For many people, Christmas is a stressful time of the year, though probably none more so than if you’re a parent. Two weeks (or just over) to keep your children entertained, while organising everything else and even, possibly balancing this with work commitments.
At least in the summer holidays, this is more manageable. The weather is usually better (and warmer), so (depending on age and safety), allowing them to be outside can make it easier. Obviously, during the Christmas holidays, this is much less realistic. Unless it snows of course; the opportunity to build a snowman is usually too hard to resist.
Having children under your feet all day can be a strain; especially if you are the designated parent looking after them, particularly with housework to do or need to get ready for entertaining visitors over the holiday period.
Consider Age Appropriate Activities
While young children are often the most difficult, in many ways, they are also the most fun; especially around Christmas. They are usually open to doing almost anything you suggest and incorporating a festive theme can make things jovial. Anything from arts and crafts like making Christmas decorations and painting Santa Claus in his sleigh or baking Christmas themed treats can be good fun for kids of a certain age.
Limiting screen time is always a good idea, regardless of age. Because it is the holidays, allowing them to watch Christmas movies and seeing their eyes light up can be good for you to see as a parent. Letting them spend hours playing video games, however, probably isn’t the best idea, even if it means they are kept occupied trying to find all of the gold coins they can.
If you have shopping to do, it is probably a good idea not to take your children with you as this is often stressful enough. Finding a willing family member to look after them for a few hours will avoid the inevitable ‘boredom’ and you losing your cool; it can also be nice for the kids.
A family day out (if possible) can always be worth the memories that will come with it; especially if there is another adult involved. Up to a certain age, every child looks forward to going to see Santa and for parents, it can be a rite of passage.
Doing this a few days before Christmas, when it is as exciting as possible for your children, can be very fitting. It will, no doubt, be busy, so the best thing to do is accept this and take the rough with the smooth.
Being smart about this is also a good idea. It isn’t just shopping centres anymore that have the Santa’s Grotto setup. A lot of farms now have embraced this idea and often have cafes on site so, if you live in the countryside, this might be easier. Particularly to avoid heavy traffic.
For older children such as teenagers, activities such as ice skating or going to see a Christmas release at the cinema can be a good day out also. Harry Potter movies usually came out in December, so they often had that ‘festive feel’ and the timing made them very popular with families. So, any type of movie like this would be a nice win.