Hellobee Boards

In addition to the things you have listed, we're planning to make gingerbread houses, have Christmas movie nights every Friday for the whole family, do video calls with the grandparents, and making big care/gift packages to send to cousins and close friends.

We have a pottery painting place near us that we usually go to to paint ornaments, and this year they're doing take-home kids, so we did that this weekend. We also made paper chains. We got some gingerbread houses for next weekend, and we're going to make Christmas cards for the grandparents.

We also found a local mall that's still doing Santa visits - you book a time, it's fully masked, and there's a plexiglass divider between Santa and the kids. I also have found a few places that will book you a Santa Zoom call. And we have a few family friends that we usually exchange gifts with so we're going to set up some Zoom calls so that the kids can open the presents "together".

We also have a lot of Christmas books that we only bring out in December, and something that's a big hit in my family (4 and 6) is drawing a big tree on roll paper, taping it to a wall, giving the kids a bunch of stickers, and telling them to decorate the tree.

We're doing some of these

https://earlychildhoodfun101.com/2020/11/24/advent-calendar-activity-ideas-your-whole-family-will-love/

We started early so we’ve already done some of my list, we may run out!

Lowe’s has their monthly kid craft if your local store offers it - they just let you pick up the kits to take home now. We also made a bunch of Lego ornaments now that they are older and can figure that out. My kids love the usborne Christmas magic painting books. We did our gingerbread houses already but that’s always a big hit. Target has some really fun ones and lots of fun candy to add, all for pickup. Our symphony is offering streaming for their Christmas pops concert (I think) so we’ll try that. There are a lot of holiday specials on tv this year! Oh also trying to do several angel tree things that are contactless and they can help shop for pickup, at least. I love the idea to wrap a holiday book for each day, but always just get our collection out the day after Halloween

One pretty simple idea my kids always bring up is doing a night to go look at lights in pjs - the part they like best is dinner beforehand, they get hot cocoa (in a cup they can manage in the car) and fun snowman pancakes (pretty easy to make). It’s the little things!

Any if they don’t usually have it, a mini tree or lights in their room is really fun! Make it easy to unplug or switch off a power strip) if they want to fall asleep to it.

We’ve booked a Santa visit, DH is going to take DS1 to deliver food hampers. We’ve been making needed crafts. I’ll have them help write some Christmas cards this weekend to mail out. I have a felt tree with felt ornaments to bring out. Once DS1 is out of quarantine we plan to walk the neighbourhood to look at lights. We usually bake some cookies.

I’m trying not to plan too much so expectations can’t be crushed. We’ve already had to reschedule the Santa visit. And even with lots of at home activity options I’m just drained and don’t want to over promise to my kids.