Christmas 2020 might be a bit different to normal but we can still make sure it’s special for the children. Whatever restrictions we end up under during the run up to Christmas, these ways of celebrating will still be possible. Here are my ideas for a fun but socially distanced Christmas.
North Pole Breakfast
I love this idea! It isn’t something we’ve done before but 2020 seems a great year to start new traditions you can do at home! For families that have a visiting elf, you can use it as a welcome breakfast for him but we will just be doing it as a fun treat on a December weekend. The idea is you decorate your table with a Christmas theme and serve a festive Christmas treat. Blissful Domestication has more ideas.
Spotting Christmas Lights
This is something we do every year and Christmas 2020 will be no different. On the weekend before Christmas, we wait until it is getting dark and then wrap up warm before heading out to see some Christmas lights. We usually drive to somewhere we know there are some good ones and then get out and have a walk around to look at them. When we’re done we head home and warm up with hot chocolate and marshmallows.
Christmas Story Time
When my children were small, we had a big box of Christmas books that would come out of the loft every Christmas and would result in a Christmas story time pretty much every day! Now they are too old for picture books, I’m planning to revive the tradition by purchasing a longer festive book and having a daily festive story time throughout December.
Christmas Card Writing
We’re waiting to hear from school as to weather or not the children will be allowed to exchange Christmas cards this year but even if they aren’t will still have our annual Christmas card writing session as there are plenty of family members who will be happy to receive cards. If the kids aren’t allowed to exchange them in school and I’m thinking about something virtual like creating a “Merry Christmas Picture” that they could share digitally in the class Facebook group. We always make a bit of a event out of writing Christmas cards. Before the kids come home from school I set up the table with cards, envelopes, special pens and stickers plus a bowl of sweets to help us keep going. If you have children who are too little write cards they can be given the job of adding a festive sticker to each envelope.
Christmas Movie Marathon
We love a good movie night and this year we’re planning a whole day of festive films, to be watched on the sofa, from under our duvets, while eating festive snacks. For movie ideas check out this great list of Christmas Films from Twins, Tantrums and Cold Coffee.
Writing Letters to Santa
Like our Christmas card writing, we usually make an event out of this. I like to get it done early (by mid November at the latest) so that the kids are locked in to their Christmas presents and I can take advantage of Black Friday Deals! They know that once the letters are posted there’s no changing their minds, the visit to Santa where they tell him what the want is just a formality, the elves have already made whatever was in their letters!
Make Our Own Christmas Decorations
Every year, we make a different type of Christmas decoration, usually using some kind of process art type method. We then keep a few for ourselves and give the rest to friends and family plus use them as teacher gifts. This year we’re going to try resin and alcohol ink. You can have a look at what we’ve done in other years in the seasonal process art section.
Writing Christmas Lists
Like writing to Santa, I try to get this done fairly early as I always have family members asking me what the kids want for Christmas. We usually make the lists by spending an afternoon going through the Smyths Toy Catalogue, circling what they want, much as I did with the Argos catalogue back in the day. If you have more than one child I recommend a catalogue each, saves getting in a muddle about who wants what, particularly if your kids, like mine, have similar tastes.
Christmas Scavenger Hunt
While a traditional scavenger hunt means collecting items, this is more of an observation game that you can do on a family walk. You essentially look out for a list of things that we associate with Christmas and tick them off when you see them. You could offer a small prize for completion. Below are some ideas of what you could spot, I would suggest tailoring to where you are planning to walk.
- Some Twinkly lights
- Some Holly
- A Robin
- A stick that looks like stickman
- A wreath
- A Christmas tree
- Someone wearing a Christmas jumper
- A Christmas window display
- A reindeer
Festive Bingo
This is similar to the Christmas Scavenger Hunt above but designed to be done over days or weeks. It’s most fin if the whole family, or even extended family have a go. Again, you could have a small prize for completion. You can create your own or download my Christmas Bingo.
Sing Christmas Songs
If your children are small they will likely enjoy singing Christmas songs with you like “Jingle Bells” and “When Santa Got Stuck in the Chimney”. You can instruments like bells and shakers and it can be particularly fun to learn new songs together.
If your children are older they might find this not very cool but as long as they aren’t actual teenagers (to whom any kind of singing with parents is likely to be off the table) they might enjoy putting on some Christmas songs and dancing around.
Christmas Baking
We did a Gingerbread House a few years ago. The kids loved decorating it but frankly, the actual baking of it was a nightmare. I want to do it this year because it’s likely they will be missing out on other Christmas treats but weather I make it or just buy a kit is still up in the air.
We will probably also do some of these festive brownies because they are super simple and I love brownies!
Have a Festive Games Night/Mini Christmas party
Big Christmas parties seem pretty unlikely to happen this year but you can still have a mini one at home with your household bubble. You can serve some festive snacks, put on some Christmas music, dress up in your Christmas jumpers and play some fun family games. Eating a bar of chocolate with hat, scarf and gloves on is fun.
I’d love to hear your ideas for enjoying Christmas in this strange year!
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