christmas traditions and ideas for age 11 and 15

karren

I know its bonkers
there were Christmas cards in Tesco early sept!!!

kathrynha

Really useful thread. My daughter is 9, and I think she might not believe in Santa anymore, but won't say it and risk him not coming.


If you are anywhere near Leeds/Harrogate area I recommend Stockeld Park Christmas Adventure. We have been for the last 3 years and DD said she wants to go again this year, when I asked her while at their summer event. There is Nordic skiing, ice skating, a big maze and they light up the woodlands really nice, as well as Santa and play areas for the younger kids. Took my Rangers (older version of Guides, 14+) a few years ago and they loved it.


I like involving my daughter in all the Christmas preparation. Cake making and icing, cracker making, wreath making etc.
This year after watching Great British Bake Off my daughter wants to make a black forest gateux, and so we are going to make one on Christmas Eve for Christmas day evening.

Pollycat

Person_one wrote: »

Its September!

Its still sunny outside!

And I'm packing for my holiday. :j

But I've done most of my Christmas shopping and have all my cards too.

We usually go away a lot nearer Christmas and get home around 15th December so I'm in a mad rush before we go to do a deep clean, write all my cards & wrap presents so that when we come back, all I need to do is put the tree up.

FBaby

As a wife and mother of those that work in retail and the cinema, I find it really selfish of people to expect these places to be open until late on Christmas Eve and open again on Boxing Day as they are incapable of organising their shopping earlier or entertaining themselves. I'd quite like my family home with me, able to relax and enjoy the holiday too.

What is a pity is that not everyone's needs can be accommodated. I worked Christmas days when I was in my 20s and didn't care to go back home (far away) to my family, but didn't want to spend the day on my own either. At the time, being able to enjoy a bit of the festivities with others in the same situation whilst earning double meaning being able to put some money aside for my coming holiday was a double bonus.

Each year that goes by and the more I dread Christmas. I hate it! All I can see is that everything we do that day, we can do any other day if we chose to, without the whole commercial aspect attached to it which gets worse year after year.

I actually wouldn't mind winter so much if it wasn't for that looming Christmas in the middle of it!!

Person_one

Pollycat wrote: »

And I'm packing for my holiday. :j

But I've done most of my Christmas shopping and have all my cards too.

We usually go away a lot nearer Christmas and get home around 15th December so I'm in a mad rush before we go to do a deep clean, write all my cards & wrap presents so that when we come back, all I need to do is put the tree up.

The 15th is probably roughly when I start all of that! :rotfl:

choccyface2006

My 16 year old an I make a gingerbread house and decorate it together, we bought THIS mould, last year we also made a sleigh but the mould has nor been discontinued

Sarah

iammumtoone

I am thing of a new tradition this year as well. My son is eight but this is the first year he no longer believes in father Christmas. Your children might be a bit old but I am going to do elf on the shelf, DS will know it is me doing it but I am hoping he will still find it funny to see the things elf gets up to in the night.

We always go to church on Christmas eve then open our hampers when we get home, bath, put on new pjs and settle down to watch a movie and read books.

This year I will be at work so will miss the 4 o'clock church service Our local church is lovely they are extremely friendly and welcoming even if you do not go very often, they are just glad to see you and do not encourage you to come again. The afternoon service is extremely kid friendly and fun. I am sad that we will miss it.

iammumtoone

I like the look of those house mounds are they as easy as it looks? how do they hold up? do you need to stick the chocolate together with melted chocolate or will it just stand up on its own?

Thanks

Out,_Vile_Jelly

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Even when I got to my teens, I still had a stocking.

My brother and I are in our mid thirties. A couple of years ago my mum tentatively suggested that we might be "too old" for this particular tradition. Howls of derisive outrage met this heretical proposition.

choccyface2006

iammumtoone wrote: »

I like the look of those house mounds are they as easy as it looks? how do they hold up? do you need to stick the chocolate together with melted chocolate or will it just stand up on its own?

Thanks

They are really great, gingerbread or chocolate turn out perfectly although it does need royal icing to keep it together though. It's quite sturdy when made though. We poured melted white chocolate into the roof parts before putting the gingerbread roof on top, it worked really well and the gingerbread recipe that comes with it is the best I've used.

Sarah