Hello, Friends! Please forgive yesterday’s blog absence. Abby and I are back from our trip to California, and we are feeling it. Time zones are not awesome. Ry also woke up this morning with a fever and a very sad face, so everyone’s in jammies and soup is on the stove.
Today, Tif is back with a list of tried and true activities to get you through the rest of this Holiday Season with your littles. If you have anything to add, be sure to leave us a note in the comments!
Oh there’s no place like home for the holidays…
As a parent, I have found some fun and creative ways to bring the holidays into my home for my children. We always look forward to the spending of time together…. The crafts, the stories, the fun. Ever since my children were little, being home was more important to us… than going out. The stay at home activities allowed my son, who didn’t like the hustle and bustle of the holiday, to be in a safe and calm place… and yet it also allowed my other son to experience the special moments of the season. It even gave us (the parents) the ability to enjoy the joy and fun without getting frustrated or feeling pressure from the outside world. Many of the activities are simple, cute, quick and easy to plan. I wanted to share some with you….Granted, you can add your own traditions…. But these are just some helpful ways to get your home buzzing with activities for the holidays. Have fun! Take photos! And most of all, enjoy the messy faces, goopy hands, and sounds of joy in your home. Merry Christmas!Tif
Young Ones (ages 2-5)
- Popsicle stick reindeer http://www.dltk-holidays.com/xmas/mpopsiclereindeer.htm
- Button Snowmen ornaments http://funezcrafts.com/funblog/?p=195
- Woven stars http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2010/12/ornament-advent-day-7woven-cookie-stars.html
- Wrapping paper tree Cards http://campslop.blogspot.com/2010/12/handmade-christmas-cards-by-kids-and.html
- Hand print Santas http://spoonful.com/crafts/handprint-santa
- pipe cleaner candy canes http://www.marthastewart.com/271810/pipe-cleaner-candy-cane-ornament
- Work on a puzzle together
- Play holiday bingo http://www.billybear4kids.com/BINGO/Games/Games.shtml
- Decorate your own wrapping paper by using rolls of white paper or brown craft paper and some colorful stamps, paints, brushes http://tifandtheboys.blogspot.com/2008/12/stitch-in-time.html
- Go puddle jumping or on a Bundled Up Night Walk with flashlights.
- hot chocolate by the fire
- Cut out snowflakes and put in your windows http://tifandtheboys.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-kind-of-dusting.html
- read a special holiday story together (our favorite is Max Lucado’s Crippled Lamb)
- Make Jingle Bell bracelets and then go singing “Jingle Bells” to your neighbors http://www.oopseydaisyblog.com/2010/12/book-advent-day-2-jingle-bell-bracelets.html
- Make and decorate gingerbread men
- Put together a bag of food and toys to donate to a local charity
- Go for a night LIGHTS drive in your jammies… make it a surprise by hiding a ticket under their pillow, so they think they’re going bed but instead they’re going on an adventure!
- Have a dance party to Christmas music in your living room
- Make play•doh together http://mommyfootprint.com/the-perfect-home-made-play-dough-recipe/
- String popcorn for the tree
- Have dinner on the floor and watch Little Drummer Boy together
Older Ones (ages 5+)
- of course, anything on the younger list above
- Stamped salt dough ornaments http://www.artfulparent.com/2011/12/stamped-salt-dough-ornaments.html
- a talent show in your living room
- a progressive style dinner: each child is responsible to make one part of the meal… (ie. veggie, main course, dessert, and drinks)
- Holiday Mad Libs http://www.wordlibs.com/mad-libs/holiday/
- Snowflake Canvas art http://totschool.shannons.org/?p=5770
- Make borax snowflakes http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/boraxsnowflake.htm
- Paint/decorate holiday T shirt snowman (similar to this, but using fabric markers and kids draw) http://www.brassyapple.com/2011/11/snowman-t-shirt-tutorial.html
- Popsicle stick snowflakes http://www.craftynest.com/2009/12/giant-craft-stick-snowflakes/
- Make marshmallows (my recipe) http://tifandtheboys.blogspot.com/2009/12/aint-no-mountain-high-enough.html
- Make Birdseed pine-cones http://crafts.kaboose.com/pine-cone-bird-feeder.html
- Make snow globes http://chemistry.about.com/cs/howtos/ht/snowglobe.htm
- If you have snow, make snow ice cream! http://chemistry.about.com/od/snowsnowflakes/a/snowicecream.htm
Remember: if your child doesn’t hang around for long… let them be. They may only want to experience it from afar. Don’t force the activity and time upon them. Leave your expectations and frustrations at the door… just BE together!
Apple pie, anyone? 
December 14th, 2012 at 11:12 am
Amen! Tiff – so so so helpful. The popsicle stick reindeer are always a huge hit in our house. Mainly because we get to eat enough popsicles to make them up. (That’s the deal around here, anyway. ha.) Merry Merry Christmas friends!!!
December 14th, 2012 at 11:14 am
I found a list of Advent calendar activities at thepeacefulmom.com and a couple of them were especially fun: dry erase markers on the window & peppermint marshmallow stir sticks (for hot cocoa). For the stir sticks, jab a coffee stirrer or half a straw into a big marshmallow, roll it in melted chocolate and then crushed peppermints.