Christmas is around the corner and we would like to share some of our favourite family Christmas activities that never fail to make us feel all festive and warm inside.
Take a look at our top 10!
1. Read a Christmas story together š
The cosiest activity is snuggling up together under a
blanket reading a festive book. Check out our blog recommending Christmas books
for the season for inspiration. We love reading Christmas books throughout
December and our household tradition is always to read āThe Night before
Christmasā on Christmas Eve.
2. Do some festive baking šŖ
Can you think of anything as Christmassy as the sweet smells of cinnamon, nutmeg and gingerbread wafting through your house from your kitchen. Bake some mince pies to leave out for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve or some biscuits to hang on the tree. Flex those creative muscles and bake and ice a gingerbread house (or cut out gingerbread figures which are just as yummy). Donāt forget, you can make life easy for yourself ā there is nothing wrong with shop-bought pastry or pre-mixed gingerbread mix! Life is short and nobody is judging you.
3. Sing a festive tune šµ
There is nothing my children love more than a Christmas tune and now there are radio stations devoted to them like Magic FM during December. Luckily, I love the songs as much as they do. Although we love the pop songs and the golden oldie songs (The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole is my personal favourite), we also love a good Christmas carol. Check out if there are any local carol concerts at church or outside. Radio 4 always play Carols from Kings College on Christmas Eve and the concerts are always shown on BBC 2 on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Perfect for a bit of background music when wrapping or preparing the Christmas day veggies.
4. Decorate the tree š
Choosing a Christmas tree together is such a fun activity to do as a family, the tree needs to be just right, not too big, not too small. Or if you have an artificial tree bringing it down from storage is an important ritual every year but decorating it is an āeventā in our calendar. We love hanging the decorations that we have lovingly accumulated over the years. Avoid arguments about who gets to put the angel on the top of the tree by putting a little note in the decorations box when you pack them away stating who put it on this year and whoās turn it is next year.
5. Go on a Christmas light hunt āØ
There is something magical about going for a twinkly light hunt. Wrap up warm and wander the streets after sundown to enjoy all the Christmas displays that your neighbours have put on. Our area hosts a Christmas advent window competition which is lovely to walk around.
6. Write someone a Christmas card ā
Show someone that you care by writing them a personal message in a card. We may not get to see everyone that we care about at Christmas but you can always send your glad tidings with a homemade card. Get out the festive glitter, cotton wool and sparkles and get Christmas crafting.
7. Watch a Christmas film together ā
Pop some corn, mix up a hot chocolate and snuggle
down under the blanket to watch a Christmas film together. Choose from comedy
favourites like Elf, Nativity or Home Alone or a Christmas classic like Itās a
Wonderful Life, Holiday Inn or a Muppetās Christmas Carol or you can always
choose that Christmas classic ā Die Hard (though not with the young kids).
8. Prepare for Santa š
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Visiting Father Christmas in his grotto is a festive family
favourite activity. Prepare for your visit by writing a letter to the big man
so there are no surprises when he asks what the kids would like for Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, you could track Santa on the NORAD website https://www.noradsanta.org/en/ and
get a personalised message from Santa on the PNP website https://www.portablenorthpole.com/
. Donāt forget to leave out some milk and mince pies for Santa and a carrot for
the reindeers on Christmas Eve. Now youāre all set!
9. A time for giving š
Christmas is a time for giving and there is plenty
that we can all do to help others less fortunate than ourselves. Please
consider donating to a food bank this Christmas or to a refuge centre or
homeless shelter. Itās so cold outside and some of us are struggling to pay
energy bills so please be mindful when buying your own gifts as some of your
childrenās friends may not get as much. Itās tough at the moment but giving is
definitely more rewarding than receiving.
10. Visit the pantomime š
Is there a more British tradition that the visiting the pantomime at Christmas? Oh no there isnāt! Kids and adults alike love the festive frolics (Heās behind you!) and the cheeky gags. Check out if there is a pantomime nearby and enjoy the show.