Our kids go on Christmas Break a full 10 days before Christmas. Our schools let out on next Friday, December 15. Oh my!!!

Some ideas that we will do are:

• Christmas crafts early in the week to mail to the extended family (a friend and her kids are coming over and we are each doing a craft idea so that they will have two things to send to each).
  
• Shop for dad's gift and gifts for each other one at a time.
  
• Christmas cookies one day. LOVE that day!
  
• Goodie deliveries to the people on our street. Ho ho ho!
  
• Cook dinner one night; restaurant style... Menus and the whole thing. They love doing that.

I'd like to figure out somewhere that they could volunteer but don't know of any soup kitchens in the area. Would like something that reflects the true meaning of the season. We've already done several things together (ie donations and gifts) but could always stand to do more!!!



I know it could potentially be a long week for them and for me! Do you have any easy ideas to add? Thanks in advance!

I take my kids to an elderly home a bit before Christmas and we deliver decorations that we have made (we make graham cracker candy houses, but you could make anything. We have also done homemade cards.) Then on Christmas night I take them back (during their dinner) and we give out candy kisses and candy canes. (You could do it any night.)

You should see the expressions of the people that are alone on the holidays. My kids are 5/7, and this will be our 4th year doing this. The kids hand them a candy, and my DD gives a hug and some of them cry and cry. It takes about an hour out of our day, but is always an amazing experience.

The place that we go is more of an apartment building for the elderly, so most of them are very high-funchtioning. They love to see the kids. Do your kids play an instrument? They would love to hear you. We have even brought the karaoke and sang songs. (That was a riot, because they have never seen anything like it.) Call ahead and see if anyone wants to play checkers (we knew an elderly man that loved to play tic-tac-toe.)

I'd love to have them home all that time to work on things. Ours aren't out until the weekend before Christmas this year.

Oh yes.. we also make small gifts (snowman soup.. you can look it up) or small bags of candy/cookies and deliver them to anyone we can think of. We always give things to the people working at the post office (they are exhausted and really appreciate it) the library, and sometimes the bank/grocery store. A handful of chocolate kisses from a cute kid can go a long way when you are stressed.

Write me if you need more ideas.. if your kids are older mine have been having a blast making safety pin jewelery. Cheap and easy (but a bit time consuming) and they look great.

-Sherry jsbmurray@aol.com

Maybe as a treat a movie day with some popcorn. Stock up on a bunch of Christmas movies and let them gather on the couch to watch.

When mine were little we used to spend a day making and writing Thank You cards after the holidays. Some blank cards, a few stickers and lots of markers - the kids always made beautiful cards.

HTH

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Oh, these are great ideas!!! Thank YOU!!!

My sons are 9 and 11. I am going to print out these ideas and we'll figure out when to do them. I think a play date or two will be good for them as well. A day off with movies and popcorn sounds relaxing.

We need to not overdo it. The time off will be nice for us and really great for their teachers! LOL.

We usually get of on the 15th too... This year not until the 19th

Do you have any free/cheap museums in the area?

Have you asked their teachers? I am thinking about sending home an optional project that will be for extra credit- that way when the kids start getting bored, they have something to do.

The library? Ours always has fun things to do.

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I agree with the nursing home idea. I see alot of folks that are basically dumped off in a nursing home and totally forgotten. some of them dont remember who their family is and when anyone shows up to see them, they think its their kids who have come to see them,. I never tell them that I am not their child. ( why upset them. they are confused and if thinking I am their child and I have taken the time to come see them makes they happy, why mess it up)
alot of my clients love to see kids. they are thrilled just to talk with little children. that would be a wonderful way to spend some time. would benifit them and your children.

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One thing I have been successful with and it has been fun for me too is to have them complete challenges during the task. If it is a long walk for example they have to walk on one foot or hop ten steps. During in the house chores maybe a triple twirl with the dustcloth or hopping on one foot or something like that. You give them 5 points for each thing they do and let them "buy" something at the end with the points.
If you are inside you can make it kind of like a scavenger hunt only instead of finding things you do things.

This can make any trip you take or any chore you do or any errand you run more fun.

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I wish we got out on the 15th! Our kids don't get out until the Friday afternoon before Christmas, the 22nd, they get out an hour early. Of course they don't go back until Jan 6th, but i would rather be out before Christmas.

Children's museum or science center

have a "help with chore day" with a reward of a trip to Starbucks for hot chocolate or something like that at the end of the day. I like to make lists and then make it into a race. Gathering clothes hangers is something i hate to do, so i frequently have "hanger races".

make homemade playdoh

make up a scavenger hunt, with clues leading through the house to some sort of "prize"

I third the nursing home idea!

Go to a pottery studio! This is a great relaxing idea. It doesn't cost too much, especially if the kids pick out something small to paint.

Barnes and Noble often have children's events this time of year

Make homemade butter: heavy whipping cream, dash of salt, put in a baby food jar and shake! Eventually, you'll have butter. See if they can make enough to fill up an old butter tub or plastic container of a similar size.

Watch old home movies

Swimming at an indoor facility YMCA)

Perhaps take in a Christmas play or recital; there are loads this time of year

Take some food/supplies to the humane society, and visit with the puppies and kittens. You can call ahead to see if there are some volunteer opportunities.

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Oh my... these are GREAT!!! Thanks for putting so much thought into this. We will now be TOO busy. Nah.... We know how to relax and enjoy. Thanks!

My kids love homemade play-doh. They also love the peanut butter edible kind, too.

Another idea that my kids love are the cheap ($8-$10) gingerbread houses you can buy at Hobby Lobby or WalMart. I have 2 kids and let them each decorate one side the way they want to.

Lisa

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