Looking for ways to keep everyone busy and entertained until the Big Guy arrives? Don’t worry, Ollie, Suzie and Billy have your back! Here we’ve got 12 of the best crafty (and some not so crafty) Christmas ideas. We’ve got decorations for the tree, handmade gifts and some tasty treats too!
1. Write and decorate a letter to Santa and pop in in the post box addresses to:
Santa/Father Christmas
Santa’s Grotto
Reindeerland
XM4 5HQ
Make sure you:
Write Santa’s address carefully on the envelope
Put a stamp on the envelope so it gets to Santa
Include your full name and address in your letter
Include your return address on the back of the envelope
Be sure to send your letter before 10th December so Santa has time to reply.
2. Make salt dough decorations to hang on the tree. You could even give some as gifts.
To make the dough you will need: 2 parts plain flour, 1 part salt and 1 part water.
Preheat the oven on its lowest setting (always ask a grown up for help with the oven).
Mix the flour and salt together, then slowly add the water and mix until it forms a dough.
Make your decorations (remember to sprinkle flour on the side first) and don’t forget to poke a hole for the string. You could make shapes with cookie cutters. Or, why not make something to remember using foot/hand prints? Bigger kids can get involved too, turn thumbprints into Christmassy characters.
Bake your decorations for 3 hours (or until solid) on a lined oven tray.
Leave to cool then paint them and add your finishing touches.
3. Set up your own hot chocolate bar.
You will need marshmallows, squirty cream, chocolate shavings, syrups, your favourite hot chocolate powder, sprinkles and anything else to make the best hot chocolates. Then let the kids’ imaginations run wild. Don’t forget the sign, all good Hot Chocolate bars need a sign…
(Always ask a grown up for help with the hot water/milk)
4. Christmas film marathon – don’t forget the snacks and hot chocolates.
Nothing beats getting snuggled up together and watching all the greatest Christmas movies. (We don’t care what you say, Die Hard is NOT a Christmas film!)
Here’s our top 5 Christmas films that we watch EVERY YEAR without fail:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Home Alone (1990)
Elf (2003)
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
The Santa Clause (1994)
5. Make some paper chains and snowflakes decorations.
Get creative with some paper, scissors and glitter glue. For a real challenge why not try and make a paperchain of our Ollie. Remember to tag us on Social Media!
6. Make your own Christmas cards and gift tags.
Why waste money on shop bought cards, when they will end up in the bin in a few weeks time? Get creative and make beautiful cards and gift tags for your nearest and dearest. They could be pop up, filled with glitter or you could turn footprints into holly sprigs. The possibilities are endless. Get creative and have fun!
7. Make your own Christmas Eve Santa plate.
For this you’ll need a plain white ceramic plate and some permanent markers.
Using a piece of paper first sketch out what you want on your plate “To Santa & Rudolph – Love Ollie, Suzie and Billy”. When you’re ready, add your design to the plate. Don’t forget to mark out a place for the milk, carrot and cookies to go. Sharpies are great for adding a pop of colour to your plate.
8. Paint a window mural.
Pick up some snow spray (stencils optional) and live out your best Bansky life on your windows. Don’t worry if you make a mistake, just wipe and start again. Fancy a little colour on your snowy scene? Pick up some glass pens and go wild.
9. Hop in the car and go for a Christmas lights tour.
Wrap up warm, pack up the snacks and a thermos of hot chocolate and go on a Christmas lights hunt around your area. Make some score cards and vote for your favourites as you go.
10. Build a gingerbread house.
You can buy a ready to decorate kit, or if you feel up to the Bake Off levels of pressure, make from scratch for a real engineering challenge. This one from IKEA is ideal.
11. Make reindeer food for Rudolph and co.
Into a bowl mix oats, dried fruit and biodegradable glitter (essential to guide the reindeer to your home, and it won’t be harmful to the environment afterwards). Bag it up and decorate a tag with this very special rhyme: “Sprinkle on the lawn Christmas Eve night. The moonlight will make it sparkle bright. As Santa’s reindeer fly and roam. This will guide them to your home”. This makes a lovely little gift for children to add to their Christmas Eve boxes.
12. Track Santa on NORAD (Christmas eve).
The big night is here at last. Keep track of Santa as he makes his way around the world on his very special mission. Santa takes off from the North Pole for New Zealand at around about 9am (BT) on Christmas Eve. Check on him throughout the day to see if he has been spotted and where how many gifts he has delivered so far.
Remember to tag us in your pics on Facebook and Instagram, and from everyone at Harlyn Sands Holiday Park, we wish you a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.
