Baking
Cooking, baking, decorating. These are all fun things for the kids to do. Bake some Christmas cookies, then give them a bunch of frosting and sprinkles to decorate with. I usually buy the pre-made sugar cookie dough. It is just as yummy and you get to the fun decorating part much quicker!
Dress Up & Dance
Little kids really love to dress up in special clothes. They don't even need to be going anywhere! Dress them up in something fun and then play music. Make it like a special party. Dancing in their nice clothes will be such a treat, and they will most likely wear themselves out for a really good nap!
Picture Gallery
Buy a disposable camera or two. Take them on a walk in the woods, around the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights, or just to a local park and tell them to take pictures of whatever they want. Get them developed and make a gallery on a wall in your house. Help them name the pictures. When its all done, you can have a showing for their friends or family.
Placemats
Tell them they are going to make a special placemat for themselves (or someone else, if they prefer). Give them colors, stickers, pictures and glue, whatever they would like. When it is all done, cover it in contact paper and use it for a special meal.
Bird Feeder
Take a big, full pinecone and spread peanut butter on it. Roll it in birdseed. String it with yarn or cloth ribbon. Hang it outside and then make it a point to watch the activity over the next few days.
Visit a Working Farm
They are pretty easy to find. Some organic milk farms, Christmas Tree farms, etc will give tours. Kids always love to see animals close up. They will also be learning at the same time! If it is cold, warm up with some hot chocolate and watch a movie (possibly farm related) cuddled in a blanket afterward. Fun day!
Drive In Movie
Make a car out of a cardboard box. Then get some snacks such as popcorn, candy, pretzels, etc. Make a place in or around the car for the snacks to sit. Turn out the lights and sit in the cars while watching a Christmas movie. So much fun.
Christmas Light Car Trip
For a really fun and magical experience, get your child all ready for bed. In their jammies and the whole thing. Place a magic ticket in their bed where they will find it when they crawl in. When they find it and wonder what it is, explain that it is a ticket to ride the Christmas Light Express tonight! Have them get bundled up in a blanket, slippers, whatever and put them in the car. Its fun to have a yummy snack and some hot cocoa ready too! Then take them on a ride around your neighborhood to see all the wonderful lights!
Cardboard Fort
Inevitably there will be pretty big boxes after the gifts are opened. Use this FREE resource and make the kids a fort! Poke holes in the ceiling and stick Christmas lights through the holes and make it even more magical...
Winter Sensory Bin
Collect some blue pom poms, cotton balls, dollar store snowflakes, little glass beads, etc and put them in a bowl or box. Allow the children to explore the items.
Winter Playdough
Use this recipe:
- 2 cups of plain flour
- 2 tbsp. of cooking oil
- 1 tsp. cream of tartar
- 2 cups of water
- ½ cup of salt
food coloring
- Add the food coloring to the water.
- Place all of the ingredients in a medium size or large pan.
- Cook slowly on medium to high heat and stir until the playdough thickens.
- Done, very simple!
BUT ADD peppermint extract instead of food coloring and then add craft glitter at the end.
Stuffed Animal Search
Hide several of their stuffed animals around the house. Have them find them. Easy and fun!
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