KEEPING THE kids busy during the Christmas holidays can be a headache – especially if you’re the one who is organising the big day for all the family. So read on for some ideas to keep them happily entertained for hours.
One of the most fun things to do is to create your own Christmas decorations. One of the fondest memories I have of my childhood is creating garlands with my brother and sister, using long lengths of crepe paper. My mother used to totally overdo our lounge with them – they’d be stuck all over the ceiling! But it was great fun.
There are literally hundreds of ideas on the internet for different kinds of decorations, but one of the most popular is the trusty gingerbread men. This is fine if your kids are a little bit older and you don’t mind having them in the kitchen, plus the tree looks fantastic adorned with miniature ones. If you do need the kitchen to yourself though, how about giving them the task of creating some alternative tree decorations – using card, for example or even tin foil. You’ll be amazed at how creative they will be and your tree will be the subject of many a conversation afterwards!
Personalised Christmas cards are another great thing for them to create, particularly for their grandparents who will be thrilled that the kids have taken the time to make something special just for them. As a youngster, I remember decorating cards with dried pasta that we painted gold and silver! They looked surprisingly pretty, actually.
Make sure they have plenty of items to work with, including markers, crayons, paper, child-friendly scissors, glue, tape, stickers, glitter, old magazines they can cut up, coloured pencils, ribbon, dried pasta, crepe paper and so on.
There is usually a mountain of gifts to be wrapped for the rest of the family and friends so why not ask your children to do it? They will enjoy being given something that the grown-ups normally do, and it gives you one less thing to think about. Naturally, the wrapping won’t look as polished as usual, but your friends and family will think it’s lovely the kids have been so involved.
As a last resort, there are usually plenty of children’s Christmas movies on television at this time of the year and if you really need some time alone in the kitchen, let them sit and enjoy one – it will also help to get them more into the spirit of Christmas!
