children so this is sure to instil happy memories, and they can assist with aspects like stirring – and licking the spoon – from an early age.
Don’t worry if your kids are too young to be enamoured with the traditional dried fruit puddings. There are plenty of alternative festive recipes to try like themed cupcakes and gingerbread.
Do Christmas crafts
Another classic festive favourite for kids is making seasonal crafts. All you need is paper and card, colourful pens, glitter glue and safety scissors and you can create a range of useful pieces such as greetings cards, present tags, paper chains and advent calendars!
Remember that children should be supervised at all times when using scissors, and you should do the cutting and gluing for younger kids where there is a risk of accidents.
Create a grotto
If visiting the ‘real thing’ in Lapland is out of the question, create Santa’s grotto in your garden. You can get the kids involved or put it together yourself and surprise them with it after school.
The process is easier than you might think! Cover the canopies in colourful lanterns and suspend an old white sheet off the branches make the cavern. Beneath the sheet, place a table and chairs decorated with fairy lights and LED candles for a cosy glow and soft blankets for warmth. Here you can enjoy steaming mugs of hot chocolate and plan your Christmas lists!
See illuminated gardens
Take advantage of the dark afternoons and enjoy spectacular illuminations at your local formal gardens without the kids having to stay up later than their bedtime. Starting from nightfall, you can tour these gardens from 4pm onwards and be home in time for tea!
Most iconic is the Christmas at Kew event at London’s Kew Gardens, but similar events run at venues across the country. Watch spotlights dye the treetops different colours, seek out sparkly festive characters and view videos beamed onto the side of buildings.
Decorate their rooms
One surefire way to get the kids excited for Father Christmas coming is to help them decorate their rooms. You can keep it super simple with a string of fairy lights and a plush throw or go all out and be whimsical with snowflakes and glow stars suspended from the ceiling and a scattering of seasonal fluffy toys and ornaments.
Encourage your children to get involved with choosing their decorations to make sure they love the finished look!