Everyone knows that Christmas will be a bit different this year. We won’t be as free to go out as usual and big events like Christmas markets will not be going ahead. This means that it can be challenging finding new things to entertain the little ones with at home every day! I’ve put some tips together to keep your kids busy over Christmas time!
Have a dress-up movie party
If I had to say one thing most kids love it’s playing dress up! I’m sure it’s common in many households to watch a movie and relax on the sofa, but have you ever thought of making this a special occasion? Get their favourite custome out and host a proper movie party. Superheroes, characters from fairytales or someone else – everything goes!
Get some fun snacks out like popcorn, sweets or maybe even some hotdogs and have a party at home. Your child will engage with this so much more than simply putting on a movie to keep them quiet (let’s be honest, we’re all guilty of this!). Most childrens’ movies have accompanying sing-a-long versions which are a great source of entertainment too.
Hire a private tutor
Parents have had to do a lot of home schooling this year due to lockdown and possible self-isolation. You might be feeling a tad uninspired to do more homeschooling over the Christmas break, and your kids are likely to feel the same!
I’m sure you know you can hire a tutor for maths, English and the like. But your kids are probably not jumping up and down from the thought of doing this on their Christmas break. Did you know you can get tutors for fun subjects such as art, paino or guitar? TutorHouse specialise in matching you and your child with the best tutor, and they offer arts and music lessons too! This will keep your little one entertained whilst doing something educational.
Organise a themed scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunts used to be my absolute favourite thing when I was a kid! Spend an hour or two writing up clues and hiding treats or small gifts in and around the house. Depending on your local area you might be able to venture out into your neighbourhood. You can make your own scavenger hunts and adjust them to the level of your kids. Older kids might enjoy a scary temed hunt when it’s dark outside, and you can do an easier hunt around the house for the little ones. It will definitely keep your kids busy and entertained for a while!
Host a Christmas quiz
You might think quizzes are more for adults, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Write up your own (with a bit of help from Google!) quiz tailored to your kids’ age. Have some Christmas themes questions in there like ‘name all the reindeer’ or ‘what’s grandad’s favourite Christmas song?’.
A quiz doesn’t have to mean sitting on the sofa answering questions. Make it fun buy including some interactive games. For example, who can do the funniest rendition of a Christmas song? Or lay out a small obstacle course that imitates Santa’s journey to deliver all the presents and whoever completes it the fastest gets points! Games like these will keep you and your kids entertained for a long time.
These are my top tips on how to keep having fun with your kids whilst being stuck at home. What are your favourite things to do with your little ones around Christmas time? Let me know in the comments!
