Make Decorations With Children
Until your children unwrap their stack of presents on Christmas morning, no doubt your little cherubs will drive you mad in the run up to Christmas with constant groans of ‘Mum, I’m bored.’
School has kicked them out for the year and the weather outside is too miserable to venture out in to. Your imagination seems to have done a runner and you can’t think of any way to keep them occupied.
Money is often tight at this time of year because you have spent the last few month’s wages on a giant turkey and eight tins of chocolates. You have only bothered to buy them so that you can impress your in-laws when they come round to spend Christmas day with you.
Either that or to compete with the other mums on the playground and show off about how special ‘Christmas 09’ has been you have overdone it with the gifts for your family and friends.
This isn’t to mention the amount of money you are wasting on electricity running the grotto, formally known as your family home. How much do your neighbours really care that your inflatable Father Christmas is bigger than theirs or that your house can be seen from a longer distance?
What ever the case, funds are low and the last thing you can afford to do is shuttle your kids from one event to the next to keep them quiet.
Maybe now you wish you'd have cut back on the glitzy decorations and ton of food that you know will only make you pile on the pounds but it is too late for regrets now. To help you out we have thought of some relatively cheap and efficient ways to keep your children amused over the festive period.
Bake Christmas Goodies
Think snowman meringues, Christmas tree cookies and snowflake fairy cakes. A Christmas twist can be put on just about anything but all of a sudden it makes something seem much more appealing.
Baking ingredients can be found at relatively cheap prices in local supermarkets but it can keep the kids busy for hours. Pop on a Christmas record and whilst your bopping along to ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ you can produce the treats that you will later go on to give to the family members who you only ‘have’ to see once a year.
The website is the perfect place to find an array of recipes that you can try. Just don’t let them loose on the Christmas dinner!
Get Crafty
If after baking a selection of treats you find that the kids are still hungry for more entertainment, stay in the creative spirit and sit them down at the table with some coloured card, a stick of glue and some child safety scissors.
Make sure the kids wear an apron and remember to cover up your best tablecloth because when you let them loose with glitter and cotton wool it could get untidy.
Don’t worry about the chaos though, it will be worth it because whilst they’re busy making a jolly Santa Claus or Frosty the Snowman, you can be busy finishing off the pile of ironing or writing out your Christmas cards.
Children love getting messy and also enjoy making something that they can give to someone they care about. Their carefully crafted paper chains or Christmas cards can take pride of place on the mantle pieces of your nearest and dearest.
Take Them On An Adventure
The idea of a walk may sound boring to children but if they are given a challenge or task to carry out, all of a sudden it seems much more exciting.
Tell your children that there is a prize for who ever can find the prettiest sprig of holly or biggest pine cone. If you have an only child you can always bring along one of their friends to make it more fun for them.
If nothing else the fresh air an exercise will keep them fit and maybe tire them out, which will ensure that they won’t be rushing around for the rest of the day.
Just remember to wrap up warm and wear your wellingtons.
Worried about the treat you will have to provide? Give them a chocolate from the tree.
Seasonal Sleepover
The thought of a sleepover may have some of you quaking in your winter boots but you don’t have to invite the whole class.
Invite over one or two of your son or daughters best friends and sit them in front of the television with a few of the best ever Christmas films. We recommend ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ of ‘Home Alone 2’ to keep them hooked to the screen.
Feed them on the Christmas goodies they have previously made and they will be happy.
Winter Sports Wonderland
If you can afford to loosen the purse strings a little bit for a special treat, rather than the traditional ice skating, why not give tobogganing a go?
There are indoor snow arenas scattered all over the country and the whole family can participate in the sport that involves sliding on a flat sled down a hill. There is no skill required but it is sure to get your adrenaline pumping and will keep the children smiling.
Prices do vary across the country and you can either pay for a set amount of time or certain number of slides. At Female First we have spotted that you can get a half hour adult session for under ten pounds.
Pantomime Time
‘It’s Behind You!’ No Christmas would be complete without a pantomime, they do call it panto season after all.
The often comical and colourful musical productions often stimulate an exciting atmosphere that is sure to get you feeling Christmassy.
If you have more than a couple of children to look after and you are worried that you can’t afford a night out this close to Christmas, get them to stage their own version of the classics, ‘Aladdin,’ ‘Cinderella’ or ‘Jack and the Beanstalk.’
You may even be tempted to steal the lead role off them and take centre stage yourself.
At some point let the children perform it in front of aunts, uncles and grandparents and they will feel like they have to work hard to achieve a round of applause.
Children Too Cool For School
If you have older children and you are worried that none of the above options will keep them quiet this Christmas and they are ‘too cool’ to hang around with their parents, for the sake of a fiver ship them off to the cinema with their friends and you will have guaranteed peace and quiet for hours.
Female First
Kelly Warden
Until your children unwrap their stack of presents on Christmas morning, no doubt your little cherubs will drive you mad in the run up to Christmas with constant groans of ‘Mum, I’m bored.’
School has kicked them out for the year and the weather outside is too miserable to venture out in to. Your imagination seems to have done a runner and you can’t think of any way to keep them occupied.
Money is often tight at this time of year because you have spent the last few month’s wages on a giant turkey and eight tins of chocolates. You have only bothered to buy them so that you can impress your in-laws when they come round to spend Christmas day with you.
Either that or to compete with the other mums on the playground and show off about how special ‘Christmas 09’ has been you have overdone it with the gifts for your family and friends.
This isn’t to mention the amount of money you are wasting on electricity running the grotto, formally known as your family home. How much do your neighbours really care that your inflatable Father Christmas is bigger than theirs or that your house can be seen from a longer distance?
What ever the case, funds are low and the last thing you can afford to do is shuttle your kids from one event to the next to keep them quiet.
Maybe now you wish you'd have cut back on the glitzy decorations and ton of food that you know will only make you pile on the pounds but it is too late for regrets now. To help you out we have thought of some relatively cheap and efficient ways to keep your children amused over the festive period.
Bake Christmas Goodies
Think snowman meringues, Christmas tree cookies and snowflake fairy cakes. A Christmas twist can be put on just about anything but all of a sudden it makes something seem much more appealing.
Baking ingredients can be found at relatively cheap prices in local supermarkets but it can keep the kids busy for hours. Pop on a Christmas record and whilst your bopping along to ‘Jingle Bell Rock’ you can produce the treats that you will later go on to give to the family members who you only ‘have’ to see once a year.
The website is the perfect place to find an array of recipes that you can try. Just don’t let them loose on the Christmas dinner!
Get Crafty
If after baking a selection of treats you find that the kids are still hungry for more entertainment, stay in the creative spirit and sit them down at the table with some coloured card, a stick of glue and some child safety scissors.
Make sure the kids wear an apron and remember to cover up your best tablecloth because when you let them loose with glitter and cotton wool it could get untidy.
Don’t worry about the chaos though, it will be worth it because whilst they’re busy making a jolly Santa Claus or Frosty the Snowman, you can be busy finishing off the pile of ironing or writing out your Christmas cards.
Children love getting messy and also enjoy making something that they can give to someone they care about. Their carefully crafted paper chains or Christmas cards can take pride of place on the mantle pieces of your nearest and dearest.
Take Them On An Adventure
The idea of a walk may sound boring to children but if they are given a challenge or task to carry out, all of a sudden it seems much more exciting.
Tell your children that there is a prize for who ever can find the prettiest sprig of holly or biggest pine cone. If you have an only child you can always bring along one of their friends to make it more fun for them.
If nothing else the fresh air an exercise will keep them fit and maybe tire them out, which will ensure that they won’t be rushing around for the rest of the day.
Just remember to wrap up warm and wear your wellingtons.
Worried about the treat you will have to provide? Give them a chocolate from the tree.
Seasonal Sleepover
The thought of a sleepover may have some of you quaking in your winter boots but you don’t have to invite the whole class.
Invite over one or two of your son or daughters best friends and sit them in front of the television with a few of the best ever Christmas films. We recommend ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ of ‘Home Alone 2’ to keep them hooked to the screen.