Spill the beans... on your free Christmas magic for kids tips

Former_MSE_Penelope · 14 November 2011 at 1:35PM

Spill the beans... on your free Christmas magic for kids tips[IMGRIGHT]http://images.moneysavingexpert.com/images/spillthebeans2.gif[/IMGRIGHT]

Young children don't care about the cash you stash, they remember spotting Santa’s footprint in the fireplace, sprinkling out magic food for reindeers (porridge oats and food colouring) and playing with giant cardboard boxes filled with balloons (always supervise this). What tips do you have for free, or nearly free, Christmas enchantment?

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lee_annef · 6 December 2011 at 10:55PM

Both my girls ages 9 and 11yrs love the trail of chocolate coins that lead from santas footprints at the front door to their xmas prezzies.:)

rhyski · 6 December 2011 at 11:02PM

My most magical memory of Christmas from my own childhood was writing a letter to Santa, putting it in an envelope, and posting it up the chimney to be magically delivered to Santa.

My parents used to let our coal fire burn down until there were no more flames, then we'd carefully hold the letter flat high above the hot coals, let go - and the heat from the coals would lift the letter up the chimney and out in to the night sky, on it's way to Santa in the north pole.

Much more magical than posting it in a letterbox, and no stamp required!! You need a real fire though... (It doesn't work so well with an electric fire)

punkpink · 6 December 2011 at 11:20PM

rhyspaulburton wrote: »

My most magical memory of Christmas from my own childhood was writing a letter to Santa, putting it in an envelope, and posting it up the chimney to be magically delivered to Santa.

My parents used to let our coal fire burn down until there were no more flames, then we'd carefully hold the letter flat high above the hot coals, let go - and the heat from the coals would lift the letter up the chimney and out in to the night sky, on it's way to Santa in the north pole.

Much more magical than posting it in a letterbox, and no stamp required!! You need a real fire though... (It doesn't work so well with an electric fire)

Wow, you have just made me soooooooo jelous!

macma · 6 December 2011 at 11:30PM

Our grandchildren used to come with mum and dad on Christmas eve,we used to give them their pressies then so they had santas and mum and dads on the day.Their "big" present always came from santa so I used to write a letter with a a little treasure hunt eg " Hi I called with your early present and you need to follow the clues....
I put teaspoons on the Christmas tree ,alarm clocks in the bathroom the idea being that they found each item in the "wrong" place and they took it to the right place where they would find another item in the "wrong " place .This went on for years and I managed to capture many hunts on video:) alas grandson is now 16 and grandaughter 10 going on 30 but memories are divine

:):)

faerie_girl · 7 December 2011 at 12:08AM

My son who is almost 3 really loved the Portable North Pole video. This years is particularly good imo. He still a bit too young to fully understand the concept of Santa but he seemed to like it especially when Santa got a book out with sons photo in.

qwiksave · 7 December 2011 at 10:30AM

I think children (and adults!) really love the magic of christmas lights. You could visit your local town and maybe even drive or walk around your local area looking at all the houses lit up. Some people really go over the top and these can be fun to look at - not mse for them but it is for us!

:xmastree:

cannycaz_2 · 7 December 2011 at 10:40AM

On Christmas Eve I have pyjamas wrapped and secretly placed in the porch, while they are in the bath I get my husband to ring the bell and quickly get out of the way. When they come downstairs they find the parcels and are then able to open them so have clean pyjamas to wear and also lets them know Santa hasn't forgotten them and will be back later with the rest of ther prezzies.

A.Jones · 7 December 2011 at 11:12AM

> Young children don't care about the cash you stash

I believe young children will care about the cash you stash. Later in life they will thank you if you have stashed away cash for them.

They may not care about cash you splash at Christmas, but that is very different to the cash you stash.

74jax · 7 December 2011 at 12:31PM

A.Jones wrote: »

I believe young children will care about the cash you stash. Later in life they will thank you if you have stashed away cash for them.

.

:eek::eek: Maybe some, but I'm defo not oe of them. My mam and dad worked hard all their lives, didn't go on 'big' holidays and saved for my brother and I as an 'inheritance' and for them to go on holidays when they retired. Now, in their 80s, Mam had a stroke and Dad has cancer, all their dreams have vanished. I wish they hadn't thought of me or my brother and spent their money on them rather than 'stash' their cash for us as their children.

But this is wayyyyyyy off topic! My daughter used to put all the present we had bought our friends and family wrapped under tree. Go to bed and wake up to the elves having collected them for santa to deliver on Christmas Eve. :T magical :T almost makes me broody. *almost*

pennypinchUK · 7 December 2011 at 12:55PM

I'm certain this isn't unique, but I always ham it up, to the point that the children consider booking me in to the lunatic asylum.

Leave the ubiquitous mince pie and sherry for Santa and a carrot for the reindeers. But make sure the end of the carrot has bite marks in it to "prove" Rudolph has eaten it.

(P.S. To all adults, I don't recommend eating a carrot and drinking sherry at the same time....not a nice mix!).

Spill the beans... on your free Christmas magic for kids tips

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