Making a budget Xmas a bit more exciting- ideas please!

7roland8

A treasure Hunt sounds great - and get Santa to leave the notes/hints.
Also good idea t vist in morning, or go to church. Or have a cheap computer dance game they can play together.

kingfisherblue

We open our presents one person at a time - it really slows everything down, but also gives the kids a chance to appreciate what they have been given. My mum and dad used to hide everything and do a treasure hunt for my sister and myself, which could take all day.

Could you give a craft item for the children to make on Christmas Day? Before now, to fill in time before the day itself, my children have made individual place mats (colour in pictures and laminate). Or they could make Thank You cards - both of these are probably best before christmas Day, but are quite cheap to do and will involve the children in the preparations. They might also like to set the table for you on the morning.

kingfisherblue

Don't forget games for later in the day - pin the nose on Rudolph, charades, and if you don't mind the mess, newspaper snowball fight (or use the paper that wrapped the presents )

cleggie

You have given me some great ideas, thanks everyone!

qiucaiwen

we usually visit relatives after the big activity, sharing gifts or something else. And actually, the presents are not so imporatant.

Emmarillo

We do a treasure hunt for the children - I think this will be the fourth year. It started because my parents, who we always spend Christmas with, decided to go away one year and I was concerned that Christmas would become 'just another day' if we spent it on our own.

The girls get a nice stocking which normally contains a disney beanie toy (although this year I am using ones we already have) these are called Guides. When we've hidden a present the clue is left with the Guides. I have no idea why we do this or what it really means but it's become tradition. When they've solved the clue the Guides go back on the table. We tend the hide the presents just before planting the clue as otherwise they'd find things too quickly. This really spreads things out and means they get a good look at their presents before moving on to the next one.

I worried a bit that the children are missing out on madly unwrapping a pile of presents but they have a great stocking to unwrap,and also we've asked them what they'd rather do, and they've said the treasure hunt.

After the first year we do the treasure hunt on boxing day, as we go to my parents once the stockings are unwrapped. They have loads of presents there from all the family so lots to open. Again we've asked them if they would rather open their presents from us when we get home, but they want to keep things the way they are.

Things are tighter this year so the girls won't have as many clues (although they will be harder to solve!) but hopefully we'll still have fun.

I think I probably sound a bit mental...

pinkteapot

A few years ago there was nothing mum, my brother or I particularly wanted for Xmas. We set a spending limit of £5 per person (so we each spent a tenner on presents) with the rule that the presents had to be things that would entertain us on Christmas Day. Got games, craft kits etc from Poundland and similar shops. We're all grown ups but it was a blast.

When I was a kid, present opening probably lasted 20 mins at most. Rest of the day was spent playing with the presents!

drew__2

Christmas is about family, not presents. Probably cooking up a nice meal in the morning, something your kids enjoy. spending time together whether going to the church or even playing games..Christmas is about family and celebrating life.

As their help in making cookies or muffins or decorating the house, am sure they'll enjoy that. Sing carols together, basically a mix of everything above..

Hope you have a merry Christmas and a fantastic new year..Have fun together

yabajaz

I love some of the ideas.
our girls open their stocking when they wake, as they are on their beds. Pressies happen after breakfast - our breakfast..... so probably 10.00. This year I am hiding ingredients in odd places for them to bake up special cookies which they'll decorate.
last year we were bought a gingerbread house kit - they loved making it (and eating it)

cazpumpkin

having lots of fun with my 14yr old daughter this month as her big sister is away at university until the 17th and her brother lives on his xbox so she feels like an only child sometimes.

some of these ideas could be done on christmas or boxing day

we have made paper chains to decorate rooms

we have made giant paper snowflakesSnowflake Star Ornament.wmv - YouTube using computer print out paper, these have transfomed our living room. we followed this youtube video but ised staples rather than a glue gun and made them giant sized by using ordinary A4 paper

we have still to make and decorate a gingerbread house, make and decorate gingerbread men for our christmas tree, decorate and revamp some old tree baubles, make a paper advent calender and paper christmas things to go in the pocket such as a star or tree shape etc, just basically craft or cooking which interests her,

some nights we are off to carol concerts and firework displays, late night xmas shopping events, nothing costs a huge amount, i would google things to do on christmas day for lots of ideas, there are masses of xmas websites full of family ideas and traditions

if it snows they can make a snowman! or go sledging or play snowball fights

just edited to add i will pick up a cheap xmas dvd in town today from HMV so we can snuggle down on the couch with hot chocolate and fleece and a surprise xmas movie in case we feel lazy and just want to do nothing later on xmas day