Parenting & Guardianship

with Roberta Smart

December is dominated by the ‘big day’ near the end, but why wait until the 25th to celebrate when you can create magic all through the month?

Make an event out of advent rather than simply focusing all your energies on one day – this spreads the load and takes away a lot of the stress of expectation.

By doing small activities every day, your family can make the magic of Christmas a fun and relaxing affair. So, here are my suggestions for fun festive activities you can enjoy in the buildup to the big day. Treasured decorations to use in years to come

Start by getting your tree and decorating with the basics, then add one ornament each day for advent. Choose from traditional saved decorations, new treats or, indeed, you could make your own ornaments using salt dough, paper, paint and glitter. These are sure to become treasured decorations to keep and use in the years to come. Think of the birds in the cold weather by creating a nature Christmas tree, featuring fat balls, nuts, seeds and berries strung along the branches.

Then get wrapped up warm and go on a hunt for Christmas lights at dusk. There is nothing more exciting than seeing the amazing sparkles and colours decorating houses and shop windows this month.

Try not to get overwhelmed shopping for gifts. Why not add a budget challenge just for fun? Seeing what you can find or create for a limited budget is such a fun challenge and feels so rewarding, especially for older kids who may not want to spend all their pocket money!

If you get fed up indoors, go on a Christmas nature hunt. Search for holly, ivy and other winter wonders, and collect some to decorate your home.

For the little artists, use ceramic paints to decorate a plate for Santa, ready to hold the mince pie and carrots for Rudolph on Christmas Eve. While you’ve got the arts and crafts out, why not make an angel to place on top of the tree?

Create a range of handmade gifts, from coloured pictures and baby hand prints, to thread paper chains that you can hang around the house.

For your own hungry bellies bake mince pies, gingerbread stars or even decorate a gingerbread house to enjoy those true flavours of Christmas. Don’t forget a Yule Log with melted chocolate and icing sugar snow! What about activities with friends? Christmas is a time to come together so whether you create a Christmas sing-along, go on a day trip to visit Santa at a local grotto, arrange a sleepover to watch Christmas movies, or simply spend time with grandparents reading stories and snuggling, you can be sure that this Christmas you make more memories and share more joy than ever before. Yule blessings to you for Christmas 2022 and I shall see you in the New Year! The Local Answer To advertise call 01242 510500 Page 13