Christmas is coming, and whether you’re a fan of the festive period or not, it’s time to think about how you’re going to spend the holidays. With children counting down the days until school finishes, here are some fun-packed, family-friendly activities to get you in the festive mood. 

Image credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-girls-decorating-christmas-cookies-with-icing-5623618/

Arts and crafts

Christmas is a brilliant time of year to get creative and spend quality time with your kids. Depending on how old your children are and the supplies you have available, you can do everything from making your own personalised cards, baubles and decorations to designing wrapping paper, making wreaths for the front door and creating your own gifts for friends and family. Crafting is a great idea for rainy, cold afternoons and weekends. If you’ve run out of ideas, or you need inspiration for Christmas presents or decorations for your tree, search online. 

Baking

Is there anything better than whipping up a storm in the kitchen in the run-up to the festive period? For many of us, Christmas is about spending time with loved ones and treating our taste buds. If you have children who love to bake and get involved in the kitchen, you can spend hours rustling up tasty treats and morsels to share with friends, classmates and neighbours. Have a look in local stores and online shops for festive kits and Christmas cake decorations and look online for ideas for seasonal bakes and design ideas. You can take your offerings into the office, the kids can share their edible delights with their friends and you can even use your skills to make gifts for teachers, relatives and colleagues. 

Winter sports

It may be tempting to snuggle up on the sofa for a movie marathon when it’s cold outside, but if you can muster up the energy to leave the house, there are some fantastic winter sports and activities available. From ice skating and dry slope skiing to wintry walks and bike rides, it’s a great idea to get out, try new things and burn off some energy. You can also stay warm and cosy indoors by opting for activities like trampolining, climbing, playing crazy golf or dancing. Regular exercise is hugely beneficial for children and adults. 

Days out and weekends away

The festive period is incredibly exciting for children and teens, and many parents are keen to celebrate Christmas by organising days out or weekends away. The range of activities on offer is incredible, and you can plan everything from enchanted forest visits and weekends at theme parks to camping in a log cabin or visiting Santa and his reindeer at a local garden centre or country house. If you are thinking about making plans, it’s an excellent idea to search online for ideas and to compare prices and look for deals. You may be able to save if you subscribe to mailing lists or take advantage of sales or giveaways on social media. 

Image via https://www.pexels.com/photo/family-enjoying-ice-skating-at-nighttime-6289797/

The festive season is approaching, and many of us are looking forward to spending quality time with our families. If you’re looking for ideas for festive fun, now is the time to start thinking about stocking up on arts and crafts and baking supplies, searching for resources and ideas for activities online, researching events and days out and exploring outdoor activities and new active hobbies and pursuits.