Can You Help Me Make A 4 Yrr Olds Christmas Specail?

Tired_Mom

Hi I am sure whatever you do your niece will have a wonderful time. I would strongly suggest not having anything major planned for the first few days as she really won't be herself with jetlag. If it will also be 18mths since you have seen her don't be surprised if she is very warey around you to start with. The Christmas Eve hamper, reindeer dust, advent calender are all lovely ideas. Try and find out about any carol services aimed specifically at children otherwise they can be rather long. Christmas Fayres and grotto will also be a winner. We do NORAD each year on Christmas eve which is brilliant, you can track santa and see where he has been and where he is going. The other thing that may be nice is to ask your SIL to go and choose a christmas bauble in England (if that is where they live) to bring with them for your tree which will then remain at yours. You inturn could go and buy a bauble, which you could personalise, which is also put on the tree but that your niece will take home with her.

Most of all enjoy your time with her. Any time spent with a 4 year old just colouring, doing jigsaws, reading, playing in the pool/beach etc is priceless for the child, you'll have fun as well.

HTH

jollymummy

I'm 40 and won't got to bed until Santa arrives in London on the NORAD tracking website
Some lovely ideas on here. My DS is 5 and last year we made Christmas gingerbread men on Christmas Eve and played in the snow. We left a carrot for Rudolph and a gingerbread man for Santa and a pint of beer !!! Although, Ds said he shouldn't drink if he's driving - lol. We popped a Santa stop here sign by the back door, and one on the bedroom door handle so he knew where to stop. Sprinkled reindeer dust in the garden and watched Polar Express, simple but lovely pleasures. You are a very lovely Auntie I also got a personalised email from santa for him, the look on his face was FABULOUS. We also wrote to Santa and received a personalised letter from him, both of us
Here's an MSE link.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/free-santa-letter-video

popadom

If shes having her own room (or even sharing with mum) make a little sign (print from the comp using word(use funky fonts) )with her name on it.. makes her feel special.

Milk with cookies at night.

Take her to see a xmas play? or the xmas market

bake cakes/cookies for santa. Pick a carrot for the reindeer(i mean let her choose )

write letter for santa -then you design one to send back( add her age and a few details so she really beilives)

After having a bad xmas last year, where she was very grown up and could be carefree, let her have it this year, just little things to really make her smile. Your a very nice auntie!
Hope that helps

pixie1

OMG Im blown away with all the ideas here - thank you all so much!!!

Im def doing the christmas eve hamper and ive already purchases a me to you elf bear just in case i do the Elf thing but if not he can be part of the hamper.


Its like been a child again myself to be honest!!

Sooooo many lovely things to plan!! Thank you all so much!!

Does anyone know if there is a template online for a santa stop here door handle sign? It would be lovely to colour in together on christmas eve!

Thanks again!!

Pix x

Cordy

They're all lovely ideas, but please be careful. This poor little girl will have just flown half way round the world to a strange country to stay with people she may hardly remember, and all at a time when she's missing her dad.

Take the time to get to know her a bit rather than seeing her as someone to 'entertain' or 'make happy'. Would she enjoy sitting on your lap reading a book together? or helping you make some mince pies? or making her own present for her mummy (who could be out enjoying herself with her brother!)? or going for a walk in the country? It might take you her whole visit to find out these things, but IMHO you'd be giving her the best gift of all: your time.

popadom

with the teddy you could always say its the elve and he shrinks down until xmas -used to tell my sisters that and they adored the teddy!